Posting my daughter’s results; I hope someone finds this helpful.
Public high school in MD, 1400 students
GPA 3.9683/4.6349 (top 4% of class)
SAT 1400 (submitted to some schools but not all)
10 APs (5 5s and 1 3 at time of applications)
ECs: Student Page to the Maryland General Assembly, Girls State, legal internship, Senior Class Council, Junior Class Council, Marching and Symphonic Band for 4 years, Orchestra, NHS (committee chair), French NHS (President senior year), Science NHS, Music NHS, Camp Counselor, Science Tutor, Book Clubs, 200-300 volunteer hours with various organizations
Major: Politics (pre-law)
Denied: Cornell, NYU (she knew these were reaches, but wanted to take her shot)
Waitlisted: U of Richmond
Admitted: Pitt (Honors, $5k/yr scholarship, guaranteed law program with $20k/yr scholarship for law school); U Delaware (Honors, $12k/yr); UMBC ($5k/yr; didn’t apply to Honors); Fordham ($25k/yr scholarship and $7,500/yr in grants); U of MD (Scholars Program, no scholarship $); JMU ($10k/yr and Honors-she didn’t apply for Honors but they still admitted her); American University (Cornerstone Program; $22k/yr in scholarships and $12k/yr in grants).
She’ll be attending American.
In case anyone is curious about transfer results, I’ll post for my S22. He spent two years at UMass and it was never a good fit - he tried hard to like it and did make some friends and was engaged in activities but decided to apply to transfer in the middle of his sophomore year.
3.85 gpa/Psychology major
Accepted: UNC Chapel Hill (attending), NC State, UGA
Rejected: UVA and UT Austin
He has already headed off to UNC - here’s hoping he likes it.
Paying it forward after two years of reading CC by sharing DD’s results:
School type: Public
Location: Pennsylvania
Race/gender: White female, no hooks
GPA: 3.85/4.1 (u/w)
ACT: 35
5 APs
ECs: 500+ hours volunteering at a therapeutic horse facility, tutoring, work at local restaurant, etc. No major awards.
Planned major: Computer science
Accepted:
Dickinson (with merit scholarship)
Connecticut College (with merit scholarship)
Mount Holyoke (with merit scholarship)
Elon (with merit scholarship)
Muhlenberg (with merit scholarship)
Bryn Mawr
Virginia Tech
Waitlisted (declined both):
William and Mary
Smith College
Rejected:
Wesleyan University
Vassar
She’s thrilled to be attending Mount Holyoke. It was one of her top choices, and her standout top choice after admitted students’ day. The generous scholarship certainly helped.
One of the earliest posts I read on CC said something to the effect that “every school that collegevine said my kid had a 40% or greater chance at, they got into.” That was exactly our case: all the schools that it estimated her chances at >40%, she was admitted to. The two that were 30-40%, she was waitlisted. And the two below 30%, she was rejected.
Congrats on Umd! Impressive achievement
I’ve debated sharing D24’s results since last May but ultimately hope this will help another student or two out there. Thank you to all those who have shared and commented in these forums. I’ve learned so much from you.
Large Urban MA Public HS
UW GPA: 4.27/4.33
SAT: 1500 (800M/700V) one take
Rank: Top 1-2% of 450
APs: 5s in Chemistry, Computer Science A, Calculus BC, 4 in Physics I
Coursework: AP US Government and Politics, AP Physics I, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, Honors Multivariable Calculus
Work Experience: one year computer science internship at an international tech company
National Honor Society
National Merit Commended Scholar
Silver award winner national Chinese essay contest
Honorable Mention major U.S. symphony orchestra high school concerto competition
Bronze President’s Volunteer Service Award
Essays about flute, board games, dungeons and dragons gaming sessions and being a fifth generation Asian American.
Music Supplemental submitted to non-music conservatory schools
ECs:
All National Honors ensemble
4 years All State ensemble
9 years local youth orchestra
4 years school band/orchestra (section leader)
1 year school newspaper illustrator
2 years junior varsity soccer
1-2 years ultimate frisbee
1 year volunteer teaching assistant at weekend Chinese school
3 years volunteer musician at assisted living facilities
2 years volunteer flute teacher at local elementary school/youth orchestra
4 summers at high school music programs
LORs:
Calculus teacher
Latin teacher
private flute teacher
local youth orchestra music director
Submitted prescreen auditions to:
Juilliard (denied)
Colburn (denied)
Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester (passed)
New England Conservatory (passed)
Manhattan School of Music (passed)
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (passed)
Rice University Shepherd School of Music (passed)
University of Southern California Thornton School of Music (passed)
Applied early action at MIT and was accepted
Submitted regular action:
Eastman School of Music (accepted)
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (accepted)
Rice University Shepherd School of Music (waitlisted → denied)
New England Conservatory (accepted)
Manhattan School of Music (accepted)
University of Southern California Thornton School of Music (withdrew)
University of Washington School of Music (withdrew)
Harvard University (waitlisted → denied)
Through the application process, D24 love love loved Eastman, everything about it especially the flute professor, and IU Jacobs was welcoming, open and warm with a great flute professor. Deciding among Eastman, IU Jacobs and MIT was extremely difficult. She decided to enroll at MIT.
