Watching this forum

[Anonymous]

I have a sophomore. I read most of the threads on this forum and it has completely changed our strategy as a family.

[Anonymous]

If you've found this helpful, you may also be interested in the Applying2College forum on Reddit. Although it is just as neurotic and toxic, it has a decent amount of helpful information

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've found this helpful, you may also be interested in the Applying2College forum on Reddit. Although it is just as neurotic and toxic, it has a decent amount of helpful information

OP here and I agree.

Someone asked for advice and I’d say for kids thinking about “top” schools, in no order and just brainstorming:
1. Develop a timeline and stick to it
2. Apply to one rolling admission school in August to take the edge off
3. Apply ED if there’s a financial and student fit
4. Know that most high stats, superior EC kids will probably end up with great options but they may not be the name brand schools you have in mind right now; apply widely and you can get great lists from DCUM and A2C
5. If you have younger kids, encourage them to develop relationships with teachers who can write great recs and request those at the end of jr year
6. Don’t bother with consultants but do test prep of some kind and perhaps use an essay reader (even a trusted family friend can serve this role, don’t have too many cooks in the kitchen)
7. I believe essays and recommendations are the most important thing for kids with high stats and rigor. The latter just buy you a ticket to have the former reviewed
8. It doesn’t matter what specifically they are doing for ECs, jobs, sports, music, caring for family members…just pick a thing or two and develop leadership and/or a way to give back to the community with that thing
9. Try to help your child enjoy junior and senior year where they can. Friends, sleep, down time…all are important and at this point in the senior year they look up and suddenly it’s all ending. Don’t let the last year of HS be only this search if you can
10. It really doesn’t mean anything when you get certain mailings, Ivy interviews, etc. So if you don't, don’t worry about it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It feels a little strange as the parent of a senior finishing up HS in a month to watch this board shift from our cohort to the next without missing a beat. And I can see all of the same questions coming up again like clockwork. I really want rising senior parents to see how much the landscape has changed from what they likely think they understand about the process to ensure their kids have great options at this time next year. So, jr. parents, take a deep dive into this forum (read back starting from this time last year and check out posts that seem relevant) and happy learning. Best wishes!

I've got a senior too. I was just thinking the last few days as I see the shift in the new posts.

DCUM has been so incredibly helpful for the various stages in my life.. AAP, FCPS, College.

I wish the search feature could extract posts from time periods. Too hard to go back a year ago with just clicking on the page numbers in the Forum.

I read much on reddit at all. And college confidential was not as active as DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you have a few actual safeties like VCU, CNU, etc. Be aware many schools that were safeties a few years ago are not anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've found this helpful, you may also be interested in the Applying2College forum on Reddit. Although it is just as neurotic and toxic, it has a decent amount of helpful information

Yes and College Confidential

[Anonymous]

Senior parent here. I posted a lessons-learned thread a month or two back, but this process was really eye-opening. 22:10 has some great advice. A few more:

1. Naviance is worthless. Things have completely changed test optional. If a school has a 30% admission rate, it means nothing that your kid is well above the 75% stats.

2. Visit safety/target schools. Only visit reach schools unless thinking to apply ED. I keep seeing people taking their kid to visit every Ivy.

3. If you hire a college consultant, find one your kid likes and just stick with that. Too much advice is paralyzing

4. There is no magic formula to get into "top" schools. What works for one kid does not work for the next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It feels a little strange as the parent of a senior finishing up HS in a month to watch this board shift from our cohort to the next without missing a beat. And I can see all of the same questions coming up again like clockwork. I really want rising senior parents to see how much the landscape has changed from what they likely think they understand about the process to ensure their kids have great options at this time next year. So, jr. parents, take a deep dive into this forum (read back starting from this time last year and check out posts that seem relevant) and happy learning. Best wishes!

+1 (also parent of a senior). I agree.

And maybe one of the worse parts of the entire process was explaining to my baby boomer parents how the landscape has changed and how little Larlo, with his mostly As and Bs, isn't getting into Harvard, despite his part time job and recreational sports. Meanwhile, my kid is happy and so am I.

I’m a baby boomer parent. It never occurred to me that my own kids, who had better records than you have described, were ever getting into Harvard-level colleges. Sounds like your beef is with your own parents, not a whole generation. Stop being ageist.

