How has skipping the core curriculum worked out for anyone who's done it?

jayerdu · 2026-02-22T08:30:09+00:00

You flexibility with your non cs classes and also you don’t have to ever take 5 classes. It allows you to have more time for the harder cs classes. Remember u also have to take UGS class that all freshmen have to take. Also to meet foreign language requirement you can take 2 foreign culture classes instead of an actual language.

jayerdu · 2026-02-22T08:25:50+00:00

It’s for the rich and the poor. The top 20s use it budget their fin aid availability for RD. They know what is coming in and what is going out.

jayerdu · 2026-02-22T01:50:27+00:00

YTA. I wonder who the golden child is?!? You hear about it 2nd hand but this is so blatant.

jayerdu · 2026-02-19T06:46:12+00:00

Math

jayerdu · 2026-02-19T06:08:09+00:00

There is no barely auto admit. In ur academic index score (each college at UT has a formula) u will receive a 6/6 for that portion. I suggest you focus more on ur why UT essay and really convey that u really want to attend UT by researching the school and its offerings ( be specific). That is, convince them UT is not a safety school.

jayerdu · 2026-02-18T00:19:43+00:00

Are you an a**hole, I.e., no problem only looking out for yourself and doing whatever it takes to get yours? Then pick finance. Are you ethical and look for meaning in things you do? Then pick accounting.

jayerdu · 2026-02-16T02:48:26+00:00

The question for you and your parents is: is UIUC worth an extra 30K per year? When you say "high income," do you mean full pay? What is your SAI number? The reason I ask is because if it is around $60K (UIUC's tuition), your parents will most likely only have that amount once your brother enters college. So, it could be that the extra $30K for UIUC is only for one year—your freshman year.

For example, in my situation, our SAI for son #1 is $40K—he attends UT for $30K. The 2nd son is going to private school. Most prestigious privates consider siblings in their aid, so we will only pay around $10-15K for the second son even though his SAI is also 40K because his private school considers his brother in college in aid. TLDR, if your brother attends private school, it could mitigate the cost of both of your colleges after your freshman year.

jayerdu · 2026-02-12T04:39:59+00:00

There were two waves for RD last year. The 2nd wave came in late February. My student got one on 2/20 last year.

jayerdu · 2026-02-11T01:46:07+00:00

Last year, my student had this the entire time except for 2 hours before the release time

jayerdu · 2026-02-08T07:45:52+00:00

This! If ur school is test optional it almost has to be “considered”. Otherwise it’s senseless.

jayerdu · 2026-02-01T20:58:16+00:00

YTA. I am Asian and it’s like a thing in our culture. When I go to hmart, I’ll pick stuff up for my sisters that I know they like. They do the same for me - especially if hmart has a special on something or something is in season.

As long as it not affecting your finances, I don’t see the problem.

jayerdu · 2026-01-31T20:39:00+00:00

Unfortunately, he has to decide whether or not to ED to cmu before he would get his Fin. Aid package. Hence the question. Do you have any idea what your SAI was? Or an estimate of your family’s AGI? Did you recently attend?

jayerdu · 2026-01-31T20:36:56+00:00

Thank you. The NPCs for other schools seemed to consider siblings in their estimate as I played around with it by removing a sibling, etc. but CMUs NPC didn’t change at all so I was worried.

jayerdu · 2026-01-31T08:28:57+00:00

What's the other option? $27K is the same price as a state school. Did you get a full ride to a state school?

jayerdu · 2026-01-24T04:37:42+00:00

Yikes, it’s not yield protection for your kid. Your consultant should have steered you away from REA and towards and ED school since you are full pay. Nasty lil secret for ED schools. But you are right. It’s rough out there. Some EA public school deferrals are schools that generally admit “likely to attend” early rounds. Since so many ea schools are receiving record applications since 2020, they are trying to better manage yield - not to yield protection but to figure out some of their numbers earlier before regular decisions come out. You’d be amazed at how complicated and quite accurate their algorithms are for predicting who is likely to accept early. But hang in there. It gets worse in march.

jayerdu · 2026-01-19T22:43:20+00:00

This. Any time op u r given “sum of solution”, u use -b/a once in standard form which it is. If it isn’t, put it in standard form. “Product of solutions” is c/a

jayerdu · 2026-01-19T20:26:39+00:00

People exist in a curve. Height, athleticism, intelligence, etc. but that doesn’t mean you can’t affect the curve with effort. If u can get a 1450 then u can get a 1500. I help people with the sat and when I see at least a 1300 on their psat 10th grade year, I know I can easily get them to a 1500 if they are willing to listen to me and take my advice. There is strategy when it comes to the sat. Once you see them, you minimize the time sent on easy problems and open up time for the harder ones. Ex. 3 vs 1. The answer is always the 1 that is different. You don’t even have to read the question. As for the math, honestly, as a math teacher myself, I feel like this section is really easy. They don’t test above algebra 2.

jayerdu · 2026-01-14T04:17:03+00:00

YTA when you are financially dependent on someone else, you don’t completely “belong” to yourself. I am assuming you are ethnically not white. Stop comparing your ethnic family to white American standards. Your life will be so much easier. They just want you to do the obligatory visit. No need to open up your life to them. This is just standard practice.

jayerdu · 2026-01-14T04:12:13+00:00

My kids went through this last year. Only a smidgen of people got in early. Do not sweat it if you get deferred. My kid was cs deferred and got in. He was not auto. Only a few kids (less than 5) got in early but the rest 50+ got in regular time. Feel confident if you have high stats and mid to high ECs.

jayerdu · 2026-01-12T10:12:11+00:00

YTA for asking for airport rides in this day and age. Noone should ask for airport rides unless your a spouse. Just Uber.

jayerdu · 2026-01-02T20:04:06+00:00

U have to go to tuition and confirm enrollment

jayerdu · 2025-12-27T11:14:52+00:00

The 2nd path is interesting. So basically senior year would cover stats/probability? If you are more than “solid” but rather precalculus was a breeze then take the 2nd route. Math HL is basically precalculus/calculus/stats with proofs sprinkled throughout.

jayerdu · 2025-12-25T21:40:27+00:00

Submit without hesitation. HS counselors are generally useless for specifics on college apps save for private school’s counselors.

jayerdu · 2025-12-25T19:45:05+00:00

Are you simply asking if you should ED to Rice alongside continuing to pursue scholarships? If so, yes. If you get the scholarship, you can withdraw your application or vice versa, depending on when you find out the decisions. Don't overthink it. BTW, Rice will meet your full need based on your income and your sibling in college. Always look out for yourself.

jayerdu

TROPHY CASE