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Decision made, so here are most of the results. Waiting on 1 school but it was a reach and she has already committed to her top choice.
Stats: 3.6/4.1 GPA. Mostly test optional but submitted 1240 to three schools. 7 IB courses, two sport varsity athlete and captain of one team. Three school productions, student council, many other clubs and volunteering. Lifeguard and swim coach.
Elon: Accepted EA $10k annual merit TO
Michigan State: Accepted rolling $15k annual merit/$5k study abroad merit. Submitted test scores
LSU: Accepted Rolling. $15k annual merit. Submitted test scores
University of Arizona: Accepted rolling. $12,500 annual merit. TO
University of CO-Boulder: Accepted EA TO
Indiana University: Accepted EA. $5k annual merit. TO
University of Tennessee Knoxville: Deferred EA. Waitlisted RD. Scores required.
Clemson: Deferred EA. Rejected RD. TO
University of South Carolina: Deferred EA. Accepted RD. $10k annual merit. TO. COMMITTED!!
NC State: Deferred EA. No decision yet.
Overall a pretty successful application season. No surprises and she got into her top choice so all around happy!
My D25 has officially made her decision—she committed to UMD over the weekend!
She initially applied to five schools (Pitt, Temple, Delaware, UMBC, and UMD) with plans to pursue a pre-vet path. Our goal was to keep her close to home and within a budget of $30K per year.
Stats:
- GPA: 4.0 (UW) / 4.91 (W)
- ACT: 33
- AP Courses: AP US History, AP Gov, AP World History, AP Physics C, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Lang, AP Literature, and AP Psychology
Extracurriculars:
- Part-time job as a piano accompanist
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) for a local First Aid unit
- Volunteer pianist at local hospitals
- Active participation in several school clubs
College Offers & Scholarships:
- Pitt: $10K/yr scholarship; didn’t apply for Honors
- [Temple]: $20K/yr scholarship; invited to Honors College
- Delaware: $16K/yr scholarship; invited to Honors College
- [UMBC]: $7K/yr scholarship; didn’t apply for Honors College
- [UMD]: $8K/yr scholarship + $1.2K book allowance; invited to Honors College
She ultimately chose UMD because of the cost, proximity to home, and the in-house farm as part of their Animal Science program.
I’m finally done with admissions so here are my results : ) unsure where I’m committing since I’m trying to get more aid from MHC and still have to try and visit schools, but I’m super proud of (and surprised about) my results!
Demographics:
- White girl from the Bay Area, teeny tiny (<250 kids) public school. Transferred out of a larger school Junior year.
- No hooks
Stats:
- 4.0 UW/4.04 W. School has no AP or honors classes, but I took DE Psychology and am currently in DE Precalculus
- Test optional (didn’t take SAT or ACT)
- Top 10% of ~50 kids (only know this because I had the ELC thing for UCs)
- 5 years of Math, 4 of English and Electives, 3 of Soc. Studies and Science (all labs), 2 of Spanish. I maxxed out all class progression at my school except for science, I was unable to take 4 years simply due to scheduling.
Extracurriculars:
- Horseback riding was my big one. I’ve done it throughout high school (and before) every week. I take lessons and help my instructor train some horses, and go up on weekends to ride on my own.
- At my previous high school, I was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper for its first 2 years.
- Interscholastic Equestrian Association my first 2 years of HS. Chosen to represent my team at Regionals.
- Paid internship senior year in school wellness center, focusing on educating students about teen mental health.
- I spend every summer up at my grandmother’s ranch, helping out with things she can’t do because of mobility issues. I feed animals, clean pastures, help fix stuff, etc. I wasn’t sure how to list this on the Common App but I listed it under “family obligations.”
- Membership in various clubs (D&D, GSA, Activism and Advocacy, Book Club)
Essays:
- Personal essay on being raised with the internalized misogyny flavor of feminism, supplementals on various things depending on the prompt. My MHC supp was definitely my best, it was a blast to write (did it on equine behavioural science). I submitted every optional essay.
LORs:
- Junior + Senior year history teacher (was unable to read it)
- Junior year English teacher (also unable to read)
- Principal - she and I are super close, I read her letter and it was so so sweet.
