How to limit your child's college list?

[Anonymous]

My kid is applying in waves:

ED1 & if needed ED2. He has 4 high match on the bubble schools and will choose 2. We still have some visits to do. I’ve seen Naviance for reach schools like Ivy’s. It’s not going to happen.

Pitt rolling decision, to get a yes in September.

EA his favorite safety, plus a match that does EA. The EA safety responded by 12/20. If he gets in, that plus Pitt cover safety schools.

Hopefully it’s over then in EA, if not, up to 5 RD applications, up to 2 reaches, the rest matches.

If you aren’t doing ED, tell your kid he must choose 10-12 schools. Then separate them reach, match, safety. About 2 reach, 4 match, 4 safety. If the list isn’t balanced, add in the areas needed and drop one school for each added.

I’m puzzled though. Has your kid done any research, sat through virtual programming, etc? He should have more of a sense than “top ranked by us news”, ie big state vs SLAC, Greek or not, sports-centric vs artsy, urban vs rual, how far from home, $$$ constraints.

[Anonymous]

How has he chosen these schools on his list? Has he done a tour (online or on person), looked at strengths in specific majors/programs he is interested in?
My kid knocked several schools off her list after doing these things.
Have you found at least one safety school that he can see himself happy at?
Have you checked out financial health and endowment for the schools on his list? (Probably less of an issue for top schools, but still something to take a look at)
Is cost an issue for you? Narrowing down choices to affordable ones (either lower-cost or via merit aid) is a totally acceptable parental action.

I found that the closer to application time, the more choices were dropped off the list, so this may happen for you too.
And the right number is different for different kids: one ofine had 10 applications and the other had 3. They are both happy with their outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Consider anything in the top 20 to be like a lottery ticket, no matter the stats. If you genuinely love one or two, toss your name in the hat, but applying to all of them is a waste of time and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How has he chosen these schools on his list? Has he done a tour (online or on person), looked at strengths in specific majors/programs he is interested in?
My kid knocked several schools off her list after doing these things.
Have you found at least one safety school that he can see himself happy at?
Have you checked out financial health and endowment for the schools on his list? (Probably less of an issue for top schools, but still something to take a look at)
Is cost an issue for you? Narrowing down choices to affordable ones (either lower-cost or via merit aid) is a totally acceptable parental action.

I found that the closer to application time, the more choices were dropped off the list, so this may happen for you too.
And the right number is different for different kids: one ofine had 10 applications and the other had 3. They are both happy with their outcomes.

How do you determine strength of major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are doing this:

1 match ED
1 match EA
1 safety EA (and by safety, I mean Naviance shows not a single rejection for anyone from his school, plus we visited, he liked it, and they have his major)

and then we will re evaluate for RD

This sounds a little risky...I would consider 5 perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are doing this:

1 match ED
1 match EA
1 safety EA (and by safety, I mean Naviance shows not a single rejection for anyone from his school, plus we visited, he liked it, and they have his major)

and then we will re evaluate for RD

This sounds a little risky...I would consider 5 perhaps?

It’s not risky at all when you still have the chance to put in as many RD apps as you want.

[Anonymous]

It's a process. I saw no need to finalize a list. They apply to some, they hear from some. If they apply early (EA or Rolling), they hear early. As acceptances come in, they apply to fewer schools. If the student wants to work on reach, dream school applications in Dec-Jan, sure. I'm not going to tell them they can't. No falling in love, though. Not until we can compare all final cost of attendance figures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has he chosen these schools on his list? Has he done a tour (online or on person), looked at strengths in specific majors/programs he is interested in?
My kid knocked several schools off her list after doing these things.
Have you found at least one safety school that he can see himself happy at?
Have you checked out financial health and endowment for the schools on his list? (Probably less of an issue for top schools, but still something to take a look at)
Is cost an issue for you? Narrowing down choices to affordable ones (either lower-cost or via merit aid) is a totally acceptable parental action.

I found that the closer to application time, the more choices were dropped off the list, so this may happen for you too.
And the right number is different for different kids: one ofine had 10 applications and the other had 3. They are both happy with their outcomes.

How do you determine strength of major?

Number of faculty
Variety of courses offered
Subfield-specific offerings (if relevant)
Then it branches depending on field/what kid hopes to do:
faculty research projects/interests
Existence/ranking of grad program
Job/grad school placements, recruitment/internship/co-op opportunities

[Anonymous]

What are the best schools that offer EA? Or rolling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the best schools that offer EA? Or rolling?

Pitt is big around here for rolling.

Some Ivys offer Restricted EA or EA. So does UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has he chosen these schools on his list? Has he done a tour (online or on person), looked at strengths in specific majors/programs he is interested in?
My kid knocked several schools off her list after doing these things.
Have you found at least one safety school that he can see himself happy at?
Have you checked out financial health and endowment for the schools on his list? (Probably less of an issue for top schools, but still something to take a look at)
Is cost an issue for you? Narrowing down choices to affordable ones (either lower-cost or via merit aid) is a totally acceptable parental action.

I found that the closer to application time, the more choices were dropped off the list, so this may happen for you too.
And the right number is different for different kids: one ofine had 10 applications and the other had 3. They are both happy with their outcomes.

