Any parents of seniors want to commiserate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Those even sound interesting. Kids need to find what makes them unique and what story they can tell most genuinely. Nothing is more boring or trite or overdone than the above essay topics, or what sports taught me, or that time I worked hard and won the spelling bee or robotics comp. it’s sad because the kids and parents, as OP and her kid are, spend ALL of high school focuses on sports, academics and volunteering and that is LEAST what colleges want to see them write about in their essay. But when they don’t DO anything else or have any identity outside of that they have nothing else to write."

This is OP. Where did I say my kid focuses on sports, academics and volunteering?

Op you’re just mincing words. Whatever she is doing at school, you indicated with this thread it’s eating all her time and driving her into the ground. The specific activities don’t really matter- by your own admission she’s drowning in school related stuff.

[Anonymous]

This is such a weird thread.

it is NORMAL for kids senior year to be taking a lot of hard classes and having a lot of homework; and it is also normal for them to be playing sports, volunteering, and being involved in other extracurricular activities.

The reason those activities are such trite essay topics is that many kids do them. That's because it is NORMAL.

Being cut from the team, finding Jesus, working hard to master a skill -- these are all trite topics and have been overdone but they aren't trite to the kids who have experienced them for the first time. If you ask kids to write about something that affected them, you are going to get a lot of these experienced because they happen to so many people.

IMO there is now an escalating race to make your college essay amazing, on top of all the other things kids need to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Those even sound interesting. Kids need to find what makes them unique and what story they can tell most genuinely. Nothing is more boring or trite or overdone than the above essay topics, or what sports taught me, or that time I worked hard and won the spelling bee or robotics comp. it’s sad because the kids and parents, as OP and her kid are, spend ALL of high school focuses on sports, academics and volunteering and that is LEAST what colleges want to see them write about in their essay. But when they don’t DO anything else or have any identity outside of that they have nothing else to write."

I guarantee most colleges want to see decent grades, decent test scores, decent extracurriculars AS WELL AS an amazing essay.

Unless you can pay your way fully.

[Anonymous]

If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

[Anonymous]

It doesn't help that we live in the national epicenter of helicopter parenting and psychotic levels of pressure to "succeed", defined solely as getting into a top college no matter what the cost to your mental, emotional and physical health. I grew up on the other side of the country and went to college in the west as well. None of my childhood and university friends' kids are as wound up and generally miserable as the kids in the DC metro region seem to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

THEY DON’T: people just like to claim this to make themselves feel like their kid would definitely have gotten in if, if, if...


Admissions committees have no idea how you plan to pay .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't help that we live in the national epicenter of helicopter parenting and psychotic levels of pressure to "succeed", defined solely as getting into a top college no matter what the cost to your mental, emotional and physical health. I grew up on the other side of the country and went to college in the west as well. None of my childhood and university friends' kids are as wound up and generally miserable as the kids in the DC metro region seem to be.

Oh yeah, absolutely no one on the West Coast is wound up about colleges, yeah right. Tell that to the kids in Atherton, or to the SoCal kids whose movie star parents are going to prison for bribing their way into USC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

Not so much full pay, but ED is usually reserved for full pay as you will know if you are going before you know the financials....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

THEY DON’T: people just like to claim this to make themselves feel like their kid would definitely have gotten in if, if, if...


Admissions committees have no idea how you plan to pay .

Unless you do not submit the FaFSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

Schools ask on the application if you are planning to apply for financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

THEY DON’T: people just like to claim this to make themselves feel like their kid would definitely have gotten in if, if, if...


Admissions committees have no idea how you plan to pay .

If you file the FAFSA and you list what colleges you want to attend, the schools have access to that information.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/10/28/colleges-use-fafsa-information-reject-students-and-potentially-lower-financial-aid

When would-be college students apply for financial aid using the FAFSA, they are asked to list the colleges they are thinking about attending. The online version of the form asks applicants to submit up to 10 college names. The U.S. Department of Education then shares all the information on the FAFSA with all of the colleges on the list, as well as state agencies involved in awarding student aid. The form notes that the information could be used by state agencies, but there is no mention that individual colleges will use the information in admissions or financial aid -- and there is no indication that students could be punished by colleges for where they appear on the list.

