Experienced Parents: What was DCUM right/wrong about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the admissions pessimism on this board, we thought DS would have a tougher time with a 1390 SAT and 3.75 UW/4.2 W GPA. He got into one EA SLAC with 50% merit aid and then into his reach ED with a 13% admit rate, then withdrew other apps. Honestly, I thought there was no way he’d get into ED, so I didn’t think a lot about the commitment. That was a mistake.

Well that ain't Ivy is it--that's all that counts around these parts unless the LAC (Not SLAC) is Amherst, Williams, or Pomona. Hope he enjoys Maine--Colby is cold in the Winter.

[Anonymous]

Right: top schools require a hook-URM, Legacy, or recruited athlete.

More Right: College is Expensive.

Even More Right: Ivies, Duke, Northwestern, Chicago, Hopkins, Amherst, Williams, Pomona are about the only schools that matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right: top schools require a hook-URM, Legacy, or recruited athlete.

More Right: College is Expensive.

Even More Right: Ivies, Duke, Northwestern, Chicago, Hopkins, Amherst, Williams, Pomona are about the only schools that matter.

1) kinda right, but not “required”
2) obvious
3) troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right: top schools require a hook-URM, Legacy, or recruited athlete.

More Right: College is Expensive.

Even More Right: Ivies, Duke, Northwestern, Chicago, Hopkins, Amherst, Williams, Pomona are about the only schools that matter.

1) kinda right, but not “required”
2) obvious
3) troll

3) Yup. Trying to take a nice, helpful thread and see if they can derail it. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the admissions pessimism on this board, we thought DS would have a tougher time with a 1390 SAT and 3.75 UW/4.2 W GPA. He got into one EA SLAC with 50% merit aid and then into his reach ED with a 13% admit rate, then withdrew other apps. Honestly, I thought there was no way he’d get into ED, so I didn’t think a lot about the commitment. That was a mistake.

Most SLACs have a large gender imbalance and boys are at a huge advantage. More likely to get in than you think, especially ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re the anxiety, speak for yourself, PPs.

My senior is twice exceptional, so yes, we ARE anxious, because there's no telling how universities will view his unequal profile. Also, with his ADHD, we've kept a close eye on deadlines and everything that needs to be requested/handed in.

I won't be as anxious with my second child, who is very predictable in her performance and will probably want to manage the whole thing herself anyway.

My oldest is 31. About the most severe case of ADHD his doctors and therapists had ever seen. I did not get involved in the college application process at all. Because, I knew that when he graduated from college and got a job, no one would care about his “exceptionalities”. Did he drop the ball a few times? Absolutely. The consequences were unpleasant. But he got into a good college, graduated, got his masters, and has a really great job. All without mama. Pretty sure his wife is appreciative.

Four through college. I stayed out if it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all of the above. But also, the schools DCUM insists are “safety schools” are not. There are very few actual safety schools anymore.

There are literally thousands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What DCUM got right: being a recruited athlete is the best hook.

+1
Talent and hard work in athletics and in the classroom can really pay off!

What do people do with kids who are not talented athletes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not saving enough with the justification of being in a good school district and relying on merit or financial aid and being disappointed when its not what you deem enough.

Realism is sometimes hard to come by on this board. College and college prices have changed so much over the last 30 years that some are totally disoriented when they understand the current landscape. For some, that updated understanding occurs only as their kids are applying for college. That’s where state schools can be helpful, but some people don’t want to be bound by those options.

It is so irresponsible. This is nothing someone should be surprised by when your kid is a senior. Our financial advisor told us 20 years ago to save roughly $350k-$400k for each of our kids for private colleges and $200k for public college.

Ummm...not everyone has a financial advisor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all of the above. But also, the schools DCUM insists are “safety schools” are not. There are very few actual safety schools anymore.

There are literally thousands.

THIS. You may not want to go there, but there are options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What DCUM got right: being a recruited athlete is the best hook.

+1
Talent and hard work in athletics and in the classroom can really pay off!

What do people do with kids who are not talented athletes?

Get them started with a sport they enjoy when they are young. You don’t need to be a natural athlete. It can be learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What DCUM got right: being a recruited athlete is the best hook.

+1
Talent and hard work in athletics and in the classroom can really pay off!

What do people do with kids who are not talented athletes?

Send them off to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the admissions pessimism on this board, we thought DS would have a tougher time with a 1390 SAT and 3.75 UW/4.2 W GPA. He got into one EA SLAC with 50% merit aid and then into his reach ED with a 13% admit rate, then withdrew other apps. Honestly, I thought there was no way he’d get into ED, so I didn’t think a lot about the commitment. That was a mistake.

Well that ain't Ivy is it--that's all that counts around these parts unless the LAC (Not SLAC) is Amherst, Williams, or Pomona. Hope he enjoys Maine--Colby is cold in the Winter.

I thought Bates and how wonderful that would be. And I find this helpful because I have a kid with similar stats (but a DD). I was surprised to see Collegevine giving higher odds at Middlebury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What DCUM got right: being a recruited athlete is the best hook.

+1
Talent and hard work in athletics and in the classroom can really pay off!

What do people do with kids who are not talented athletes?

Get them started with a sport they enjoy when they are young. You don’t need to be a natural athlete. It can be learned.

Yes, any kid can learn a sport and get better. But, if your goal is for your kid to be recruited, that’s another matter. Many parents waste 10s of thousands of dollars and tons of time trying to turn their mediocre athlete into a recruitment star. It overwhelmingly doesn’t work. If your kid loves their sport, they get playing time, and they excel relative to others in the game, you may have something. Otherwise, put your money in a 529.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not saving enough with the justification of being in a good school district and relying on merit or financial aid and being disappointed when its not what you deem enough.

Realism is sometimes hard to come by on this board. College and college prices have changed so much over the last 30 years that some are totally disoriented when they understand the current landscape. For some, that updated understanding occurs only as their kids are applying for college. That’s where state schools can be helpful, but some people don’t want to be bound by those options.

It is so irresponsible. This is nothing someone should be surprised by when your kid is a senior. Our financial advisor told us 20 years ago to save roughly $350k-$400k for each of our kids for private colleges and $200k for public college.

Legitimate question: Should we all be fully bankrolling college (and even grad school)? Note that many loan options are primarily student loans (rather than parent plus).
Do some of you still expect your kids to contribute? We can afford it but are still planning on a contribution based on actual earnings or volunteer time (not requiring actual external student loans).