<p>@calmom @Momzie @ucbalumnus </p>
<p>Hence the disclaimers at the top and in the spreadsheet comments. That probably does cast a bit of doubt on the data as well, I guess.</p>
<p>@Misanthrope1 Yeah, I noticed that after the sheet was made. I think I’m responsible for the misunderstanding here; shouldn’t have singled out Duke.</p>
<p>@“Erin’s Dad” this was a long time ago, he’s graduated HS in 2005, college in 2008. Didn’t really have websites like CC telling us sponsorship meant nothing, so my parents thought getting sponsored by alumni was a big deal. And i’m sure sponsorship can help, especially when it comes down to two candidates. I don’t really know though, have never really looked into it. </p>
<p>A person at my school was accepted into Harvard and some other Ivy League (either Princeton or Columbia) but was rejected by Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>It’s intriguing to read all of these comments; I guess it proves that college decisions are honestly a lot of luck.</p>
<p>I was rejected by Franklin and Marshall while accepted at uchicago and WUSTL. I was in the top of the pool at F&M while exact opposite in the other two. maybe <10% of the bottom. I’ve no idea why I was accepted and i’ve no idea why I was rejected. :ar! </p>
<p>When it comes to international admissions, not getting into F&M but getting into Pomona, Northwestern, UChicago etc happens often, and I have seen it happen to lots of people at my school. Do you know how many intl kids applied to F&M this year? 1200. Do you know how many they accepted? Fewer than 150. The breakdown for internationals who need aid is even more dismal. So honestly, that really isn’t “unlikely” when you put it in context. I would be surprised if you were American, but yeah.</p>
<p>^ I could imagine the same could happen at the grad (esp. professional) school level.</p>
<p>A school may not welcome internationals if the school is mostly funded by tax money of each state (i.e., the public university.) Even if such students are full pay, it may not be politically acceptable for such a school to accept too many internationals.</p>
<p>Well, F&M does value internationals a lot. It spends as much money as Stanford on international student financial aid (and more than UChicago no doubt). Competition for this aid, however, is very intense–everywhere. Obviously it’s much more competitive at UChicago, but for internationals, it’s a crapshoot everywhere with decent aid. </p>
<p>Aren’t graduate schools (esp PhDs) easier to get into than UG schools w/ funding since nationality and need are not considered? </p>
<p>^^ yep from what I see, it’s easier to get into grad schools with aid. There aren’t many options for masters but from what I see, a large number of people from my country get into grad school with aid (top schools = Phd but no masters).</p>
<p>However, it’s not easy as it seems. Mostly because people from decent undergraduate institutions (say 80% of the top 300 universities around the world) get opportunities far better than those available to students at a college in a developing country. As a result when it comes down to grad school admission, research exposure, LOR come into play. While ECA can make or break an application at top undergrad school, I’m not sure if it’s same for grad admission. as a result people with greater energy in research (most of these people aren’t going to get out in the campus everyday for fun) have decent chance I suppose but hat’s entirely my opinion. I’m not even an undergrad at the moment.</p>
<p>Funding is available at a greater extent but competition for that funding isn’t as simple as it seems. </p>
<p>Drexter, my D was waitlisted at what should have been the easiest school for her to get into. But we knew when she hit the submit button, that she was a mismatch for her dept at that college. Her focus was slightly different than theirs. Sometimes, depending on a kid’s strengths and interests, the bigger name school can more easily accommodate. And the various schools can recognize this. So being a stats fit is only a first step. And, there are also considerations like geo diversity. </p>
<p>Actually i bombed SAT’s CR section. till date, every LAC I’ve applied for admission, has either rejected me (5) or waitlisted (1) me. On the other hand, there are 3 research universities I’d applied and got into all of them. I’d literally no chance of getting into those colleges with the stats I’d as an international according to the chances threads and yet I got in.</p>
<p>it seems weird to me. The whole admission process. </p>
<p>Hmm, this is interesting. I know this one international student who was admitted to Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Penn but waitlisted by Grinnell and denied by Vassar and Oberlin. His CR score? 600. I really don’t know what’s up, but I suppose that LACs are not looking for the same thing as big universities, which isn’t really surprising.</p>
<p>Drexter, are you set and happy? That’s what matters. Holistic has nuances. D1 bombed the SAT M. Twice. </p>
<p>I’m more than happy really. maybe 1000%. the SAT is over and college is what really counts at the moment. I’, still grateful to you for your help during admission process. my account had a strange problem and couldn’t log in for 2/3 months maybe. so couldn’t thank you. :)</p>
<p>Actually, Drexter, your results help to bolster the argument that “This is really not a reflection upon you or your abilities and your results should in no way be read as a referendum on your worth either as an individual or as a scholar.” (Or my worth as the mom of a scholar!) This definitely lessens the hand-wringing about “Oh my gosh,where did I go wrong? Was it my essay?” in aftermath of the bloody admissions seasons, from which you will all emerge battle-hardened.</p>