Lessons learned: 2025-2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ED to a school no one in your high school matriculates to?

We are at a VA public high school with a lot of middle class families so lots of people go in state (nothing wrong with that!). We can afford full pay for a private college had our junior is thinking about EDing next year to a Claremont College that our school never sends anyone to. Is that a horrible idea?

I love the Claremont colleges. I think it’s a great idea, as long as that’s your child’s first choice and they love it. If it’s Pomona, it’s extremely hard to get into so have an ED2 lined up. The others will be safer bets.

It’s Harvey Mudd (not sure that is much easier than Pomona but hopefully a little easier?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ED to a school no one in your high school matriculates to?

We are at a VA public high school with a lot of middle class families so lots of people go in state (nothing wrong with that!). We can afford full pay for a private college had our junior is thinking about EDing next year to a Claremont College that our school never sends anyone to. Is that a horrible idea?

I love the Claremont colleges. I think it’s a great idea, as long as that’s your child’s first choice and they love it. If it’s Pomona, it’s extremely hard to get into so have an ED2 lined up. The others will be safer bets.

It’s Harvey Mudd (not sure that is much easier than Pomona but hopefully a little easier?)

Harvey Mudd is a fantastic school. Of course it’s hard to know your child’s chances, but best wishes to them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ED to a school no one in your high school matriculates to?

We are at a VA public high school with a lot of middle class families so lots of people go in state (nothing wrong with that!). We can afford full pay for a private college had our junior is thinking about EDing next year to a Claremont College that our school never sends anyone to. Is that a horrible idea?

I love the Claremont colleges. I think it’s a great idea, as long as that’s your child’s first choice and they love it. If it’s Pomona, it’s extremely hard to get into so have an ED2 lined up. The others will be safer bets.

It’s Harvey Mudd (not sure that is much easier than Pomona but hopefully a little easier?)

Harvey Mudd is a fantastic school. Of course it’s hard to know your child’s chances, but best wishes to them!

What are a young woman's chances to HM junior with sciences yet unsure if taking a science class during high school senior year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ED to a school no one in your high school matriculates to?

We are at a VA public high school with a lot of middle class families so lots of people go in state (nothing wrong with that!). We can afford full pay for a private college had our junior is thinking about EDing next year to a Claremont College that our school never sends anyone to. Is that a horrible idea?

I love the Claremont colleges. I think it’s a great idea, as long as that’s your child’s first choice and they love it. If it’s Pomona, it’s extremely hard to get into so have an ED2 lined up. The others will be safer bets.

It’s Harvey Mudd (not sure that is much easier than Pomona but hopefully a little easier?)

Harvey Mudd is a fantastic school. Of course it’s hard to know your child’s chances, but best wishes to them!

What are a young woman's chances to HM junior with sciences yet unsure if taking a science class during high school senior year

HM is a very difficult school, admission wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ED to a school no one in your high school matriculates to?

We are at a VA public high school with a lot of middle class families so lots of people go in state (nothing wrong with that!). We can afford full pay for a private college had our junior is thinking about EDing next year to a Claremont College that our school never sends anyone to. Is that a horrible idea?

I love the Claremont colleges. I think it’s a great idea, as long as that’s your child’s first choice and they love it. If it’s Pomona, it’s extremely hard to get into so have an ED2 lined up. The others will be safer bets.

It’s Harvey Mudd (not sure that is much easier than Pomona but hopefully a little easier?)

Harvey Mudd is a fantastic school. Of course it’s hard to know your child’s chances, but best wishes to them!

What are a young woman's chances to HM junior with sciences yet unsure if taking a science class during high school senior year

HM is a very difficult school, admission wise.

Most are, aren't they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ED to a school no one in your high school matriculates to?

We are at a VA public high school with a lot of middle class families so lots of people go in state (nothing wrong with that!). We can afford full pay for a private college had our junior is thinking about EDing next year to a Claremont College that our school never sends anyone to. Is that a horrible idea?

I love the Claremont colleges. I think it’s a great idea, as long as that’s your child’s first choice and they love it. If it’s Pomona, it’s extremely hard to get into so have an ED2 lined up. The others will be safer bets.

It’s Harvey Mudd (not sure that is much easier than Pomona but hopefully a little easier?)

Harvey Mudd is a fantastic school. Of course it’s hard to know your child’s chances, but best wishes to them!