But the list has turned out to be very valuable to college admissions offices and private enrollment management consultants: They have discovered that the order in which students list institutions corresponds to students’ preferred college.

Now, some colleges use this “FAFSA position” when considering students’ applications for admission, which may affect decisions about admission or placement on the wait list, said David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

So the institution is disinclined to use up a precious admissions slot for a student who is unlikely to enroll.

“The student has no idea that this information is being used in this context,” Hawkins said. The federal government "doesn’t indicate it. Institutions certainly aren’t telling students they are using it. Certainly, this is a concern from this association’s standpoint.”

[Anonymous]

I'm just saying the advice that parents should just relax, as long as their students aren't applying to the tippy top selective colleges, there will be a college for them and the kids don't need high test scores, high grades in challenging classes, and good extra curriculars -- that might be fine advice for people who aren't looking for merit aid. But for those of us who are hoping for that, it isn't really useful advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

THEY DON’T: people just like to claim this to make themselves feel like their kid would definitely have gotten in if, if, if...


Admissions committees have no idea how you plan to pay .

If you file the FAFSA and you list what colleges you want to attend, the schools have access to that information.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/10/28/colleges-use-fafsa-information-reject-students-and-potentially-lower-financial-aid

When would-be college students apply for financial aid using the FAFSA, they are asked to list the colleges they are thinking about attending. The online version of the form asks applicants to submit up to 10 college names. The U.S. Department of Education then shares all the information on the FAFSA with all of the colleges on the list, as well as state agencies involved in awarding student aid. The form notes that the information could be used by state agencies, but there is no mention that individual colleges will use the information in admissions or financial aid -- and there is no indication that students could be punished by colleges for where they appear on the list.

But the list has turned out to be very valuable to college admissions offices and private enrollment management consultants: They have discovered that the order in which students list institutions corresponds to students’ preferred college.

Now, some colleges use this “FAFSA position” when considering students’ applications for admission, which may affect decisions about admission or placement on the wait list, said David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

So the institution is disinclined to use up a precious admissions slot for a student who is unlikely to enroll.

“The student has no idea that this information is being used in this context,” Hawkins said. The federal government "doesn’t indicate it. Institutions certainly aren’t telling students they are using it. Certainly, this is a concern from this association’s standpoint.”

update -- I think that information I posted is old and may no longer be the case -- which is good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, it is much easier to get in to many schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/your-money/college-admissions-wealth.html

So when you hear people saying things like "My nephew had mediocre grades and low test scores but write this really funny essay and got in to all his schools" I have to ask -- was he full pay?

SO how do they know you are full pay at the time of the application?

THEY DON’T: people just like to claim this to make themselves feel like their kid would definitely have gotten in if, if, if...


Admissions committees have no idea how you plan to pay .

If you file the FAFSA and you list what colleges you want to attend, the schools have access to that information.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/10/28/colleges-use-fafsa-information-reject-students-and-potentially-lower-financial-aid

When would-be college students apply for financial aid using the FAFSA, they are asked to list the colleges they are thinking about attending. The online version of the form asks applicants to submit up to 10 college names. The U.S. Department of Education then shares all the information on the FAFSA with all of the colleges on the list, as well as state agencies involved in awarding student aid. The form notes that the information could be used by state agencies, but there is no mention that individual colleges will use the information in admissions or financial aid -- and there is no indication that students could be punished by colleges for where they appear on the list.

But the list has turned out to be very valuable to college admissions offices and private enrollment management consultants: They have discovered that the order in which students list institutions corresponds to students’ preferred college.

Now, some colleges use this “FAFSA position” when considering students’ applications for admission, which may affect decisions about admission or placement on the wait list, said David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

So the institution is disinclined to use up a precious admissions slot for a student who is unlikely to enroll.

“The student has no idea that this information is being used in this context,” Hawkins said. The federal government "doesn’t indicate it. Institutions certainly aren’t telling students they are using it. Certainly, this is a concern from this association’s standpoint.”

update -- I think that information I posted is old and may no longer be the case -- which is good!

No. Schools use financial information in order to build their classes.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/magazine/college-admissions-paul-tough.html

Being full pay helps, for sure.