How many colleges to apply to this year?

[Anonymous]

8 initially it was 10 got into Upitt so dropped 2 safety schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like last year, kids were (on average) applying to more schools than in past years (because of covid unknowns and other things like waived application fees).
How many will your child apply to this year?
What does his/her high school recommend?
Thanks.

Last year's uncertainty and increase in apps was in part due to test optional policies. Most colleges are still test optional, so this year will be similar.

Sure. But last year colleges didn’t know whether kids without scores had bad scores or couldn’t get scores. This was, they absolutely could get scores. If they choose not to submit them, then they are low. It’s a lot less uncertainty.

Agree that if they choose not to submit, then the scores are low. But, colleges may have enjoyed the extra freedom to choose whoever they want without having to worry about an otherwise desirable applicant's low score. My suspicion is that this year will be very much like last - I guess we'll see.

Sure. If by desirable, you mean hooked. Colleges love getting 1st Gen, URMs, Athletes and kids from rural ND without having to count their scores. Now, if your kid is like mine, and a white or Asian kid from the DMV with strong grades, 10 APs and impressive ECs, why would they take the kid with no score (read low score) over the 34/1500? The 34/1500 is more of a sure thing academically and has tes scores that raise the school average.

Your LAX captain, piano and flute playing, 10 AP, 4.xxx GPA, impressively summer enriched kid is just not that special in the DMV.

Didn't work out well for my full pay URM 1510 with meh grades. From flyover country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like last year, kids were (on average) applying to more schools than in past years (because of covid unknowns and other things like waived application fees).
How many will your child apply to this year?
What does his/her high school recommend?
Thanks.

Last year's uncertainty and increase in apps was in part due to test optional policies. Most colleges are still test optional, so this year will be similar.

Sure. But last year colleges didn’t know whether kids without scores had bad scores or couldn’t get scores. This was, they absolutely could get scores. If they choose not to submit them, then they are low. It’s a lot less uncertainty.

Agree that if they choose not to submit, then the scores are low. But, colleges may have enjoyed the extra freedom to choose whoever they want without having to worry about an otherwise desirable applicant's low score. My suspicion is that this year will be very much like last - I guess we'll see.

Sure. If by desirable, you mean hooked. Colleges love getting 1st Gen, URMs, Athletes and kids from rural ND without having to count their scores. Now, if your kid is like mine, and a white or Asian kid from the DMV with strong grades, 10 APs and impressive ECs, why would they take the kid with no score (read low score) over the 34/1500? The 34/1500 is more of a sure thing academically and has tes scores that raise the school average.

Your LAX captain, piano and flute playing, 10 AP, 4.xxx GPA, impressively summer enriched kid is just not that special in the DMV.

Didn't work out well for my full pay URM 1510 with meh grades. From flyover country.

Well yes. Tests scores are a substitute for crappy grades. The question wasn’t grade optional. It was test optional.

[Anonymous]

^^re *not* a substitute

[Anonymous]

3 to start. 2 EA and one ED.

If they get into the higher ranked EA but not the ED, then they will apply to a few 5% admission rates for RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like last year, kids were (on average) applying to more schools than in past years (because of covid unknowns and other things like waived application fees).
How many will your child apply to this year?
What does his/her high school recommend?
Thanks.

Last year's uncertainty and increase in apps was in part due to test optional policies. Most colleges are still test optional, so this year will be similar.

Sure. But last year colleges didn’t know whether kids without scores had bad scores or couldn’t get scores. This was, they absolutely could get scores. If they choose not to submit them, then they are low. It’s a lot less uncertainty.

Agree that if they choose not to submit, then the scores are low. But, colleges may have enjoyed the extra freedom to choose whoever they want without having to worry about an otherwise desirable applicant's low score. My suspicion is that this year will be very much like last - I guess we'll see.

Sure. If by desirable, you mean hooked. Colleges love getting 1st Gen, URMs, Athletes and kids from rural ND without having to count their scores. Now, if your kid is like mine, and a white or Asian kid from the DMV with strong grades, 10 APs and impressive ECs, why would they take the kid with no score (read low score) over the 34/1500? The 34/1500 is more of a sure thing academically and has tes scores that raise the school average.

Your LAX captain, piano and flute playing, 10 AP, 4.xxx GPA, impressively summer enriched kid is just not that special in the DMV.

Didn't work out well for my full pay URM 1510 with meh grades. From flyover country.

Well yes. Tests scores are a substitute for crappy grades. The question wasn’t grade optional. It was test optional.

Honestly, if SATs can be optional, why can't grades? We've given these schools and this "system" such overarching control, it's just nuts. If one kid can ditch the 1300 SAT, why can't another ditch the C he or she got from a hard-ass teacher?

[Anonymous]

7 - 1 reach, 5 matches, 1 safety. 4 in-state schools, 3 out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like last year, kids were (on average) applying to more schools than in past years (because of covid unknowns and other things like waived application fees).
How many will your child apply to this year?
What does his/her high school recommend?
Thanks.

Last year's uncertainty and increase in apps was in part due to test optional policies. Most colleges are still test optional, so this year will be similar.

Sure. But last year colleges didn’t know whether kids without scores had bad scores or couldn’t get scores. This was, they absolutely could get scores. If they choose not to submit them, then they are low. It’s a lot less uncertainty.

