Parents of the HS Class of 2024 (Part 1)

Congrats!

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They do this once again to get high yield and get higher ranking. Once they decouple ranking and yield, I think students and Universities will do a better job in the application season.

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Congratulations!

Agreed! Have heard this about U of Chicago…and some others. Yield protection in full effect!

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Honestly scary though - if they call people and ask on the spot.

My last job offer I was asked - we’d like to offer you a job - do you accept?

I was like - how much and where (interviewed two cities).

And they said, if you accept, we’ll get you a number.

I mean, of course I’m accepting even if I’m not because I want to know.

I’d imagine that way you all described at U of Chicago would hurt yield because people would feel pressured to say yes regardless of true intention or just to keep it alive …or am I missing something?

But an institution of higher education and an esteemed one at that - wow.

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My D23 got a verbal offer thru her counselor off the WL in RD, three days after they WL her. So as in it was still midmarch. She had not even sent an email of continuing interest yet! UChic called the counselor unsolicited and said they loved her, definitely wanted her, but did WL bec didn’t think she was extremely interested, and couns was to convey that once she had all her answers (which the AO assumed correctly was ivy day or the next day(Duke), if UC was in the top 2 being considered theyd love to speak w her to offer admission and give her s few days to come visit again meet profs, etc, to make her choice. She had met the AO when they visited school, and had definitely been clear on interest. But….it was not in the top 2 (it was in a tie for 3rd) in the end so she politely declined the option. They are experts at yield, but it was not a pressured commit on the spot. We found out over the summer the Salutatorian was also WL by them, desperately wanted to get off, but they were not interested. Other than their close rank, they had fairly different resumes.

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It’s my ā€œthingā€ and I’ve TRIED my hardest to pass on to my kid! (since everything else is her Dad’s!) lol

What do you think the difference was that made them love your D23 (or not love the other student)? Something EC related?

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I just saw U2 at the Sohere - so awesome!

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I note yield isn’t a factor in the US News rankings, and wasn’t in the prior formula either:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

I personally think it is actually a bit of an ā€œurban mythā€ that colleges do these things to manipulate their yield statistics per se, which are not even widely reported anywhere–you usually have to look up their CDS and then do some math to even know what their yield has been.

Rather, I think they are doing it because they have found that is what leads to enrolling their best possible classes.

I would further note this is not, in my mind, a defense of these practices. To be very blunt, I think they are benefiting from the unnecessary anxiety and fear of missing out that this whole system produces, and indeed ramping up that psychological pressure at a critical moment.

But not because they are trying to get a better ranking or better statistic. But rather for the much more direct purpose of trying to get the kids they want in their classes to commit to them, essentially out of fear rather than out of a sincere belief they are the best match.

So that’s not cool, but unfortunately I do not believe this is going to go away easily. Because I think they are doing it because they find it works.

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This is so sweet… I plan to take some time off CC but will be back in Jan to check on all of you!

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What a wonderful school! Congratulations! We know lots of great kids who have had phenomenal experiences! Very excited and happy for your D24 and your family

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Hard to know—There were multiple small to medium differences in scores, ECs, rigor:
D was highest possible rigor, multiple regional/state academic and leadership/community awards, 1570 , longstanding Arts stuff, straight 5s on the hardest APs by end of 11th. The other one had a little ā€œlessā€ in every category but yet still was a great candidate and in range etc. Both unhooked white females.

YCBK described UChicago as having ā€œED3ā€ - they aggressively waitlist, then immediately start calling to see if you will commit if moved off the waitlist. It’s not a coincidence that they have the highest yield in the country.

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True in general, but UChicago (laughably) actually touts their high yield each year. And quite predictably we’ll see a new thread here on CC each May from a Chicago fanboy expressing their admiration that Chicago’s yield rate is now 2nd or 3rd best in the country. So they do manage this high yield target very carefully.

Correct. But yield rate is taken as a proxy for how desirable a school is, and UChicago takes this very seriously.

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Fingers and toes crossed for everyone waiting on tonight!!

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D24 got her first acceptance last night! It is a school in her top 3, and I’d personally be thrilled if she ended up there. Assuming she gets some merit, I think we can swing it, financially. I feel a great sense of relief and peace this morning. We considered this school a ā€œreachy matchā€ (if that’s a thing) for her, so hopefully it portends good news from her other schools in the next few weeks.

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Your name looks familiar - was this Bing? D24 is in the same boat. I like the term ā€œreachy matchā€ - I’d say the same of my daughter. The ā€œapplication completeā€ section disappeared this morning and I got the parent email on Tuesday - so hoping to hear tonight. My daughter would be thrilled as I’d say it is also a top 2 or 3 choice for her. Even without merit I think it would be more affordable than her other top pick of Fordham. I can’t wait until this week of EA decisions is over!

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Yes, Bing! Sending good luck vibes to your daughter. :crossed_fingers: :crossed_fingers:

I guess that is enough to do it at a place like U Chicago!

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