Where should DD apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A gap year is a terrible idea for most students. Why does DCUM suggest it so often?

It gives them time to earn money for school and do some independent course study at home. Maybe it helps that they could use the grade/course rigor from their entire senior year and they could take their SATs towards the end of their senior year. They also could use the gap year to travel and simply mature.

Beyond that, I'm not really seeing a benefit. Seems like they would risk getting rusty academically.

[Anonymous]

Visit and apply to diverse schools. I was kind of like your daughter when I was applying to colleges. I was recruited for a sport and sent my skills tape to all kinds of schools—not as geographically diverse as what you’ve stated, but up and down the eastern seaboard to the Midwest. I sent to a service academy (who actually ended up being my strongest recruiter), large state schools, small private schools, schools known for their sports, other schools better known for academics. I didn’t get a good enough financial package from my favorite school (College of the Holy Cross—I never even knew it existed until my parents suggested it) and went to a safety school instead (small, many commuters, close to a big city) I probably wouldn’t have chosen on my own. I definitely felt visiting was a big help. I am a laid back person socially so I knew I could make friends anywhere, my major was one I could do anywhere, and it just took some in person visits to find my vibe.

[Anonymous]

Go to the place that is the least expensive and offers the academic areas she seems to like or excel in right now.

It sounds like she is more focused on the area or the extracurriculars from your description. Visit some in state schools and go from there, or visit schools in the in place you plan to live in next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visit and apply to diverse schools. I was kind of like your daughter when I was applying to colleges. I was recruited for a sport and sent my skills tape to all kinds of schools—not as geographically diverse as what you’ve stated, but up and down the eastern seaboard to the Midwest. I sent to a service academy (who actually ended up being my strongest recruiter), large state schools, small private schools, schools known for their sports, other schools better known for academics. I didn’t get a good enough financial package from my favorite school (College of the Holy Cross—I never even knew it existed until my parents suggested it) and went to a safety school instead (small, many commuters, close to a big city) I probably wouldn’t have chosen on my own. I definitely felt visiting was a big help. I am a laid back person socially so I knew I could make friends anywhere, my major was one I could do anywhere, and it just took some in person visits to find my vibe.

I think this is smart. Visit so she can get a feel for things that could help narrow down the universe of colleges - does she like the feel of a larger or smaller college, urban or suburban or in a small town, etc. Also, visiting and listening to an info session and tour might make it more concrete for her.

Since she doesn't have an idea of what she might major in, I'd recommend looking up which schools are difficult to change majors and/or difficult to get into a major later for students who apply undeclared, and putting those in a 'probably not' or 'less likely' column.

For schools where you have to apply to a specified but fairly broad program, would she be comfortable doing that? For example, would "College of Arts and Sciences" be broad enough to encompass all the areas she might want to major in? If a school (e.g. Boston College) had that college but also colleges of education, management, and nursing, would she possibly decide later that she wanted to go into one of those areas instead? If so, she might want to narrow her list to schools that don't require you to apply to any particular program before enrolling.

[Anonymous]

I actually don't agree with your assessment that she could go anywhere and be happy.

Did you go to college? Did you tour schools? If yes, then you remember how you liked some and you didn't like others.

She needs to visit some schools and get an idea.

My question to you: how far away do you want her to go? Do you want her to be a plane ride away or within driving distance? Why not focus on schools in your state initially and see what she likes and doesn't like. Then maybe you will have an idea if you want to look at another state.

[Anonymous]

OP you didn't say what year your DD is. If she has the mindset that she can thrive anywhere, I think that's great. My first thought was that if she is not sure of what she wants to major in, liberal arts schools might be the way to go. I'd pick several of those that are in her stat range to go visit. On the other hand though, a public university is also an option for her. The one that comes to mind is the University of Pittsburgh. Also if finances are a consideration for you, then you can let that drive the approach you take. Make sure to use the net price calculators to get an idea of the cost. FOlks on here could probably make better suggestions for you if we know her stats. I've just completed the process and would have loved to have had a kid like yours! SHe sounds like she will be very open-minded throughout the process.

[Anonymous]

What are her ECs now? What would she most likely pursue as far as ECs in college? I’m not saying to pick a college based on EC’s but more so where you are likely to be involved in the community. Have you visited different schools yet so she can get a feel for rural versus city, big versus small? Sometimes you have to figure out what you don’t like to really narrow down. Once she can narrow down a little on size, setting, and ECs of interest, is there a school that has a strong alumni/internships and a high 4-5 year graduation rate?

