What do you wish you knew about the college process before starting high school ?

[Anonymous]

What do you wish you knew about the college process before starting high school ?

[Anonymous]

Don't obsess about it all through HS.
Just do high school.

[Anonymous]

That it doesn’t really matter whether you go to an ultra-prestigious and highly rejective college or not. The focus should be on developing study skills and habits to carry on thru college

[Anonymous]

Even earlier than HS, The high cost and don’t expect any financial aids to help with 400k if you are not poor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even earlier than HS, The high cost and don’t expect any financial aids to help with 400k if you are not poor

I don’t know any kids who haven’t been able to get merit aid. There are schools that offer 100% of their student body merit aid. If you choose to pay full tuition at an expensive school that’s your choice.

[Anonymous]

Do ED and ED2. effectively

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do ED and ED2. effectively

Note that even this is changing.....most kids we know at strong schools were only accepted ED1 to a top 25 if they had a hook. Even super strong top of the class students applying ED to a 20-25 range school. And even the HYPS legacies had a double hook.

I think schools (even some in top 40 range) are pushing back on the grab the full pay ED1s. I don't have a problem with this but it's a shift that's being felt by really strong students who thought they were using ED1 effectively. (Hopefully some of those deferrals come back as acceptances, because the school does still know the student used ED there).

[Anonymous]

That is pretty much sucks for every one. Kids/families using all sorts of strategies are all saying "this sucks".

[Anonymous]

That a 1500 and a 4.5 means you are a match only outside of the Top 25

[Anonymous]

Stay away from the parents that are gunning and scheming and talking about admissions from day one. They will stress you out and will stress out your own kids. I promise you that at the end of the day the biggest flex they will have in their lives is telling the world all of the big name schools they applied to and ultimately will be rejected from. It's the dumbest cycle.....enjoy HS, give your kid room to explore and breathe and have friends, and believe that your kid will be happy and successful in life wherever they end up and they will be!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do ED and ED2. effectively

Note that even this is changing.....most kids we know at strong schools were only accepted ED1 to a top 25 if they had a hook. Even super strong top of the class students applying ED to a 20-25 range school. And even the HYPS legacies had a double hook.

I think schools (even some in top 40 range) are pushing back on the grab the full pay ED1s. I don't have a problem with this but it's a shift that's being felt by really strong students who thought they were using ED1 effectively. (Hopefully some of those deferrals come back as acceptances, because the school does still know the student used ED there).

+1 Know that there are schools where ED will give you an edge and there are schools where it does not. Like UVA. Don't ED UVA thinking you will get an edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do ED and ED2. effectively

Note that even this is changing.....most kids we know at strong schools were only accepted ED1 to a top 25 if they had a hook. Even super strong top of the class students applying ED to a 20-25 range school. And even the HYPS legacies had a double hook.

I think schools (even some in top 40 range) are pushing back on the grab the full pay ED1s. I don't have a problem with this but it's a shift that's being felt by really strong students who thought they were using ED1 effectively. (Hopefully some of those deferrals come back as acceptances, because the school does still know the student used ED there).

I thought deferral from ED usually meant soft rejection.

[Anonymous]

The game is not worth the candle. Do not let your kid give up four years of exploration and growth in pursuit of a perfect transcript.

[Anonymous]

1. Test-optional means: please prep and get the best score you can so you can submit it to colleges *if* it fits into their top third of score range. Personally, I wouldn't send scores blind the day of the test, even if free. I would wait for the results, then send scores to specific colleges you decide on. Fees will add up, and remember it takes 2-3 weeks for colleges to receive scores from the day you request them on the College Board or ACT website.

2. It's normal for kids to mature from 11th grade, when they don't have a clue where they want to go, to 12th grade, when everything solidifies in their minds thanks to the time crunch. Students can visit colleges in 11th grade while students are on campus, or do summer college tours, it helps make it real for them.

3. Kids can ask for recommendations from 11th grade teachers in May or June, and remind them if they haven't set them by August/September.

4. Most colleges ask to see 12th grade first semester grades, so watch out for burn-out during the last gasp of college applications! Senior year AP exams: don't take unless the student can get college credit. For other years, great AP exam scores are proof of their subject mastery, so send those scores. Again, College Board takes 2-3 weeks to send them.

5. There are too many dates to remember, so start a spreadsheet in the summer before senior year. Some high schools require 3 weeks to send transcripts, which is ridiculous and means students can't suddenly decide to add a college at the last minute. Make sure the counselor has sent their own recommendation, and all the transcripts. Mistakes happen all the time.

6. Essay writing is an art. It requires a child to dig deep, reflect on their life, and express why certain interactions, activities or events made them grow as people. The first application they send may not have the best essays. Over a few weeks or months, the essays might start getting better. The last one may reek of "I am so done with this and don't care how I come across".

YMMV. But for everyone, it's mostly a process requiring a 4 year strategy in picking courses and activities, and in the last gasp, good organization and writing skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do ED and ED2. effectively

Note that even this is changing.....most kids we know at strong schools were only accepted ED1 to a top 25 if they had a hook. Even super strong top of the class students applying ED to a 20-25 range school. And even the HYPS legacies had a double hook.

I think schools (even some in top 40 range) are pushing back on the grab the full pay ED1s. I don't have a problem with this but it's a shift that's being felt by really strong students who thought they were using ED1 effectively. (Hopefully some of those deferrals come back as acceptances, because the school does still know the student used ED there).

I thought deferral from ED usually meant soft rejection.

Like everything - it depends on the school and how they use deferrals (and how many they defer). Some schools defer a lot of kids, some defer only a few.