To ED or Not to ED

[Anonymous]

OP, has your DC visited the school? I would recommend another visit in the next few weeks. My kid had cold feet about their ED in October as well and we went for another visit the week before the apps were due just to make sure. DC had lunch with a friend’s older sibling that attended the school, asked a lot of questions, and got a good feel for the “vibe” of the school. I personally hate the pressure to ED. My younger DC has decided not to ED anywhere and wants to wait until March to see all their acceptances and decide at that point.

[Anonymous]

Vandy
UVA (oos)
Wake Forest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the school names secret

Why do you memes to know? It has been laid out that it’s a target if she EDs and a reach if she doesn’t. It’s a school that takes a lot of kids ED (like a Tulane).

So why are the school names secret?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Vandy
UVA (oos)
Wake Forest

ED to Vandy

[Anonymous]

I’d take her to the school as well to see if she can get over cold feet given the advantage of ED.

[Anonymous]

She spent several weeks there this summer at a pre-college program.

We can’t revisit because it is across the country, but this morning she declared that it was just cold feet and she is back on board. SMH

I think there are certain kids (mine included) that are just not yet ready for this process and how quickly it moves. They don’t know what they want. Personally, I don’t think sue is strong enough academically to get into this school so it may all be moot. We are full pay, though, which matters at the school.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, mine got cold feet about three days before ED decisions came out. It was too late, they got in, felt miserable for about 6 months about it, and now attend that school. Kid likes it fine but it's not the dream school in their mind that it once was. I don't think they would have gotten in RD, and there's a decent chance this is the highest-ranked school they would have gotten into (top 50). But they'll never know and that bothers them.

So all that said, if I knew then what I know now, I would have tried to talk them out of ED. They just weren't ready for that big of a decision (even though it all worked out ok).

[Anonymous]

After months of offering, my DC decided to visit their ED school less than a week before the deadline. So put together a last minute trip. Went through with ED and happily attending. Can’t imagine DC would have been admitted RD. Maybe ask your DC how they would feel if they didn’t get in to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, mine got cold feet about three days before ED decisions came out. It was too late, they got in, felt miserable for about 6 months about it, and now attend that school. Kid likes it fine but it's not the dream school in their mind that it once was. I don't think they would have gotten in RD, and there's a decent chance this is the highest-ranked school they would have gotten into (top 50). But they'll never know and that bothers them.

So all that said, if I knew then what I know now, I would have tried to talk them out of ED. They just weren't ready for that big of a decision (even though it all worked out ok).

I think this is where my DD is (OP here). This is her best chance at the highest “ranked” school she has a shot at, but fundamentally, I think she thinks it may be too hard. I think she is just not ready to commit and she may be better off waiting, even if it means a lower ranked school.

[Anonymous]

This forum does a terrible number on parents. It’s as if your kid is doomed to be a failure if they don’t ED and get into a top 20 school. It’s terribly unhealthy to believe what people say here. If your kid isn’t fully certain where they want to go, then let them take their chances with early or regular decision. It won’t be such a heartbreaking experience if parents properly prepare their kids to be successful wherever they end up at school.

[Anonymous]

And those grapes were probably sour anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This forum does a terrible number on parents. It’s as if your kid is doomed to be a failure if they don’t ED and get into a top 20 school. It’s terribly unhealthy to believe what people say here. If your kid isn’t fully certain where they want to go, then let them take their chances with early or regular decision. It won’t be such a heartbreaking experience if parents properly prepare their kids to be successful wherever they end up at school.

OP here. I agree. Some kids (mine included) are less mature and really don’t know why they want yet. The process forces decisions before they are ready. We should have seen the signs.

There are some kids who absolutely know and ED is great for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This forum does a terrible number on parents. It’s as if your kid is doomed to be a failure if they don’t ED and get into a top 20 school. It’s terribly unhealthy to believe what people say here. If your kid isn’t fully certain where they want to go, then let them take their chances with early or regular decision. It won’t be such a heartbreaking experience if parents properly prepare their kids to be successful wherever they end up at school.

OP here. I agree. Some kids (mine included) are less mature and really don’t know why they want yet. The process forces decisions before they are ready. We should have seen the signs.

There are some kids who absolutely know and ED is great for them.

You have to choose one at some point. If that 6 months of deliberation is worth losing the advantage ED brings, then yes, not applying ED is the right move.

Some also enjoy the 6 months of knowing where you are going so you can enjoy your senior year with less stress.

To each his own.

[Anonymous]

She should definately switch to EA. If she is not 100% certain, then she shouldn't do ED. It doesn't matter if she is "blowing her chances". ED is binding and no kid should be forced to attend a school the parent wants them to just for bragging rights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS high school counselor said she has been doing this long enough to know that he would “definitely” get into Boston College if he ED and “definitely not” get in if he RD. His stats were 75+ percentile. We thought it was bold statement but shows the impact of ED. He didn’t end up applying so never tested her claim.

But doing ED just to get into a school your kid is not 100% on seems wrong. No kid should be forced to do that