Lessons Learned- College Admissions- If you had to do it all again.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take SAT twice - in March during junior year, then do test prep, then take again sometime before the end of summer before senior year.

Finish college essay in August before senior year.

My kid appreciated the online college essay writing workshop offered by Writopia Lab during the summer. It really helped to get that essay done.

Apply to at least one college with rolling admissions in September. It feels so good to get that acceptance early.

Apply Early Action if the college offers it.

Expect better results from your Early Action applications than Regular Decision applications.

And of course, parents - get all the financial aid forms completed as soon as possible.

Did you have a kid go through the process this year? Because your advice about EA is flat out wrong. ED has higher admission rates, but EA is only for the very very top candidates. And deferrals from EA do not mean rejections, as some people say here. My kid was deferred from 7 schools, then accepted to 5 of them--including a top 25 university.

Actually, there are universities that accept a pretty high percentage of their applicants from the EA pool. It depends on the institution. This process is confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Also, don't think an EC has to be a club or sport. If your kid really likes something that isn't school, that's still an activity. Helping with hackathons? Chess tournaments? Maintaining a nature trail? There are things an introvert can do that don't require mingling but do show interests outside of schoolwork, and that matters. My kid did none of those.

This is true. My DC didn’t have a single sport, but has done a lot of community theater and related internships. Didn’t even do that much with HS theater. Got a letter of rec from someone with the community theater program. Got into all matches, some of which are top 30-40 LACs, and a top 40 national university with a bit of merit offered.

So appreciative of these responses. DC loves music and has learned to play 2 instruments watching YouTube lessons. In terms of helping. DC is the “go to” for free math lessons from neighbors, cousins and, as a junior, classmates who know they can get a well explained lesson from a non judgmental peer (as explained in a recent note with gift card sent to our house). Problem I see is that none of these hours are verifiable by an institution or organization, which seems to be what you need to do to document ECs.

How about an essay on teaching himself to play an instrument? Could be great.

Also, if a teacher or guidance counselor knows of his tutoring, they can mention it in their letter of recommendation.

These are great ideas! Also, DC is a very strong writer, so reflecting on experience with music will be easy to do, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Also, don't think an EC has to be a club or sport. If your kid really likes something that isn't school, that's still an activity. Helping with hackathons? Chess tournaments? Maintaining a nature trail? There are things an introvert can do that don't require mingling but do show interests outside of schoolwork, and that matters. My kid did none of those.

This is true. My DC didn’t have a single sport, but has done a lot of community theater and related internships. Didn’t even do that much with HS theater. Got a letter of rec from someone with the community theater program. Got into all matches, some of which are top 30-40 LACs, and a top 40 national university with a bit of merit offered.

So appreciative of these responses. DC loves music and has learned to play 2 instruments watching YouTube lessons. In terms of helping. DC is the “go to” for free math lessons from neighbors, cousins and, as a junior, classmates who know they can get a well explained lesson from a non judgmental peer (as explained in a recent note with gift card sent to our house). Problem I see is that none of these hours are verifiable by an institution or organization, which seems to be what you need to do to document ECs.

PP here. Good news— you’ll be relieved to hear there’s no documentation requirement in the Common App! It’s basically the honor system, so your DC can write about their experience tutoring math, and approximate the time commitment, and that’s it! Hope that puts you more at ease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Also, don't think an EC has to be a club or sport. If your kid really likes something that isn't school, that's still an activity. Helping with hackathons? Chess tournaments? Maintaining a nature trail? There are things an introvert can do that don't require mingling but do show interests outside of schoolwork, and that matters. My kid did none of those.

This is true. My DC didn’t have a single sport, but has done a lot of community theater and related internships. Didn’t even do that much with HS theater. Got a letter of rec from someone with the community theater program. Got into all matches, some of which are top 30-40 LACs, and a top 40 national university with a bit of merit offered.

So appreciative of these responses. DC loves music and has learned to play 2 instruments watching YouTube lessons. In terms of helping. DC is the “go to” for free math lessons from neighbors, cousins and, as a junior, classmates who know they can get a well explained lesson from a non judgmental peer (as explained in a recent note with gift card sent to our house). Problem I see is that none of these hours are verifiable by an institution or organization, which seems to be what you need to do to document ECs.

PP here. Good news— you’ll be relieved to hear there’s no documentation requirement in the Common App! It’s basically the honor system, so your DC can write about their experience tutoring math, and approximate the time commitment, and that’s it! Hope that puts you more at ease.

This. My son listed the time he spends playing guitar on his own and golfing regularly on his own or with friends. My daughter spends a lot of time on art and creative writing and will put down the time she spends on those hobbies. The colleges just want to understand what you do with your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
NPC numbers don't mean that's what you'll actually get.

But then you are released from the ED commitment without penalty to you or your HS. So no risk.

[Anonymous]

I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Oh hi Roll Tide!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I had to do it all over again, I'd tell my kids to look at schools where they think they'll fit in socially and make good friends. I wouldn't focus on majors during the application process (since their interests changed dramatically in college) or prestige.

I'd also take a closer look at what the school can offer the student. One of my children went to a school that's "prestigious" in the DMV but is poor as dirt. There is money for a certain activity, but beyond that, there's not much going on in terms of speakers, campus events, etc. Even the available course list each semester is pretty lackluster and repetitive. So while my kid went to a more "prestigious" school, it certainly wasn't a very enjoyable experience for them.

What's the best way to tell if a school will be a good social fit?

-Parent of child who has struggled socially in high school, just beginning to think about college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Oh hi Roll Tide!

PP didn't understand the post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Why would you do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Why would you do that?

They was I read it she was expressing regret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Why would you do that?

They was I read it she was expressing regret.

It was satire. And spot-on.
NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Why would you do that?

They was I read it she was expressing regret.

You people haven't been here long have you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I focused my kid on schools that had "name recognition" among my set. Places like Williams and Swarthmore. The real name recognition -- as a brand and at a national level -- are those big football schools my snobby self prevented my kid from exploring. Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, etc. He would have had a wonderful college experience at any one of these places, and no doubt landed a cush job with the fanatical alum network. Instead, he's in at a barely Top 50 SLAC and hoping and praying for wait list movement with a lower NESCAC school that most of America has never heard of.

Why would you do that?

They was I read it she was expressing regret.

It was satire. And spot-on.
NP

Bingo! 😉

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it.