Is he aiming too high?

Consolation
Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:54:57 +0000

I have to disagree with some of the other posters. Frankly, based on the results of kids I know I’d say MIT and the Ivies are very unlikely with many Bs in academic subjects. No harm in adding a couple to the list, though. The one way to make sure you don’t get in is to not apply. If he can pull As in his junior year his chances would improve.

Of the kids I know, to give you some idea, one very bright kid with a similar academic profile and scores but weaker ECs got into Northeastern (rejected from MIT, Olin, Harvard). Kid with somewhat stronger profile–both academically and in similar ECs–got in to Carnegie Mellon and Tufts and others I can’t recall, but rejected from MIT. Another kid at the top of his class in a private school with music ECs and top scores and grades was just deferred/rejected from MIT ED. One kid I know who got in to MIT was val with straight-As, better scores, and better music ECs. It’s tough out there. Obviously, this is anecdotal evidence, but these happen to be kids I know pretty well.

U of Rochester seems like a great fit. Carnegie Mellon and Tufts seem like reasonable reaches. Do you have any good instate choices?