Things you wish you knew…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apply test optional. We had solid SATs but were mostly waitlisted when submitted and accepted with test optional.

UwGpa? Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apply test optional. We had solid SATs but were mostly waitlisted when submitted and accepted with test optional.

On the other hand, I think submitting scores to a TO school got me DC accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t believe what people tell you anonymously, there is zero reputational risk if they are wrong and zero penalty for lying or mischief-making.

If they can’t provide a link to a publicly stated policy, text, or data point treat it as bullshit.

Treat the targeted marketing from colleges as bull, too. Outreach to specific students including paid campus visits is an effort by the school to drum up applicants and, among those admitted, yield. And an offer for a non-need-based application waiver is a way to drum up applications only. Don’t assume interest beyond that.

+1 Although I'd say the primary reason for the mailings is to make students aware of their schools, not some nefarious purpose. But definitely make no assumptions about getting mail from any college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t believe what people tell you anonymously, there is zero reputational risk if they are wrong and zero penalty for lying or mischief-making.

If they can’t provide a link to a publicly stated policy, text, or data point treat it as bullshit.

Treat the targeted marketing from colleges as bull, too. Outreach to specific students including paid campus visits is an effort by the school to drum up applicants and, among those admitted, yield. And an offer for a non-need-based application waiver is a way to drum up applications only. Don’t assume interest beyond that.

+1 Although I'd say the primary reason for the mailings is to make students aware of their schools, not some nefarious purpose. But definitely make no assumptions about getting mail from any college.

Some of my kids scored higher on the SAT, and we never received mailings? Even my kids that did not score very high did not receive mailings? Nor did their friends. Most colleges email or use social media theses days.

[Anonymous]

Tuition/cost at privates would be $90k year. They were around $60k a year when my 18-year old was born.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t believe what people tell you anonymously, there is zero reputational risk if they are wrong and zero penalty for lying or mischief-making.

If they can’t provide a link to a publicly stated policy, text, or data point treat it as bullshit.

Treat the targeted marketing from colleges as bull, too. Outreach to specific students including paid campus visits is an effort by the school to drum up applicants and, among those admitted, yield. And an offer for a non-need-based application waiver is a way to drum up applications only. Don’t assume interest beyond that.

+1 Although I'd say the primary reason for the mailings is to make students aware of their schools, not some nefarious purpose. But definitely make no assumptions about getting mail from any college.

Some of my kids scored higher on the SAT, and we never received mailings? Even my kids that did not score very high did not receive mailings? Nor did their friends. Most colleges email or use social media theses days.

Yes, I meant both email and US mail. But they might not have received physical mail due to opting out when thy took the PSAT.

[Anonymous]

Visit colleges when school is in session.

Course sequencing matters in high school. Be aware of this in middle school.

Some schools only have on-campus housing for one or two years. Understand the implications of this. This can translate into major pressure to sign a lease/find a future roommate very early in the first semester of your kid's first year.

Costs are more than just tuition/fees/room and board. It is the laptop and everything else.

College is not the brochure. If I was talking directly to the future college student, I would say choose the school that will help you get started on the career path you want now, understanding that could change. It is just preparation for the next step. The best comes after colllege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visit colleges when school is in session.

Course sequencing matters in high school. Be aware of this in middle school.

Some schools only have on-campus housing for one or two years. Understand the implications of this. This can translate into major pressure to sign a lease/find a future roommate very early in the first semester of your kid's first year.

Costs are more than just tuition/fees/room and board. It is the laptop and everything else.

College is not the brochure. If I was talking directly to the future college student, I would say choose the school that will help you get started on the career path you want now, understanding that could change. It is just preparation for the next step. The best comes after colllege.

^^ This is a great list!

Course sequencing also matters in college. Our DC did a lot of DE in HS hoping to shave some time off college only to find out their prospective major didn't allow that. Still, no regrets, though. They'll end up with a double-major and had time-slots to pick classes purely for fun/exploration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tuition/cost at privates would be $90k year. They were around $60k a year when my 18-year old was born.

My neighbors with a newborn don't understand that their alma mater is now $85k/year. My son was admitted and they are all gung-ho and I'm like, you know it costs X?

And they graduated about 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t believe what people tell you anonymously, there is zero reputational risk if they are wrong and zero penalty for lying or mischief-making.

If they can’t provide a link to a publicly stated policy, text, or data point treat it as bullshit.

Treat the targeted marketing from colleges as bull, too. Outreach to specific students including paid campus visits is an effort by the school to drum up applicants and, among those admitted, yield. And an offer for a non-need-based application waiver is a way to drum up applications only. Don’t assume interest beyond that.

+1 Although I'd say the primary reason for the mailings is to make students aware of their schools, not some nefarious purpose. But definitely make no assumptions about getting mail from any college.

Some of my kids scored higher on the SAT, and we never received mailings? Even my kids that did not score very high did not receive mailings? Nor did their friends. Most colleges email or use social media theses days.

It's mainly about whether a kid checked boxes to receive mailings or not on PSAT or other college forums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visit colleges when school is in session.

Course sequencing matters in high school. Be aware of this in middle school.

Some schools only have on-campus housing for one or two years. Understand the implications of this. This can translate into major pressure to sign a lease/find a future roommate very early in the first semester of your kid's first year.

Costs are more than just tuition/fees/room and board. It is the laptop and everything else.

College is not the brochure. If I was talking directly to the future college student, I would say choose the school that will help you get started on the career path you want now, understanding that could change. It is just preparation for the next step. The best comes after colllege.

I know this matters for subjects like math classes, but where you talking about other subjects too?

[Anonymous]

I wish I’d known how crazy this year would be.

RD stats don’t seem to be following historical trends for our private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:start crafting ur child’s narrative in middle school - after that it’s too late to appear authentic -

BS. Both got in UVA in state plus multiple T25/top LACs and that is not needed.

Let the kids be themselves, take the classes they want to take. Students who will really soar at T10s will take the top classes and be in the top whatever % in their HS without parents pushing. Usually these are the same kids that are already 98-99%ile on standardized tests at baseline, since they were younger (CTP, Cal Achievements, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:start crafting ur child’s narrative in middle school - after that it’s too late to appear authentic -

BS. Both got in UVA in state plus multiple T25/top LACs and that is not needed.

Let the kids be themselves, take the classes they want to take. Students who will really soar at T10s will take the top classes and be in the top whatever % in their HS without parents pushing. Usually these are the same kids that are already 98-99%ile on standardized tests at baseline, since they were younger (CTP, Cal Achievements, etc)

Yup, you could probably look at a class of incoming 9th graders and already pick out most of those who have a shot at the most selective colleges. They're already making straight A's look effortless and superstars in multiple interests of their own volition. Sure, some will develop while in high school, but mostly it's just who they are and already have been before they even get there. And that's FINE! Let them be themselves, and they'll either be that kid or they won't. Whether they're admitted to an elite college or not won't make a bit of difference in their future success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents school are the biggest indicator of who gets in where. For the most part kids are following in their parents footsteps, if you went to an Ivy your kid will end up at the equivalent school or slightly lower. In our community, I haven’t see a senior end up at a school ranked higher than their parent’s alma mater .

Maybe someone else asked this- but how would you know where your kid’s peers’ parents went to college!

Wow! You're way off here - DC accepted at MUCH better schools than either of us parents went to.