What are some top-tier schools love high stat kids/having awesome stats is a major component for admissions decision? I know Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt fit this description, but what are some others?
Any of the most selective universities expect high statistics plus a well rounded individual who will add something to the university. However, it is probably the moderately selective universities where high statistics can attract the best merit packages because they really want to have students with strong academic credentials.
Princeton, Georgetown
@doschicos I thought Princeton was like Harvard and Yale, where they look more on the subjective factors to make decision.
@ZucchiniSoup - Not according to the naviance charts at my kids’ private high school. Acceptances were in the tippy top, upper right hand corner. It stood out to me amongst all the Ivies and top schools as being that way and was echoed by the college counseling dept.
For the most selective schools it is necessary to be across the board top of the charts strong.
As another poster had indicated merit money is more readily available for high stats kids at the tiers below the most selective schools. Schools ranked 25th and lower (in our experience, 30th and lower) is where significant merit scholarships become available.
My response is purely technical, I am not suggesting in any way that these lesser ranked schools are not fantastic schools.
Research schools Common Data Sets and see where you or your child’s stats place you at or very near the top for a particular school. Then check to make sure these schools award merit scholarships.
Super-selective schools want you to have high stats just as a baseline (unless you have a super-hook or something else extremely unusual that they like). They then use other factors to determine whom they admit out of a large pool of high stats applicants.
Unless you have a super-hook or something extremely unusual that they like, you basically need high stats and some high level achievement or award in an EC or some such, and no “defects” (in such things as recommendation or interview).
Would a white, first generation student majoring in Russian/Russian studies qualify as such? @ucbalumnus
Not if he is of Russian descent.
@seal16 Why not if of Russian descent? Isn’t it still someone completing a relatively uncommon major?
Also, this would vary between the ED round and RD round at some schools.
@PurpleTitan What would vary?
Caltech for sure. Rare to see them admit someone with less than 3.8 uw or 2200 SAT.
First generation may be a positive point, but is not a super-hook or anything like that. Expect to need high stats and high level extracurricular achievements.
An uncommon intended major may or may not matter. If it does matter, it may be more difficult to switch into a more popular major later.
@ucbalumnus I have high stats. The only high level extracurricular achievement I really have is qualifying for Quiz Bowl nationals (but probably won’t be able to go because school messed up with registration) and MUN awards. What would be some high level extracurricular achievements? Also how much does first generation help? How much of a hook is it relative to a URM?
Whether high stats are enough to give someone a good shot at admission. At some schools, in the ED round, while high stats may not guarantee an admit, it certainly does seem that the school has a strategy of locking in a certain number of high-stats kids (while RD is the crapshoot that it tends to be at any private elite).
All schools love high stats kids. All of them.
Then why do people on this forum always cite Vanderbilt and Washington University in St. Louis looking very favorably upon high stats kids?
USC
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Also how much does first generation help? How much of a hook is it relative to a URM?
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Not much. NO, it’s not like being a URM. URM numbers are highly touted and reported because they demonstrate diversity; First Gen numbers don’t get nearly the same attention.
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shucks, my family income is just a hair above 100k
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and that’s another thing…being low income and first gen is meaningful. Being upper middle class and first gen is not likely going to move any Adcom.
Vanderbilt
WashU