can colleges reject you for being TOO smart?

Hey y’all,

I want you to imagine a scenario. Let’s say you’ve applied to a college where your stats far exceed the average.

Your GPA trumps the that of every other applicant. Your SAT? The highest the admissions committee has ever seen. And don’t even get me started on your course rigor. The admissions committee can’t fathom the fact that you took all 25 AP courses at your school.

But without skipping a beat, they gently place your application in the “reject” pile.

What gives?

This is the idea behind “yield protection,” a phenomenon that alleges colleges reject overqualified applicants. These schools, in order to protect their yield—i.e., the percentage of accepted applicants that choose to matriculate—will turn away students they assume will enroll into a more selective institution.

No school openly admits to yield protection, and only a select number of schools have ever been accused of the practice (Tufts being the most notorious), but here’s my opinion:

Yield protection doesn’t exist.

Many people think that yield protection is a myth propounded by students who failed to get into one of their matches or safeties. And look, while the argument is compelling (and maybe, just maybe, there might be an ounce of truth to this sentiment), here are three actual reasons a college might reject a student.

1. You Don’t Meet the Academic Threshold

You’re much more likely to rejected for falling below the academic standard, not above it (lol). While yes, the admissions process is holistic, the transcript remains the most important part of the application. Colleges first and foremost want to know that you can handle their curriculum.

They’ll pay attention to your overall GPA, individual grades, and of course, your course rigor. They want to see that you’ve taken the most challenging courses available to you.

Now what about SAT and ACT scores? How important are those?

Most schools are still test-optional, so if your scores fall below the 25th percentile, don’t submit them. In this case, admissions officers will pay extra attention to your transcript to get an idea of your academic ability.

And when it comes to AP scores, I recommend self-reporting the scores you’ll receive credit for (usually a 3 or higher). Luckily, colleges aren’t too judgmental about AP scores, so if you don’t have straight 5s yet want to go to a top college, don’t worry. You’re probably fine.

2. Your Essays Raise Red Flags

This is a big one. Think of your college essays as an extension of your character—you’re helping admissions officers envision what you’d be like as a peer, a roommate, and a student. You need to ensure these essays portray you in the best light possible.

Sometimes, I’ll come across essays that sound too pretentious or essays that highlight a narrow worldview. (Or both!)

For example, a student might write about a mission trip and how they “single-handedly” helped kids “understand the value of an education.” Or they might include the forbidden phrase, “unlike others,” which they usually follow up with the most condescending statement imaginable.

Fortunately, most of you should be fine if you write authentically. Don’t try to impress. Don’t try to seem perfect. Write how you speak and let your real thoughts shine though.

(Oh and by the way, check out Next Admit if you want feedback on your college essay. You can receive detailed edits from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.)

3. There Isn’t Good Fit

And finally, admissions officers are thinking about fit—which might be the most important aspect of the entire process. Do your academic, career, and social goals align well with what the school has to offer?

These schools aren’t trying to set students up for failure. If they feel that your goals don’t align with the school’s resources or culture, they’ll turn you away not because you’re not “good enough,” but because they think you’d thrive elsewhere.

Let me give you a more concrete example. Say you’ve written your Common App essay about your love of the environment. You’ve written supplements about how much you love nature and want to pursue conservation work while in college.

Do you think a college in the middle of a city—miles away from the nearest forest—would be a good fit for you?

Of course, the answer here is obvious, and the example is quite simple, but this is the kind of thinking admissions officers are doing. They’ll pick up on subtle signs in your essays, letters of rec, and even your interviews to determine whether you’re a good fit.

If you want additional study advice, come join my Discord! We have a global community of students helping each other succeed in school. Would love to see you there.

And if you need help with college applications, check out Next Admit! We have a team of Ivy League consultants eager to help you navigate the admissions process.

I’ll see you next week!

Best,
Gohar