AdmissionsatMostSelectiveCollegesSample2014

TheseexamplesweregatherfromcolleaguesaroundtheUS.Someincludeonlystudents
statisticalinfo,butmanyalsoincludeextracurricularactivities,awards,etc.Theyserveasa
snapshotofwhichkidsaregettingintothemostselectiveandelitecollegesinthecountry.
Mostdonot,however,includeinformationaboutwhetherornotastudentwasarecruited
athlete,firstgenerationcollegestudent,memberofanunderrepresentedpopulation,legacy,
orhasothercharacteristicswhichmayweigh(sometimesheavily)intoanacceptanceoffer.In
otherwords,somestudentsmaybeadmittedwithlowerscores/grades,buthaveotherpros
thatthecollegefindsworthyofadmission.

1) FromacolleagueatanexclusiveEastCoastprivateschool:

Hereisarecordofapplicantstoanumberofthemostselectiveuniversitiesataverystrong
independentschool.Iknowtheschoolwell,andithasasomewhatdeflatedgradingcurve.
Thegpasareobviouslyweighted.

BrownUniversity4.7730770690219033RDWaitlisted
BrownUniversity4.64680800730221033RDDenied

ColumbiaUniversity4.64650750760216034RDDenied
ColumbiaUniversity3.7550570650177020RDDenied
ColumbiaUniversity4.26606707302060RDAccepted
ColumbiaUniversity4.55750750770227031EDAccepted
ColumbiaUniversity3.46730500690192029RDDenied
ColumbiaUniversity4.94800800800240034RDDenied

HarvardUniversity4.64650750760216034RDDenied
HarvardUniversity4.85750800770232036RDNodecision
HarvardUniversity4.26606707302060READenied
HarvardUniversity4.72690680640201031RDDenied
HarvardUniversity4.72770800770234034RDDenied
HarvardUniversity3.85610710580190030EAAccepted
HarvardUniversity4.94800800800240034RDNodecision

MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology4.64650750760216034RDDenied
MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology4.37807708002350EADenied
MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology4.72770800770234034RDDenied

PrincetonUniversity4.64650750760216034RDDenied
PrincetonUniversity4.85750800770232036RDDenied
PrincetonUniversity4.26606707302060RDWaitlisted
PrincetonUniversity4.668008007602360RDDenied
PrincetonUniversity4.72770800770234034RDDenied
PrincetonUniversity4.67780750690222034RDDenied
PrincetonUniversity4.94800800800240034RDDenied


StanfordUniversity4.64650750760216034READenied
StanfordUniversity4.85750800770232036READenied
StanfordUniversity4.72770800770234034READenied
StanfordUniversity4.67780750690222034REAAccepted
StanfordUniversity4.94800800800240034READenied
StanfordUniversity4.53720770770226031READenied

YaleUniversity4.26606707302060RDDenied
YaleUniversity4.72770800770234034RDDenied
YaleUniversity4.94800800800240034RDDenied

2.
ThispastcycleIhadastudentfromagoodpublicschoolinNewYorkStatewhowasdeferredEDat

Cornell.Shehasa34ACT,750sonhersubjecttests,a4.25GPA(W),2B+onrecord,8AP/IB
includingCalc,Bio,ChemandUSH,3summersasacampcounselor,solidcommunityservice.Onthe
plusside,sheisacceptedatUVAgofigure!

3.IhadastudentthatIpartneredwithanesteemedcolleagueon,andsheappliedEDandwasaccepted
toDartmouth.Criticaltoheracceptancewasaverylovelyandcompellingpeerletter,whichis
required,thatnotonlylistedtraits,butgaveexamplesinaverypersonalway.Gavewonderfulinsights
intothestudentinawaythatanessaycannot.Beyondthat,thisstudentattendedaprivateschool,7
APs,3.85(uw)notasingleBorB+,34ACT,790Math2,770USH.Threesportstartingvarsity
athlete,academicprizesforMathandforHistory,aswellasforScholarAthlete.CochairofChem
Olympicsteam,Coeditorofforeignlanguagequarterlymagazine,SecretaryofEnvironmentalClub,
selectedforNJJuniorCommissiononStatusofWomen,volunteertutorinunderservedcommunities
throughboysandgirlsclub,summercampcounselorfortwosummers,andinternshiponwallstreet
onesummer.Nolegacyorotherconnectionstothecollege.Visitedonceandinterviewed(not
required).

4.
Mydaughter'sfriendgraduatedafewyearsagofrom[atopCaliforniahighschool]HighSchool.Shetook
allthedifficultAPclassesChem,Physics,etc.Shetookabout8APclasses.ShehadoneB+insecond
semesterAPPhysics(andshewasnotinthetop4%atherHighSchool).Ithinkshewasanationalmerit
scholar,almostperfectscores.Swimmer(notgreat),debateteam(didwell).
HerfirstchoicewasDuke,sheappliestoseveralivysandTufts,etc.
TheonlyschoolshewasacceptedintowasUCBerkeley(Californiaresident).
(note:wedidnotworkwiththisstudent,Idon'tknowwhatherapplicationlookedlike).