How do you determine strength of major?

Number of faculty
Variety of courses offered
Subfield-specific offerings (if relevant)
Then it branches depending on field/what kid hopes to do:
faculty research projects/interests
Existence/ranking of grad program
Job/grad school placements, recruitment/internship/co-op opportunities

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has he chosen these schools on his list? Has he done a tour (online or on person), looked at strengths in specific majors/programs he is interested in?
My kid knocked several schools off her list after doing these things.
Have you found at least one safety school that he can see himself happy at?
Have you checked out financial health and endowment for the schools on his list? (Probably less of an issue for top schools, but still something to take a look at)
Is cost an issue for you? Narrowing down choices to affordable ones (either lower-cost or via merit aid) is a totally acceptable parental action.

I found that the closer to application time, the more choices were dropped off the list, so this may happen for you too.
And the right number is different for different kids: one ofine had 10 applications and the other had 3. They are both happy with their outcomes.

How do you determine strength of major?

Number of faculty
Variety of courses offered
Subfield-specific offerings (if relevant)
Then it branches depending on field/what kid hopes to do:
faculty research projects/interests
Existence/ranking of grad program
Job/grad school placements, recruitment/internship/co-op opportunities

Thanks!

I'd add that touring a school can show up strengths in where they spend their money (new science labs or a digital art studio, for example) and schools will generally try to sell their strengths in particular areas on tours/info sessions or the school website.
Looking at extra opportunities related to areas of study (access to a local archeological dig for history/archeology majors, having a field station for environ. science/bio majors, etc)
And checking out the Fiske guide will list areas that a school is noted for
As well as general ideas such as a school with "tech" in the name somewhere will be stronger in STEM areas and a school that stresses writing as an outcome for all students will probably be stronger in the humanities.

I'll also add that choosing a school only because of a certain program could backfire if the student changes his/her mind. My own kid went to a school with a field station program but then changed their major away from Environ Science to another area that the school is not particularly known for. But since it is a well-regarded LAC, the overall education and alumni network is still top-notch, no matter what major is chosen.

[Anonymous]

My Dad’s approach: Beat Berkeley (or insert name of best in-state public your DC is likely to get into). Basically, treat the public option as a default and as a benchmark for determining the value of other options. Under this scenario, DC applies to as many in-state publics as s/he is interested in and privates either have to price-match the best public option or be demonstrably better in some relevant way to justify the additional expenditure.

Our approach with DC: Treat colleges applications as a multi-round process. First part of the process = choose the early app school(s) and find a couple safeties you love. If you’re happy with an early offer, immediately take every option that is less appealing off the table. Have additional apps ready to go (inc. scores/transcripts/recs sent) if you aren’t satisfied with early outcomes — decide whether there’s an ED2 option you’d be willing to commit to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has he chosen these schools on his list? Has he done a tour (online or on person), looked at strengths in specific majors/programs he is interested in?
My kid knocked several schools off her list after doing these things.
Have you found at least one safety school that he can see himself happy at?
Have you checked out financial health and endowment for the schools on his list? (Probably less of an issue for top schools, but still something to take a look at)
Is cost an issue for you? Narrowing down choices to affordable ones (either lower-cost or via merit aid) is a totally acceptable parental action.

I found that the closer to application time, the more choices were dropped off the list, so this may happen for you too.
And the right number is different for different kids: one ofine had 10 applications and the other had 3. They are both happy with their outcomes.

How do you determine strength of major?

Number of faculty
Variety of courses offered
Subfield-specific offerings (if relevant)
Then it branches depending on field/what kid hopes to do:
faculty research projects/interests
Existence/ranking of grad program
Job/grad school placements, recruitment/internship/co-op opportunities

Thanks!

I'd add that touring a school can show up strengths in where they spend their money (new science labs or a digital art studio, for example) and schools will generally try to sell their strengths in particular areas on tours/info sessions or the school website.
Looking at extra opportunities related to areas of study (access to a local archeological dig for history/archeology majors, having a field station for environ. science/bio majors, etc)
And checking out the Fiske guide will list areas that a school is noted for
As well as general ideas such as a school with "tech" in the name somewhere will be stronger in STEM areas and a school that stresses writing as an outcome for all students will probably be stronger in the humanities.

I'll also add that choosing a school only because of a certain program could backfire if the student changes his/her mind. My own kid went to a school with a field station program but then changed their major away from Environ Science to another area that the school is not particularly known for. But since it is a well-regarded LAC, the overall education and alumni network is still top-notch, no matter what major is chosen.

I don’t trust schools re selling their strengths. They’re often claiming strengths they think will sell and counting on undergrads and their parents not to know the difference. (IDK how reliable Fiske guide is wrt rep in different fields - e.g. does it reflect self-reporting and/or size of program. If so, it’s not an indicator of quality. That seems to be the case wrt various internet sources.)

But ITA re not choosing a school based on its strength in a single field. Kids routinely change majors. So DC should look at likely alternative majors/other interests/overall quality.

[Anonymous]

Kid does not want to go to Trumper states. College list was cut in half due to that.