<p>DD is low income , URM, has an amazing story etc etc etc…she juggled many hats for four years, took incredibly rigorous classes, doubled up on math, science & languages for 3 years, took college classes, AP classes, works as a barista/cake decorator, is a docent at an aquarium, a literacy tutor, a teachers aide at an Ivy League after school Stem program, not to mention interesting ECs most of which were done at the local Ivy League school, had INCREDIBLE summer experiences, wrote touching, heart tugging essays(wrote them independently) has killer, jaw dropping LORs from her teachers, 3.97 GPA U.W. good standardized scores and she has done amazingly well thus far this application cycle. </p>
<p>We had NO expectations of admissions to any of the schools… Repeat, there were NO expectations of acceptance. She hit submit on 12/31 and hoped for the best. She actually joked that she probably wouldn’t get into any of them and that she should probably apply to the local CC just to be safe. She was thunderstruck when each acceptance rolled in…I almost passed out last evening…literally! So glad the moment wasn’t captured on video. </p>
<p>Well, this legacy’s son didn’t get in (Yale). 4.0 GPA, 34 ACT, 8+ APs, including a 5 on Calc AB. Great essays, and recommendations. Cellist who is competitive at the national level–summers at Aspen and Tanglewood, principal of national honors orchestra, plays in our professional city symphony, our youth symphony, a piano trio, every ensemble that asks him. Student director of his schools madrigals group. Composes and arranges music for the school orchestra and theater dept. Local studio musician, whenever someone needs a cellist. Teaches his own private studios, and volunteered at our district after-school music program. Will be on “From the Top” next month.</p>
<p>If they don’t want him, I don’t know what they want. I feel dismayed and royally pissed at my alma mater. Luckily, son has excellent choices elsewhere and will get a wonderful education. If there is one thing I learned during the college search, it is how many fine, fine schools there are out there.</p>
<p>Again, if the CC focus is on stats (and the usual CC estimation of ECs,) it’s all thrown off. Btw, one way legacy helps is they generally know the college and their potential experience there. Same for siblings. </p>
<p>Congrats to the daughters of picktails and NHCTMom. Clearly, great gals.</p>
<p>@Kansasmom, I’m shocked. I’m usually the first to grumble about legacy, recruited athletes, etc.,(in case you couldn’t guess, DS is completely unhooked), but your son’s situation brought me up short. </p>
<p>Being generous, perhaps adcoms didn’t feel that it was a good fit, in which case maybe it was for the best. If you don’t mind my asking, did your son apply SCEA or RD?</p>
<p>Wow, @kansasmom! Now THAT, I don’t get. For me, it is truly baffling. Do you mind sharing his other choices? Or where he intends to go? I’m glad that he has “excellent” options, and based on what you’ve shared, he should definitely be successful wherever he goes. @NewHaveCTMom, do you mind sharing more? What schools applied to? What schools considered? Inquiring minds want to KNOW! :)</p>
<p>Did he apply ED to Yale? I know that UPENN requires there legacies to apply ED. If I’m wrong, please correct me. Maybe they questioned why he didn’t apply early? Maybe they felt like Yale wasn’t his 1st choice? His stats are killer and they knew that he had other options. I’m sure they wanted to be his top choice!</p>
<p>Applied to Williams, Amherst, Trinity, Conn College, Howard. accepted to all…
Applied to 4 Ivies—Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, UPENN accepted to all but Brown.
Waiting to hear from Tulane & UNC Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>No offence intended. Older posters know my position well, and it is different from most here on CC, but it is not what you think. Congratulation to your daughter. </p>
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<p>True, but the plural of anecdote is not data.</p>
<p>Of course not but I have not seen peer reviewed vetted data from you that proves to me otherwise. It is a common mistake to trot out developmental admits to prove otherwise although they might be 1% of the 12-14% legacy admits each year.</p>
<p>@Nrdsb4, like I said, he has lost a considerable amount of motivation from the repeated rejections. Believe it or not, many people don’t take such things as lightly as you do. I don’t know what he will do, or if he can find his old strength again, but there is no doubt that his college life, and perhaps beyond would have been much more happy, fruitful and productive if he had gotten into at least ONE of those four schools…</p>
<p>@MaineLonghorn, judging from his current mindset about it all, he seems resigned to just get along however he can. It is much harder to stand out in a relatively unknown school. Hopefully this is a phase he can get out of, but at the moment, I do not see him achieving his true potential, whether it is at that college or in grad school. Four repeated rejections can have a pretty adverse affect on you, especially with his effort and grades… </p>
<p>@sally305, I see you didn’t see my sarcasm in that comment either. However, yes, he is probably the only student with a 2360 SAT AND valedictorian at that college. And with those extracurriculars, so it s possible to find him, and given your repeated comments on this thread you wanted to end, I think you may just do it (sarcasm).</p>
<p>I saw that response a mile away. Let me tell you something: He is CURRENTLY at a state where he is a little down on the motivation factor. Why? Because he is human. I don’t know what your conception is of Ivy League admits, but they are not emotionless robots, powering through every challenge thrown at them. </p>
<p>IN FACT, most modern Ivy students capitalize on their struggles and how they get out of them. Perhaps this will be one of those stories. However, his freshman year, at least would have been more productive, fruitful, and happy if he had been accepted to one of those four schools.</p>
<p>OP still isn’t making his friend’s story as poignant as he feels it is. At this point, I don;t know why he even continues to speak for this “friend.” As if he had a magic window into his psyche. Purporting to read his mind. Not healthy.</p>
<p>At this point, OP is either the victim or strangely fixated on this other person. 51 posts that go nowhere. </p>
<p>Duke- if you have followed some of their studies about students, they have the strangest perspective. Of what value is a study of converging gpa? Who really cares if some kids switch majors? The point is for them to explore, become empowered and effective. </p>
<p>Oh, poor friend, four repeated rejections. I know a poster who will set that into perspective fast. </p>
<p>Life is tough, OP. The good ones keep going, despite the ebb and flow. That’s really the answer direction you earn. Re-read your own posts.</p>
As much as I like selective schools, I think the opposite is true–it should be much easier for him to stand out–indeed, he should stand out from the beginning, which would not have been the case at the top schools (something which comes as a shock to many new students at those schools).</p>
<p>Oh, cry me a river. If this is how your friend reacts to four rejections, he is going to crumble later in life. Grad school, jobs – he has dozens, maybe hundreds, of future rejections down the road. And let’s hope he doesn’t go into sales, because he’d curl up in a fetal position in a day. Try reading biographies of successful actors – most of them got turned down for role after role after role, but didn’t give up. </p>
<p>Part of growing up is learning how to deal with rejection. Part of success in life is bouncing back from rejection. </p>
<p>Sorry to say what we’ve been pussyfooting around:
his ECs, as you have described them, are NOT competitive.
Depending on his potential major, he may not even have come close to expectations. Essays DO matter- not what a friend or parent thinks, but how it comes across to adcoms, looking for certain personal attributes. A sad tale with no redemption is nothing more than a sad tale. Kids who think that’s what matters are off. OFF.</p>
<p>AND, if this friend/fixation/you/your child cannot succeed at his present U, he likely would have struggled at an Ivy, with its pressures and peer competition. </p>