wow my son's valedictorian friend at school didn't get into Stanford..

Parents Forum
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<p>MoF, the answer to your scenario is a better search: there is quite a window between the most competitive "elite" schools and the run-of-the-mill large state school. If you're applying to Amherst, back-up with Smith or Vassar; if applying to Smith or Vassar, back-up with Skidmore. If applying to Skidmore, back-up with Muhlenberg. Playing your cards as all-or-nothing is risky.</p>

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<p>I've got to throw my hat into the ring and again criticize the "elite school admission or bust" mentality that's pervasive at this forum. Why do folks feel that they are 'entitled' to admission, and why parents and students discombobulated when they don't get in? When are folks going to realize that it's not exclusively statistics (or ECs for that matter) that earns admission. If that were the case there would be no need for admissions conseling.</p>

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<p>You are right--if your app doesn't meet a certain "threshold" or have the "it" factor, you most likely aren't going to get into any highly selective HYPSM, AWS, etc. school. It happened to our local high school valedictorian last year. It was not pretty. . .</p>

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<p>Conversely, I cringe when I see some student with stellar stats being advised to forget applying to Harvard because they've already been rejected by Yale EA, and all these top colleges use the same criteria; so you have no hope - forget it.</p>

<p>In college admissions nothing is ever certain, and you have to look after your safeties of course, but we have enough anecdotal evidence right here among the parents on CC of their kids who did get rejected/deferred by one elite college only to accepted by another or many others in RD - and this includes my own D. </p>

<p>Scanning over a couple of the rejection consolation threads, I can quickly count up to at least 25 instances of kids who got rejected/deferred from one elite school only the be accepted by another or many others. One school's rejectee is often another's prized recruit.</p>

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<p>I love the stories:</p>

<p>I know a kid who was rejected EA by Yale but later was accepted by Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Dartmouth, Penn, Cornell, Brown, Columbia, CalTech, Duke, Chicago, and 25 other top schools! With money! OK, just kidding... but</p>

<p>A few years ago a friend actually was rejected by his first choice, Yale, and had to go to Harvard. </p>

<p>And just last year, one of our top students was deferred and ultimately rejected by Princeton. The poor kid had to go to Cornell, which really puzzled me, because Cornell is not on my list of schools that are similar to Princeton.</p>

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<p>I'd never discourage the application to other elite schools just because the ED school rejected. That student would be left with too many what ifs? I just think some very likely schools that the student would be happy and proud to attend would be a smart addition. Plan as if the golden ticket won't arrive.</p>

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<p>I think calmom has it right. Bright kid with a lot of promise. Certainly could handle the work at Stanford, but Stanford can't possibly accept everyone matching that criteria.</p>

<p>The ECs were lackluster (varsity tennis), and Stanford is also a school known to place big emphasis on essays. We don't know how the essays were.</p>

<p>As they say in their FAQ
[quote]
In addition to academic excellence and intellectual vitality, we are interested in students who have made significant contributions to the life of their school or community. An exceptional experience in one or two activities demonstrates your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs.

[/quote]
Playing varsity tennis doesn't quite hit the level they're looking for.</p>

<p>But rejection stings. I'd advise the OP and his "friend" that acceptances to top colleges is not the measure of worth or a prediction of your future. In a country of 250 million people the competition for the thousand or so spots at schools like Stanford is just unbelievably tough and just because they didn't take you doesn't mean you're doomed to a life of mediocrity.</p>

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<p>You all say that the college we attend has nothing to do with our future success. For me, college is more about the next for years. Believe it or not, but I would reject every ivy to attend USC, for it's top film school and for the overall experience I believe this school has to offer me. I kow that in 10 years it'll all be a part of my past, and the "experience" wouldn't matter anymore. There are so many aspects I include when defining my dream college, other than academics. Yes, social life, for example, is one of them. Our future roommates are important, the people who will be there with us, when we are away from home, on birthdays, on finals, on tough times... they matter. Our dorms will be our homes, the proffesors will have a say in detemining our acadeic experiences, and some times future. They location can matter a lot to those who want to do art and prefer NYC, those who like cinema and can get connections and network the best at LA, those who want to become the presidemt and would love a quick access to the white house, or just a nice view, to remind them where they dream to be and motivate them (DC). So there is a lot into to college then saliries.
I agree that financially speaking, an Harvard graduate is likely to succeed as much as a Yale one, but I believe that those who come here to tell about their rejections are not really concerned with their annual income at the age of 40, I doubt it is truely what kids at 18 think about. I know I don't, but that's just me.
I also feel it has something to do with where their other classmates go, where theur family encouraged them to apply, where their teachers and counselors suggested as matches, and yes, the rejection itself, of any kind, that jurts so much.
So there's a lot to say about how you can live richly attending any school. But honestly, I think the most of us would most of all like to hear that we can be happy at any school for the next for years.</p>

<p>Remember, this is just me. I am sure some people out there are counting on the school to get them to the top. But if they had what it takes to dream about a certain school as their way there, they are fortunate enouch to have what it takes to find another way to get there.</p>

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<p>my cuzing got into standford with these stats</p>

<p>300 + hours of community service</p>

<p>Mostly A's and Bs at a very competitive school</p>

<p>1230 Old SAT's</p>

<p>good tennis but not playing on the team</p>

<p>idk how it makes sense how she got in and others didnt</p>

<p>unless her dad went their and he contributing lots of money to the school</p>

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<p>As a rule of thumb, even the brightest students should not expect to get in at the very top elite schools-- if they do manage, then celebrate-- but rejection is statistically the more likely outcome. Listen toTheDad--good back-ups is the way to go.</p>