Stop being judgmental. Your two kids fo not make you a great kid a college admissions. . What the experienced PPs are trying to say is that due to a host of reasons, competition for top slot has become fierce. Harvard will announce after Monday that something like 2.5% of all applicants got in last year. The same is true for all other top universities, top SLACs and top publics (did you know last year’s entering class at UVA had at the 75th percentile a 4.63, meaning 25z% had higher? And a 35 ACT? And 56,000 applications to fill 4500 seats?). The whole game of college admissions is played on a different field tgs. Whe. You or I applied. Explaining that to parents and grandparents is part of the course. Also explaining to the. That most quality internships (if you are fortunate to get one) are unpaid. My MIL still doesn’t get that it why there were no jobs for high schoolers or college aged kids during COViD. And the d Penske (get your parents and grandparents on your side to help )! My own slac is now $82k a year. Using my own fees and adding clarion, it should be around $28,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It feels a little strange as the parent of a senior finishing up HS in a month to watch this board shift from our cohort to the next without missing a beat. And I can see all of the same questions coming up again like clockwork. I really want rising senior parents to see how much the landscape has changed from what they likely think they understand about the process to ensure their kids have great options at this time next year. So, jr. parents, take a deep dive into this forum (read back starting from this time last year and check out posts that seem relevant) and happy learning. Best wishes!

+1 (also parent of a senior). I agree.

And maybe one of the worse parts of the entire process was explaining to my baby boomer parents how the landscape has changed and how little Larlo, with his mostly As and Bs, isn't getting into Harvard, despite his part time job and recreational sports. Meanwhile, my kid is happy and so am I.

I’m a baby boomer parent. It never occurred to me that my own kids, who had better records than you have described, were ever getting into Harvard-level colleges. Sounds like your beef is with your own parents, not a whole generation. Stop being ageist.

Stop being judgmental. Your two kids fo not make you a great kid a college admissions. . What the experienced PPs are trying to say is that due to a host of reasons, competition for top slot has become fierce. Harvard will announce after Monday that something like 2.5% of all applicants got in last year. The same is true for all other top universities, top SLACs and top publics (did you know last year’s entering class at UVA had at the 75th percentile a 4.63, meaning 25z% had higher? And a 35 ACT? And 56,000 applications to fill 4500 seats?). The whole game of college admissions is played on a different field tgs. Whe. You or I applied. Explaining that to parents and grandparents is part of the course. Also explaining to the. That most quality internships (if you are fortunate to get one) are unpaid. My MIL still doesn’t get that it why there were no jobs for high schoolers or college aged kids during COViD. And the d Penske (get your parents and grandparents on your side to help )! My own slac is now $82k a year. Using my own fees and adding clarion, it should be around $28,000.

Either you typed this on your phone and didn't care to spell/grammar/common sense check or you wasted money at your SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you've found this helpful, you may also be interested in the Applying2College forum on Reddit. Although it is just as neurotic and toxic, it has a decent amount of helpful information

OP here and I agree.

Someone asked for advice and I’d say for kids thinking about “top” schools, in no order and just brainstorming:
1. Develop a timeline and stick to it
2. Apply to one rolling admission school in August to take the edge off
3. Apply ED if there’s a financial and student fit
4. Know that most high stats, superior EC kids will probably end up with great options but they may not be the name brand schools you have in mind right now; apply widely and you can get great lists from DCUM and A2C
5. If you have younger kids, encourage them to develop relationships with teachers who can write great recs and request those at the end of jr year
6. Don’t bother with consultants but do test prep of some kind and perhaps use an essay reader (even a trusted family friend can serve this role, don’t have too many cooks in the kitchen)
7. I believe essays and recommendations are the most important thing for kids with high stats and rigor. The latter just buy you a ticket to have the former reviewed
8. It doesn’t matter what specifically they are doing for ECs, jobs, sports, music, caring for family members…just pick a thing or two and develop leadership and/or a way to give back to the community with that thing
9. Try to help your child enjoy junior and senior year where they can. Friends, sleep, down time…all are important and at this point in the senior year they look up and suddenly it’s all ending. Don’t let the last year of HS be only this search if you can
10. It really doesn’t mean anything when you get certain mailings, Ivy interviews, etc. So if you don't, don’t worry about it!