Agree that if they choose not to submit, then the scores are low. But, colleges may have enjoyed the extra freedom to choose whoever they want without having to worry about an otherwise desirable applicant's low score. My suspicion is that this year will be very much like last - I guess we'll see.

Sure. If by desirable, you mean hooked. Colleges love getting 1st Gen, URMs, Athletes and kids from rural ND without having to count their scores. Now, if your kid is like mine, and a white or Asian kid from the DMV with strong grades, 10 APs and impressive ECs, why would they take the kid with no score (read low score) over the 34/1500? The 34/1500 is more of a sure thing academically and has tes scores that raise the school average.

Your LAX captain, piano and flute playing, 10 AP, 4.xxx GPA, impressively summer enriched kid is just not that special in the DMV.

Didn't work out well for my full pay URM 1510 with meh grades. From flyover country.

Well yes. Tests scores are a substitute for crappy grades. The question wasn’t grade optional. It was test optional.

Honestly, if SATs can be optional, why can't grades? We've given these schools and this "system" such overarching control, it's just nuts. If one kid can ditch the 1300 SAT, why can't another ditch the C he or she got from a hard-ass teacher?

TBH, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get there, but the conventional wisdom is that low grades/high test score is a “red flag.” The perception is that it’s a smart kid that doesn’t want to work.

[Anonymous]

My kid is down to 6. Only one reach. Will add more in January if things are looking grim. Frankly, would rather sit it out a year than go to some of the schools on original list.

[Anonymous]

6 for now, 1 safety, 1 match, 4 reaches

[Anonymous]

DS is planning on applying to 9 or less (5 applications and 1 acceptance so far)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like last year, kids were (on average) applying to more schools than in past years (because of covid unknowns and other things like waived application fees).
How many will your child apply to this year?
What does his/her high school recommend?
Thanks.

Last year's uncertainty and increase in apps was in part due to test optional policies. Most colleges are still test optional, so this year will be similar.

Sure. But last year colleges didn’t know whether kids without scores had bad scores or couldn’t get scores. This was, they absolutely could get scores. If they choose not to submit them, then they are low. It’s a lot less uncertainty.

Agree that if they choose not to submit, then the scores are low. But, colleges may have enjoyed the extra freedom to choose whoever they want without having to worry about an otherwise desirable applicant's low score. My suspicion is that this year will be very much like last - I guess we'll see.

Sure. If by desirable, you mean hooked. Colleges love getting 1st Gen, URMs, Athletes and kids from rural ND without having to count their scores. Now, if your kid is like mine, and a white or Asian kid from the DMV with strong grades, 10 APs and impressive ECs, why would they take the kid with no score (read low score) over the 34/1500? The 34/1500 is more of a sure thing academically and has tes scores that raise the school average.

Your LAX captain, piano and flute playing, 10 AP, 4.xxx GPA, impressively summer enriched kid is just not that special in the DMV.

Didn't work out well for my full pay URM 1510 with meh grades. From flyover country.

Well yes. Tests scores are a substitute for crappy grades. The question wasn’t grade optional. It was test optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like last year, kids were (on average) applying to more schools than in past years (because of covid unknowns and other things like waived application fees).
How many will your child apply to this year?
What does his/her high school recommend?
Thanks.

Last year's uncertainty and increase in apps was in part due to test optional policies. Most colleges are still test optional, so this year will be similar.

Sure. But last year colleges didn’t know whether kids without scores had bad scores or couldn’t get scores. This was, they absolutely could get scores. If they choose not to submit them, then they are low. It’s a lot less uncertainty.

Agree that if they choose not to submit, then the scores are low. But, colleges may have enjoyed the extra freedom to choose whoever they want without having to worry about an otherwise desirable applicant's low score. My suspicion is that this year will be very much like last - I guess we'll see.

Sure. If by desirable, you mean hooked. Colleges love getting 1st Gen, URMs, Athletes and kids from rural ND without having to count their scores. Now, if your kid is like mine, and a white or Asian kid from the DMV with strong grades, 10 APs and impressive ECs, why would they take the kid with no score (read low score) over the 34/1500? The 34/1500 is more of a sure thing academically and has tes scores that raise the school average.

Your LAX captain, piano and flute playing, 10 AP, 4.xxx GPA, impressively summer enriched kid is just not that special in the DMV.

Didn't work out well for my full pay URM 1510 with meh grades. From flyover country.

Well yes. Tests scores are a substitute for crappy grades. The question wasn’t grade optional. It was test optional.

Wrong. Tests are not a substitute.

URM or bust.

I honestly don't know why the top Asian or white kids are even bothering to apply to college, TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is down to 6. Only one reach. Will add more in January if things are looking grim. Frankly, would rather sit it out a year than go to some of the schools on original list.

PP, and this is our situation too. How would that ever work? Could DS feasibly not get into a desirable college, sit out a year and go to a community college and then re-apply next year to a desirable school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is down to 6. Only one reach. Will add more in January if things are looking grim. Frankly, would rather sit it out a year than go to some of the schools on original list.

PP, and this is our situation too. How would that ever work? Could DS feasibly not get into a desirable college, sit out a year and go to a community college and then re-apply next year to a desirable school?

Yes, although if he takes community college classes after HS , he'll likely need to apply as a transfer student, not as a freshman.