<p>Andi, </p>
<p>I'm a high school senior. I'm really shocked to see such bright/talented kids rejected and waitlisted. I saw it with my friends this year and I was just flabbergasted. </p>
<p>I'm guessing his results had less to do with the quality of him as a person and the quality of his application than his having a "hook." It seems like people who got into these schools had some sort of "hook" in their applications that they emphasized and emphasized, so that the admissions committee would remember the person better.</p>
<p>That's what I did, and I did very well with admissions. I was not a National Merit scholar, I play no sports, I do no music, I have no national awards (regional though), I do no art, I do no student government. I have one achievement in community service that was enticing, I suppose, and my essays were very well developed. Is your son probably more intelligent, more talented than I am? Yes. </p>
<p>So don't feel down, it really came down to the admissions game. I would suggest, if you wish, to take a gap year and focus on creating some sort of hook for your applications. </p>
<p>I think Northstarmom is being very supercilious, especially at a time like this, to suggest that these results were "his fault" for not showing a lot of interest in his essays and attitude to the midwestern schools. I am sure he's a great kid and he just didn't play the game right. No biggie. He'll do great in life. I can't imagine how I'd feel if this happened to me, but I hope your son doesn't think his results were because he was dumb or anything like that. As a suburban well-rounded kid, I would guess that he simply didn't have a hook. </p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck.</p>