Despite an impressive SAT score of 1580, boy gets rejected by every Ivy League School; dad shares shocking post – The Times of India
You have spent years preparing, sacrificed sleep, and pushed beyond limits to crack one of the toughest exams in the world. The moment arrives—you apply to the most prestigious colleges, confident that your efforts will pay off. But one by one, rejection letters flood in. Shock turns to disappointment, then self-doubt.
How could this happen? You question your worth, replay every step, and wonder if you are not good enough.
A similar nightmarish incident is going viral over the internet. A Reddit user has shared the ordeal of his son on the social media platform.
“My eldest son has been rejected by every college he applied to, except for our flagship state school, UMass Amherst. He is the singular brightest, most self-motivated, and most hardworking person I know,” writes the dad.
Read the post here
Valedictorian, SAT score of 1580, 145 IQ!
The dad goes on to share his son’s achievement which is not just impressive, it is rather outstanding. “He is the Valedictorian of 476 students, scored 5 on 18 AP exams, and scored 1580 on his SAT,” writes the dad. “He is also a Davidson Young Scholar, an organization for students with IQ scores of 145 and above. I would like to stress that this was nearly all self-motivated. He’s not one of those “robot” kids who does what their parents tell them to – he wants to do Computer Science and work in tech, which I don’t know the first thing about,” he adds.
“I’m just shocked”
Expressing his disappointment over the selection process, the dad writes, “When I started work, it didn’t matter what college you went to – if you were presentable and intelligent, you were hired. I had coworkers without degrees, coworkers that went to state universities I had never heard of, and coworkers that went to Harvard. Sure, going to an Ivy would give you a leg up in the interview process, but there wasn’t a hard floor. When I interview prospective hires, every single one of them, without fail, went to an Ivy League or a similarly prestigious school (Boston University, etc.). They frequently have an off-putting and entitled air to them. Nowadays, my firm wouldn’t dream of even interviewing a UNA kid like me.”
“I find this deeply concerning. I’m also deeply concerned for my son,” writes the father.
Internet was quick to respond. “I think the lesson here is that our kids are not special – to the world. It’s our job as parents to make sure they know that, while also affirming they are special TO US. My daughters have nowhere near the accolades and achievements of your son – partly bc from the very beginning we’ve focused on prioritizing family, faith, and relationships over all else. They get straight A’s and love learning BUT they know their worth doesn’t come from accolades or scores or jobs or money. One of them works as our school custodian after school hours bc she is saving to take her sister to Disney World. Why am I saying all of this? I’m hoping some teenager somewhere will read it and know – college application season will pass and when you look around, you will be left with what you invested in. If you invested in making yourself competitive – you may be left with little else than disappointment bc we can’t control the outcome of applying for college and jobs. Don’t be afraid to dream of something big and set goals, but manage your expectations of yourself and the outcome. This too shall pass,” writes one user.
“As a mother, I feel every bit of this. My son is also valedictorian of his class of 455. 13 APs and 10 dual enrollment, including higher level math. 2 varsity sports and captain on one. Loads of clubs. Rejected from the 3 ivies he applied to and waitlisted at UChicago. He hears from Stanford today, which is his top choice, but he’s not hopeful after yesterday’s string of rejections. Your kid sounds awesome. I mean, what more do they want from these kids???,” writes a mom.
The key lies in understanding failure
Rejection from a school can be tough for kids, but parents play a crucial role in helping them cope. First, acknowledge their feelings—let them express disappointment, frustration, or sadness. Reassure them that their worth is not defined by one outcome and that rejection is a normal part of life.
Next, use this as a learning experience. Explain that even successful people have faced setbacks but persevered. Encourage resilience by highlighting their strengths and exploring other opportunities that may be just as good, if not better.
Maintain a positive attitude—if parents stay calm and optimistic, children will follow suit. Avoid blaming them or the institution; instead, focus on constructive steps ahead, such as applying to other schools or working on skills for the future.
Lastly, celebrate their efforts. Remind them that trying itself is a big step, and their hard work is valuable. Teach them that rejection isn’t the end—it’s a stepping stone to something better. With love, encouragement, and the right perspective, kids can develop emotional strength and confidence to face future challenges.
