Finding the right balance of colleges to apply to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a rising senior and planning which colleges to apply to. I've seen horror stories about students applying to 30+ colleges and she definitely doesn't to be one of those. Plan is to apply to 6 schools that she's really researched and has every intention of attending each school. Her academics and ECs are quite strong so we're not too worried about those boxes, but we believe her demonstrated interest in each school will come through the essays and put her over the top. VA resident fyi.

2 reaches - Yale, UChicago

2 matches - Cornell, Duke

2 safeties - UVA, Michigan

Is this a good list? Any risks to this plan? Please keep feedback constructive.

Yes, it's an excellent list.

[Anonymous]

Michigan over-extended this past cycle, so the 2020 kids will have a much tougher time getting in.

None of the schools on OP's list are anything but reaches, even if in-state for UVA. If in-state for Michigan, then perhaps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a rising senior and planning which colleges to apply to. I've seen horror stories about students applying to 30+ colleges and she definitely doesn't to be one of those. Plan is to apply to 6 schools that she's really researched and has every intention of attending each school. Her academics and ECs are quite strong so we're not too worried about those boxes, but we believe her demonstrated interest in each school will come through the essays and put her over the top. VA resident fyi.

2 reaches - Yale, UChicago both single digit admission rates

2 matches - Cornell, Duke both single digit admission rates

2 safeties - UVA, Michigan both low double digit admission rates

Is this a good list? Any risks to this plan? Please keep feedback constructive.

May want to think of some schools that have better than 50% admission rates as super safeties and a bunch more in the match category that are in the 30-50% range.

[Anonymous]

I would have her do a little more research and add at least one school that has an acceptance rate >30%, if she can find one that's not too far beneath her.

[Anonymous]

What does she plan to major in?

[Anonymous]

Ditto all the above re adding some real admissions safeties. Also, an admission safety that is also a financial safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a rising senior and planning which colleges to apply to. I've seen horror stories about students applying to 30+ colleges and she definitely doesn't to be one of those. Plan is to apply to 6 schools that she's really researched and has every intention of attending each school. Her academics and ECs are quite strong so we're not too worried about those boxes, but we believe her demonstrated interest in each school will come through the essays and put her over the top. VA resident fyi.

2 reaches - Yale, UChicago

2 matches - Cornell, Duke

2 safeties - UVA, Michigan

Is this a good list? Any risks to this plan? Please keep feedback constructive.

You should move Chicago to 'matches', perhaps add MIT or Princeton to 'reaches' and drop Michigan. Michigan practices yield protection, so it may not be a 'safety'.

[Anonymous]

There is no universe where UChicago is a "match" for any student. Schools with single digit admission rates are a reach for all applicants, unless a recruited athlete or double legacy, high donors.

[Anonymous]

the Op's kid can't be a recruited athlete, they've all committed already

[Anonymous]

Awesome list OP!!! I’m sure your snowflake will get into all of them. Cheerio!

[Anonymous]

“Any risks to this plan?”

Nope. None at all!

[Anonymous]

I'd move Cornell to safety

[Anonymous]

Everyone can stop being snarky. The poster asked for guidance and I suspect he/she has been schooled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd move Cornell to safety

Newsflash: Columbia is the weak Ivy.
Out today: https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/#13fdc6bb1987

[Anonymous]

Dear OP (assuming you are not a troll but new to the college admission process), have you reviewed your DD's scores and GPA on her high school's Naviance program to see where she actually fits into these six schools? Your child has to have a very high GPA and test scores to get into UVA from NOVA - she has to be in the top ten percent of her class, at a minimum. Does she have a weighted 4.48 or more? the median 75th percentile of the entering class (entering class statistics are lower than accepted stats because a number of the UVA applicants, like you, use UVA as a safety) had a 4.48 last fall, meaning, 12.5% had GPAs in excess of 4.48. SAT is a 1480 and ACT is a 34 for 75th percentile. Plus your DD will be competing against her own high school classmates for slots. If a great number of students are applying from her high school, that further lessens her chances of getting into UVA. http://research.schev.edu//enrollment/B10_FreshmenProfile.asp. Does she have a particular interest or field of study?