What are a young woman's chances to HM junior with sciences yet unsure if taking a science class during high school senior year

Why wouldn't she take science every year if she's interested in a school like Harvey Mudd? (Why would Harvey Mudd take her if she's not interested enough in science to take it every year?)

[Anonymous]

Any new lessons to share by parents of seniors?

[Anonymous]

It's too early to tell. The main information and results have yet to come!

[Anonymous]

Resources that were helpful:

1. Common Data Set reports for each school of interest (often on school website or can google school name + Common Data Set)

2. Fiske Guide to get school overviews. Also helped to identify overlap/peer institutions.

3. Naviance/SchooLinks/SCOIR to see historical record of how students at DC’s school fared in admissions. Served us as a fairly accurate guide for likelies, targets, reaches.

4. For the financial health of considered colleges, was useful (and sometimes eye opening!) to review the Forbes ratings, the DOE “financial responsibility” scores, and Bain’s, “The Financially Resilient University.” Also, the Federal Reserve Board’s, “Predicting College Closures and Financial Distress.”

[Anonymous]

There is no universal "top 30" or "top 50" or "top 20" colleges. USNWR, Forbes, Linkedin all have flawed methodology and they admit they fill out their responses in a hurry and sometimes strategically, not necessarily methodically or even honestly.

Focus on the criteria that is important to YOU.

For many, MERIT MONEY > prestige.

Look at substance, not overall prestige. For example, for those who are drawn to majors like International Relations, American U > Rice, and GW > Cornell.

Acceptance rate is being gamed by a lot of colleges understandably to create the aura of prestige so they can draw more interest. A low acceptance rate is not a proxy for quality.

Be smart.

[Anonymous]

I might have misread the group, but from what I learned from DCUM it made it seem like there is little hope for well rounded kids at T20. My well rounded DS got into Duke without any hook or some niche factor. So did his best friend to an Ivy.

Sample size of two, but my son almost did not apply as it seemed pointless to write the essays. If you have a well rounded kid, do apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no universal "top 30" or "top 50" or "top 20" colleges. USNWR, Forbes, Linkedin all have flawed methodology and they admit they fill out their responses in a hurry and sometimes strategically, not necessarily methodically or even honestly.

Focus on the criteria that is important to YOU.

For many, MERIT MONEY > prestige.

Look at substance, not overall prestige. For example, for those who are drawn to majors like International Relations, American U > Rice, and GW > Cornell.

Acceptance rate is being gamed by a lot of colleges understandably to create the aura of prestige so they can draw more interest. A low acceptance rate is not a proxy for quality.

Be smart.

What about Cornell brooks in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might have misread the group, but from what I learned from DCUM it made it seem like there is little hope for well rounded kids at T20. My well rounded DS got into Duke without any hook or some niche factor. So did his best friend to an Ivy.

Sample size of two, but my son almost did not apply as it seemed pointless to write the essays. If you have a well rounded kid, do apply.

Private school?
Major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no universal "top 30" or "top 50" or "top 20" colleges. USNWR, Forbes, Linkedin all have flawed methodology and they admit they fill out their responses in a hurry and sometimes strategically, not necessarily methodically or even honestly.

Focus on the criteria that is important to YOU.

For many, MERIT MONEY > prestige.

Look at substance, not overall prestige. For example, for those who are drawn to majors like International Relations, American U > Rice, and GW > Cornell.

Acceptance rate is being gamed by a lot of colleges understandably to create the aura of prestige so they can draw more interest. A low acceptance rate is not a proxy for quality.

Be smart.

What about Cornell brooks in DC

Cornell is consistently ranked by Foreign Policy below GW in IR. Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/07/30/international-relations-school-rankings-university-undergraduate-masters-phd-programs/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no universal "top 30" or "top 50" or "top 20" colleges. USNWR, Forbes, Linkedin all have flawed methodology and they admit they fill out their responses in a hurry and sometimes strategically, not necessarily methodically or even honestly.

Focus on the criteria that is important to YOU.

For many, MERIT MONEY > prestige.

Look at substance, not overall prestige. For example, for those who are drawn to majors like International Relations, American U > Rice, and GW > Cornell.

Acceptance rate is being gamed by a lot of colleges understandably to create the aura of prestige so they can draw more interest. A low acceptance rate is not a proxy for quality.

Be smart.

All of this!