[Anonymous]

Start by taking her to see a variety of local colleges, so she can start to get a sense if she prefers big state U (UMD), small private college like McDaniel, urban private like GWU. You know her as well as she knows herself - do you see her down south, out west, someplace cold, etc. Does she like outdoorsy activities or city living? Then you can make a farther visit to even better focus her preferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A gap year is a terrible idea for most students. Why does DCUM suggest it so often?

Totally disagree. It depends on what you make of it. I know of a number of kids who have taken gap years and done incredible things...teaching in India, studying in Israel, etc. It's not all staying in your parents basement and playing video games. Curious why you think it's a "terrible idea" for most students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A gap year is a terrible idea for most students. Why does DCUM suggest it so often?

Totally disagree. It depends on what you make of it. I know of a number of kids who have taken gap years and done incredible things...teaching in India, studying in Israel, etc. It's not all staying in your parents basement and playing video games. Curious why you think it's a "terrible idea" for most students?

Not that pp, but many students don't know what they want to do or have an internal compass that will keep them directed for that year. Most will work somewhere, and possibly get pulled into a party scene and eventually not make it to college. Of course there are exceptions who do wonderful things that are mostly financially supported by their parents.

[Anonymous]

Where are her friends going? Most kids who have no strong feelings about a particular school end up following siblings or friends. She should consider applying to:

Mom’s alma mater and dad’s
Any uni a sibling attends
Closest big public university (e.g. UVA)

She should also consider applying to a range of other schools to get a feel for what she likes. Apply to a SLAC, a Midwest school like Chicago or Wash U, another big state school like Wisconsin or North Carolina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A gap year is a terrible idea for most students. Why does DCUM suggest it so often?

Totally disagree. It depends on what you make of it. I know of a number of kids who have taken gap years and done incredible things...teaching in India, studying in Israel, etc. It's not all staying in your parents basement and playing video games. Curious why you think it's a "terrible idea" for most students?

Not that pp, but many students don't know what they want to do or have an internal compass that will keep them directed for that year. Most will work somewhere, and possibly get pulled into a party scene and eventually not make it to college. Of course there are exceptions who do wonderful things that are mostly financially supported by their parents.

Agree with this. Plus, it is harder to apply to college when you are not in high school, wih easy access to the registrar for transcripts and teachers for recs, and surrounded by everyobe motovating you to do your apps. People love to throw around Malia Obama as an example of the use of a gap year - she was accepted to Harvard and deferred for a year - that is not the same thing as not applying to colleges while a senior in high school and assuming you’ll “find yourself.”

[Anonymous]

Have you considered a consultant? Depends on what grade your DC is in, but could help her narrow down some choices based on her own interests (whether or not she can explicitly state what those are now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A gap year is a terrible idea for most students. Why does DCUM suggest it so often?

Totally disagree. It depends on what you make of it. I know of a number of kids who have taken gap years and done incredible things...teaching in India, studying in Israel, etc. It's not all staying in your parents basement and playing video games. Curious why you think it's a "terrible idea" for most students?

Not that pp, but many students don't know what they want to do or have an internal compass that will keep them directed for that year. Most will work somewhere, and possibly get pulled into a party scene and eventually not make it to college. Of course there are exceptions who do wonderful things that are mostly financially supported by their parents.

Agree with this. Plus, it is harder to apply to college when you are not in high school, wih easy access to the registrar for transcripts and teachers for recs, and surrounded by everyobe motovating you to do your apps. People love to throw around Malia Obama as an example of the use of a gap year - she was accepted to Harvard and deferred for a year - that is not the same thing as not applying to colleges while a senior in high school and assuming you’ll “find yourself.”

DD is doing a gap year to pursue her EC at a semi-professional level. We had her apply to 2 colleges of her choice senior year - after touring. During this year she decided to apply to 2 more. If a student lets 2 teachers know they may come back the following year with a recommendation request, it's really not an issue. Gap year has been great for our kid.

[Anonymous]

PS most colleges allow an accepted student to defer for a year which DD did. However she decided on a major and is now going to a different school that she applied to this year as a result.