5.Female
4.0unweighted,4.5weighted.
Avaledictorianatherhighschool
2150SAT
OneofthetophurdlersinsouthernCA.Also,verystronggymnasticsandpiano.
AdmittedtoUCBerkeley,UCLA,WashU
DeniedatStanfordandDuke

6.Male

4.0unweighted
FullIBcurriculum
Avaledictorianathishighschool
2210SAT
Activeinseveralsportsandclubsthroughouthighschool.
Admitted:BostonCollege,UofSanDiego,USC,WashU
DeniedatStanfordandUPenn

7.CaucasianFemale,PreMedinterests,ProfessionallyEducatedParents,Nofinancialneed
UnweightedGPA4.0,Valedictorianofherlargesuburbanhighschool
NationalMeritFinalist(219)
ACTComposite33topsubscoresfromtwotestdates35,34,36,33,Writing10sentallscores
Completed7APcoursesthroughjunioryearall5's,Mostrigorouscurriculumavailable
SATSubjectTest:Math2760

ActivitiesHighlights:
CaptainofDebateTeamCoachedyoungerstudentswhenfacultyadvisorleftsuddenly.Individualandteam
successatStatelevel.
EstablishedcommunityrecognizedFoodShelfwithinherhighschoolforhungrysuburbanstudentsand
families,overcomingadministrationresistanceofseveralyearsduration.Becameaspeakertohelpother
highschoolsfollowthesamemodel.
Selectedasoneofonlytwohighschoolstudentstoworkasapaidresearchfellow(alongwithundergrads
fromacrossthenation)attheLilleheiHeartInstitutethesummerbeforeandthesummerafterhersenior
yearofhighschool.(NofamilyconnectionstotheUortheprogram)

ListandResults
:

BostonCollegeAccepted,FinalistforPresidentialFullTuitionScholarship
UniversityofChicagoDeferredEA,AcceptedRD
HarvardWaitlistRD,Denied
JohnsHopkinsAccepted
UMinnesotaAccepted,CollegeofBiologicalSciences
UniversityofNotreDameAccepted,FinalistfortheHesburghYuskoFullTuitionScholars
Program
PrincetonDenied
StanfordDenied
WashingtonUatSt.LouisAccepted
UWMadisonAccepted
YaleDenied

8.Female,2230SAT,3.9GPAunweighted,
2SATsubjectsabove700,
3creditbearingAPscoresfromjunioryear,
Extensiveresumeofserviceleadershipatschoolandatplaceofworship,extensivesummerwork
experiencerelatingtointendedmajorofdevelopmental/childpsychology.
Senioryearcontained4APcoursesandonehonorscourse,
Wroteexcellent&compellingessaysforbothCommonApp&supplementtoPenn.

RejectedEDPennnotdeferredtoRD,stillwaitingtohearfrommostcolleges.
Noonefromhighschoolacceptedeither

9.Female,3.87GPAunweighted,
2SATsubjectsabove700
4creditbearingAPscoresfromjunioryearall4s&5s.
Extensiveleadershipinschoolandatplaceofworship,selfstarterandbeganactiveschoolclubtochange
culturalnormsaroundcampussexism
Senioryearcontained3APcourses,oneadvancedcourseandoneregularcourse
Wrotegoodessays,notexcellentbutstrong.
DoublelegacySwarthmorebothparents
RejectedEDSwarthmorenotdeferredtoRD,stillwaitingtohearfrommostcolleges.

10.
Female,InternationalBaccalaureatecandidate.Shewas"Harvardorbust"atthestart.

SATOct.2013.Score=2260R:750M:710W:800R&W=1460(totalscoreequatestoa34onACT)
ACTJune2013Composite33.R:31M:30Science:29Writing/English:35Essay10outof12.

SATMathIISubj.test770
SATHistorySubj.test780
SATLiteratureSubj.test650
APUSHistory:4
APLang:4
APEuro:5
APStats:4
APchem:3
IBPhysics:5

GPAWeighted:4.37(endofjuniorfall)5.0endofseniorfall.Wesubmittedspringnumbersonappsand
theywereatleastspringnumbersbutforsomereasonIdon'thavethecopy.)
Decilerank:1(top10%ofherclass)classsize715
Resume"CaseStudy#1"isattached.

Appliedto:USC,Dartmouth,ClaremontMcKenna,Stanford,Yale,Pepperdine,UniversityofSanDiego,
Duke(andSeattlePacificUniversityonherownbecauseIthinkshewashavingdoubtsaboutheroptions).