11) Make a balanced list of choices: 4 reaches, 4+ targets (acceptance rates of 25%+ and your kid with 75%+ statistics) and 4+ safeties (acceptance rates of 50%+ and pick at least 1 with 75-80% and your kid's stats at 80%+) IRemember anything with less than a 20-25% acceptance rate IS A REACH, does NOT matter how great your kid's resume/statistics are.
Also, nothing is a target or reach UNLESS your kid ACTUALLY WANTS TO ATTEND that school. So work hard to find the best list for your kid and their interests and your finances. If you do this one thing, your kid will be happy come April. They will have choices they like and are excited about. Realize that most kids do NOT get into their reaches/highly rejective schools and that is ok. That's why you have the targets and safeties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is done with college now, and you are very right about the same themes/trajectory each year.

Yet people think it is only hard/dramatic for their kid.

I really wish parents of younger kids could take the moderate posters to heart.

It is NOT about status/earning potential/impressing your neighbors with your bumper sticker.

It IS about helping your child navigate a stressful time with good mental health. Helping your child decide what path is best for him/her, while tuning out those who would make him/her doubt their worth/potential.

It totally is about earning potential. For all but the 1%, college is about ROI. Full stop.

-A middle class person shocked at the privilege on this site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is done with college now, and you are very right about the same themes/trajectory each year.

Yet people think it is only hard/dramatic for their kid.

I really wish parents of younger kids could take the moderate posters to heart.

It is NOT about status/earning potential/impressing your neighbors with your bumper sticker.

It IS about helping your child navigate a stressful time with good mental health. Helping your child decide what path is best for him/her, while tuning out those who would make him/her doubt their worth/potential.

It totally is about earning potential. For all but the 1%, college is about ROI. Full stop.

-A middle class person shocked at the privilege on this site.

ROI is exactly why it makes sense to have a balanced list. A practical major from a safety school has a much higher ROI than not going to college anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: landscape has changed and how little Larlo, with his mostly As and Bs, isn't getting into Harvard, despite his part time job and recreational sports.

There is a modern culture of grade inflation and participation trophies. I remember students getting A's in the second- or third-hardest calculus class, and joining the National Honor Society. Big deal.

There are around 12 million undergrads enrolled in four-year colleges, but only around 300K at the Top 25 schools, or 2.5%. This percentage might be a little higher if we eliminate part-time and online enrollment. But still, a few generations ago, high schools and colleges actually gave C's. The SAT has been rescaled to make high scores easier. In 1985, the average SAT score at University of Maryland was 1110; it is now 1380.

High Schools graduate around 600 students per year. That makes only 15 top 2.5% students. That would be an above-average student in the hardest math class, or hardest Advanced Placement English, science, etc. Is your kid really at that level?

This is actually good news, because at one time, Ivy League schools took a large percentage of students from rich high schools. They selected on wealth and privilege instead of academic ability. There are now more students applying, which makes it more competitive. Fortunately, professors teach the same stuff at Ivy League schools and public universities. There are thousands of four-year colleges in the U.S., and you can get a good education at many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: landscape has changed and how little Larlo, with his mostly As and Bs, isn't getting into Harvard, despite his part time job and recreational sports.

There is a modern culture of grade inflation and participation trophies. I remember students getting A's in the second- or third-hardest calculus class, and joining the National Honor Society. Big deal.

There are around 12 million undergrads enrolled in four-year colleges, but only around 300K at the Top 25 schools, or 2.5%. This percentage might be a little higher if we eliminate part-time and online enrollment. But still, a few generations ago, high schools and colleges actually gave C's. The SAT has been rescaled to make high scores easier. In 1985, the average SAT score at University of Maryland was 1110; it is now 1380.

High Schools graduate around 600 students per year. That makes only 15 top 2.5% students. That would be an above-average student in the hardest math class, or hardest Advanced Placement English, science, etc. Is your kid really at that level?

This is actually good news, because at one time, Ivy League schools took a large percentage of students from rich high schools. They selected on wealth and privilege instead of academic ability. There are now more students applying, which makes it more competitive. Fortunately, professors teach the same stuff at Ivy League schools and public universities. There are thousands of four-year colleges in the U.S., and you can get a good education at many.

I’ve found grade inflation is actually the easiest part of the situation for the old-timers to understand. It’s the inflation of the whole system that boggles the mind. The students admitted to Ivies today have accomplished more before they set foot on campus than the Ivy students of 50 years ago accomplished by the time they graduated.

[Anonymous]

Watching this forum, I have learned to not buy into the craziness.