My daughter graduated 2nd in a very competative White/Asian high school in California (two valedictorians were both white, BTW). She had SAT and ACT scores in the 95+ percentile, 5’s on her APs including in Calculus I and II.
She had her heart set on attending an Ivy but was rejected by each of the ones she applied to, ditto for the class valedictorian who had PERFECT SAT scores, started a program for swimming for blind children at the local pool, 5s on APs, etc. He was rejected by ALL of the Ivies and Stanford. He asked what is it he didn’t do to get accepted? (my daughter too). Other valedictorian ended up at Stanford. Several non-whites below them in class ranking and SAT scores WERE accepted by Stanford and the Ivies.
You can’t imagine how crushing this is for these students.
Both went to Berkeley, and if it weren’t for Prop 209, I wonder if they would have been accpted there.
The fact is, admission into an Ivy is very competitive. My son applied to only one, and only because it’s located close to where we live. It really wasn’t his first choice; I talked him into applying when I saw his SAT score.
He is largely self-taught (through homeschool), and he scored in the top 1% on the SAT; at ages 16 and 17, he took some courses at a local college and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA there (in classes such as Calculus); and he was involved in many activities.
But, acceptance into an Ivy was a longshot, to say the least. There are many students with more impressive records. He expected rejection, and indeed, he was rejected.
Yes, probably most of the students who apply to the Ivies are qualified, but with 26,000 students applying, all of them with high SAT scores and high grades, a school has to make some hard choices. The Ivies have to look at the whole picture. I was wondering if the admissions officers would appreciate that my son was self-taught and still scored in the top 1%. But, apparently they didn’t... lol.
This young man (Kwasi) aced 11 AP courses, scored in the top 1% on the SAT, maintained an A-average through school, is a musician and singer, and works in the radiology department at a hospital. There is no doubt that he’s qualified.
Also, I noticed that he was accepted from one Ivy in December, which means he applied early.
So, I say CONGRATULATIONS to Kwasi! I’m sure he will excel wherever he chooses to go.
In the meantime, your daughter and my son and so many other excellent students also will succeed wherever they go.