Acceptancesfrom:
USC
PepperdinewithRegent'sScholarshipfor$22,200/yearrenewable.
SeattlePacificwithTrustee'sscholarship$17,000,ministryserviceawardof$1,500andUniversityScholars
HonorsPrograminvitation
UniversityofSanDiegowithAlcalascholarshipandHonorsProgram.Awardrangesfrom
$10,00025,000/yearrenewable

Denied:Dartmouth,Stanford,Yale,Duke
WaitlistedatClaremontMcKenna

11.Male,4.35weighted,M800,CR670,W640
BilingualRussian/EnglishbornRussia,livedinNJsincehewas4
5'sonCalc,Chem,andPhysicsAPs
AlsotookmostchallengingcourseshishighschoolofferedsenioryearclasseswereAPBio,Honors
MandarinChinese,APMicro/Macro,APLangandComp,APUSGovtandPolitics,APStatsA'sinall
courses
Greatleadership:
Seniorclasspresident
CreatedandledSTEMclubathighschoolfor4years
Foundedschool'sMockTrialteamandwascaptain
Andvolunteerism:
VolunteeredforCoryBooker'scampaignandwounduprunninghisPrincetonoffice
Andpaidwork:
Mathtutor
Greatkid,verypersonable,hardworker,verytalentedatmathtookCalcasafreshmanandthentook
advancedmathatPrincetonUniversityasasophomoreandjuniorB'sinhisPrincetonUniversitymath
classes
Ihaveeveryreasontobelievethathehadstrongrecommendations

AppliedPrincetonEDwaitlisted

deniedatSwarthmore,Penn,andCarnegieMellon

admittedRice(Weiss)with$,RPI,Lehigh,Rutgers,UofRochesterwith$

12.
Male
DualUS&AustralianCitizenship
AttendedlargepublicHighschool
ExtensivetravelexperienceinAsia,SouthAmericaandEuropeincludinghavinglivedin
CatalunyaandAustralia.
ConcertlevelBassoonistwhohadsoloexperiences,stateHonorBand,YouthSymphony1st
chairandaverystrongresume.TouredBrasilwiththeBassoonandwroteabeautifulessay
aboutplayingintheManausOperaHouse.Playedwithanearlymusicensemblewhilein
Catalunya.
TournamentTennisand4yearsVarsityplayingtennisinboththeUSandSpain.
StartedthebranchofNHSathishighschoolwhichbecamethelargestserviceorganizationat
hishighschool.
StudentGovernment
Independentresearchwhereherodehisbikearoundtowntakingwatersamplesfromevery
schoolwaterfountaintotestforlead.Thiswasinspiredbecausehisyoungersisterwasata
preschoolonanoldschoolsite.HetalkedaUCadjunctintohelpinghimtestthesamples.
InternshipattheUCDavisMindInstitute.
NationalChemistryawardalthoughhedidn'ttakeAPCalcasaSophomore.Hisschooldenied
Sophomoresentrythatyearalthoughafewstudentsfoughttheirwayin.
HighestlevelcourseworkathisHighSchoolwiththeexceptionofBCCalc.GPAdidhaveB'sin
hisFreshmanyear.3.875unweighted4.2weighted.
PerfectSATScoresinJanuaryofhisJuniorYear.

PerfectSubjectTestsinChem,LiteratureandtheMathII.780intheSpanish
NationalMeritSemifinalist
Employedeverysummerasatenniscoachforunder15'ssincetheageof15.
Employedthroughtheschoolyearwithalocalnonprofitthatorganizescharityathleticeventsas
theyouthcoordinator.
MultipleregionalawardsincludingaChannel10studentoftheMonth.
Hedidneedfunding.
Extremelywellreadandselfdriven.

AppliedasChemistryorNeurosciencesmajorto:
Stanford
denied
Princeton
accepted
Attended
Harvard
denied
Yale
acceptedEA
Brown
waitlisted
Columbia
denied
Davidson
accepted
Oberlin
acceptedwithmajorscholarship
Pomona
accepted
UCLA
denied
UCB
accepted
UCSD
denied(wecalledanditwasbecausetheyhadconsideredhimaforeignstudent.Hewasaccepted
overthephonewhenhishighschoolcounselorpointedouttheyhadmadeamistake)

13.
Female,Caucasian,not1stgen,ACT33,SAT2170,SATBio680,SATEngLit

760,SATMathII690,GPA4.4weighted,fullIBdiploma.AcceptedatBarnard,Scripps,
UniversityofRochester,UniversityofSanFrancisco,UniversityofOregon.Deniedat
Brown,Stanford,Pomona.AttendingScripps.

14.Female,Caucasian,not1stgen,ACT34,SAT2380,SATEngLit800,SATMathII
710,SATSpanish760,GPA4.4weighted,fullIBdiploma.AcceptedatBarnard,
Georgetown,Penn,ClaremontMcKenna,Scripps.DeniedatHarvard,Columbia.
AttendingClaremontMcKenna.

15.Male,Hispanic,1stgen,ACT27,SATMathII740,SATPhysics640,GPA4.4
weighted,fullIBdiploma.AcceptedatKenyon,Middlebury,Tufts,UniversityofOregon,
Yale.DeniedatHarvard,Pitzer.AttendingYale.

16.Male,Hispanic,1stgen,ACT26,SATMathII780,SATPhysics740,GPA4.5
weighted,fullIBdiploma.AcceptedatGrinnell,HarveyMudd,ReedCollege,University
ofRochester,UniversityofOregon.DeniedatColumbia,Harvard,Princeton,WashU
St.Louis.AttendingHarveyMudd.GatesMilleniumScholarshipWinner.