Results:
- UC Merced: Accepted, but got zero aid
- Ohio Wesleyan: Accepted w/ $43k per year
- Knox College: Accepted w/ $48k per year (their acceptance box was so nice!)
- Gustavus Adolphus: Accepted w/ $40k per year
- St. Olaf: Accepted w/ $31k Regents + $3k housing scholarships!! My top choice alongside MHC, my AO sent me a handwritten postcard <3
- Macalester: Rejected
- Carleton: Rejected
- CWRU: Rejected
- Wellesley: Rejected
- Mount Holyoke: Accepted!! With a $20k/yr leadership award that I seriously didn’t expect
- Bryn Mawr: Rejected
I’m nowhere near as impressive as a lot of people on here, but I’m really proud of myself for getting into good schools with merit aid! Thank god this process is over 
Congrats on several great choices!
Congratulations on fantastic acceptances! If you want to continue riding on an IHSA team, MHC and Gustavus both have western teams. My D26 met the western coach at MHC, and she was lovely- and the barn is right off campus, depending on your dorm you could walk or ride a bike over. St. Olaf is a gorgeous campus, although they don’t have an equestrian team, they used to have a group that got together for trail rides. Wherever you end up, you’ll do great- you have terrific options!
Thank you!! I’m not super familiar with riding western, but if I end up at MHC I’m definitely hoping to try out for their IDA team (IHSA but dressage). I believe St. Olaf has an equestrian club, but it might not be active anymore.
Gotcha- I read ‘ranch’ and assumed you rode western, as well! The equestrian facility at MHC is top notch and it’s cool they have an IDA team!
We are all done! Thanks to everyone who helped out over the last couple years between D23 and S25. I can’t believe I never have to/get to do this again.
I wanted in particular to post S25’s results because we were very torn about being test optional, I have a couple threads about AP scores and whether to submit his mid 1300s SAT which he refused to practice or retake. In the end he went completely test optional without submitting his AP scores (which are 4s and 5s with one 3) or his SAT, except to Auburn.
S25 wanted to study business, preferred the southeast. He wanted a small to medium sized school.
Hooks - He is a legacy to W&L.
S25’s results.
GPA 4.0 UW/4.33 W (it’s a light weighting system, I don’t get it)
AP Courses: AP Human Geography, AP World History, AP US History, AP Comp Gov, AP Lang, AP Lit, AP Bio, AP Physics 1, AP Stats, and AP Calc AB
Extracurriculars:
Competitive Climber (Captain of the team, National level)
Trivia Team (Captain)
Hospital Volunteer (more than 500 hours)
Plays in a rock band as well as pep and concert bands
Works as a lifeguard 10 hours a week
Recommendations were excellent, from his AP Lang and AP Physics teachers.
His essay was quirky and about his love of playing the guitar.
College Offers & Scholarships: Including Total Annual Merit
Likely Schools
Miami Ohio: Accepted to Farmers and Honors College $21K merit
Elon: Accepted 10K merit invite to Honors and Fellows (turned down)
Gonzaga: Accepted $37,300 merit and Honors College
Rollins: Accepted 30K merit invite to 3/2 MBA Program
Match Schools
Auburn: Accepted 3k merit (submitted scores)
Furman: Accepted 36k merit - Duke Scholar finalist (alternate)
Sewanee: Accepted 28k merit
SMU: Accepted $27,500 merit - Accepted to Cox and a BBA Scholar
Trinity University: Accepted 33k merit - Tower Scholar finalist
Reach Schools
Lehigh: Accepted 15k merit
University of Richmond: Accepted (no merit)
Washington and Lee: Accepted
Wake Forest: Waitlisted (declined)
Notre Dame: Deferred then Rejected
He’ll be attending W&L in the Fall! We’re very happy with his results and it seems like test optional probably hurt him with ND and the legacy hooked probably helped with W&L. Overall, very proud.
Something crazy - this thread was started before my S25 was born!!!
Congrats! Your son had some great outcomes at a wide range of schools, and you should be very proud! I bet he will love w&l
Valedictorian, 1520, 12 APs, molecular biology (Pre-Med), major heavy ECs
Accepted:
- Yale (committed!!)
- Cornell
- JHU
- UC Berkeley
- Georgetown
- UCLA
- UMich
- UNC
- Northeastern (Nu.IN)
- UCSD
- Vassar
- Villanova
- In state safeties
Waitlisted:
- Harvard (staying on waitlist)
- Dartmouth
- Columbia
- Duke
- Vanderbilt
- WashU
- NYU
- Notre Dame
- Tufts
- BU
Rejected:
- Brown ED
- Stanford
- UPenn
- UChicago
- Northwestern