Another post about the ED decision

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And regardless it is my problem. With an 18 year old, we don't get to decide. It's just hard to watch!

Lucky you have an 18 YO - I am still dealing with a 17 YO brain.

[Anonymous]

I’ll give another perspective. My kid did this last year- had identical stats to OP’s kid, plus strong but not “national award level” ECs, strong essays, etc.

Was weighing a Wash U type college and Penn type college for ED right up to the deadline, Part of me hoped he’d shoot for the Penn type and other conservative part of me hoped he’d go for the more likely admit. He went for the Wash U/more likely admit (in large part bc his private counselor urged it), got in and was happy, except that 3 other kids from his class did, too, which diluated some of his joy at the “accomplishment.” Then fast forward to the spring when lots of classmates who had aimed for the Penn type in ED and been rejected or deferred, then got into very top notch colleges in the RD round. DC felt kind of like he’d sold himself short, and why did he bust his butt on all the top classes, etc to land at a good but not top 10 college.

He’s happy at his place but I know he wonders if he could have aimed higher and succeeded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll give another perspective. My kid did this last year- had identical stats to OP’s kid, plus strong but not “national award level” ECs, strong essays, etc.

Was weighing a Wash U type college and Penn type college for ED right up to the deadline, Part of me hoped he’d shoot for the Penn type and other conservative part of me hoped he’d go for the more likely admit. He went for the Wash U/more likely admit (in large part bc his private counselor urged it), got in and was happy, except that 3 other kids from his class did, too, which diluated some of his joy at the “accomplishment.” Then fast forward to the spring when lots of classmates who had aimed for the Penn type in ED and been rejected or deferred, then got into very top notch colleges in the RD round. DC felt kind of like he’d sold himself short, and why did he bust his butt on all the top classes, etc to land at a good but not top 10 college.

He’s happy at his place but I know he wonders if he could have aimed higher and succeeded.

I posted earlier about us not allowing DC to apply ED2 to a school that was not his top choice. It worked well and more importantly it is a lesson that one needs to be patient and reach if the stats are there. Even the kids who were not lucky as my DC and landed at not their top choices, seem to be happy. However, some who play safe will always wonder. We are immigrants and I think the US has many great colleges so not thinking only a few are the best also helped us take the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is mostly a vent but the process is hard to watch! My child is at a Big 3 school, a very solid student with a 3.8 cumulative. Has a 36 on the ACT. Has a lot of genuine intellectual curiosity. Kid is ED'ing to WashU. It's a great school obviously but student body seems more pre-professional and intense than what would be ideal for my kid. We don't love St Louis either. But not my life!

If your kid isn't hooked and if they truly like Wash U, it sounds like a great match to me. Believe me, 3.8 and 36 ACT will not buy them much higher than that - the hooked kids are taking most of the T20 spots at your Big 3 (even if they have lower GPA and/or rigor). I hope it works out, but be mentally prepared for a defer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you upset because you think your kid is playing the "ED Game" where they would rather attend Wash U than say UMD, but really want to go Northwestern...but realize WashU has a way higher ED acceptance rate than Northwestern...and WashU has a way lower RD acceptance rate?

Or, are you upset because the idea of attending college in St. Louis is not what you envisioned for your kid (because you yourself would not make that choice)?

The former is a huge dilemma...the latter is your own issue to get over.

It's both actually. Kid is settling in a way because they have a very good shot at WashU ED with those stats. And part of the settling is the location. I wish kid would take a chance at a different type of school with a better location.

OP - if '24 admissions is anything like '23, your kid is probably not getting into the schools you are imagining for them. It's a tough pill to swallow. WashU is a smart ED roll of the dice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree….it feels like 17 is too young to be resigned to settling.

Get a clue people - this is not settling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. To be clear I don't think Wash U is settling in that sense. It's a great school. I just know my child is making a very sensible decision based on perceived probabilities. I would rather have seen exploration of East Coast schools (closer to home) that have a more strongly liberal artsy student body. (Versus skewing more pre-professional). I don't want to start naming names because then I'll be shot down because of the merits and demerits of whichever school I name. In any case, I own that this is my problem. It's not a WashU problem. Just figured at least some parents on this board are feeling a similar pang with the ED choices being completely out of their parental hands.

The most important aspect, aside from financial, is that your child gets to choose themselves. So assuming you’re fine with the financial commitment, let him choose and cheer him on. We all have our own preferences.

Exactly! Also, if it turns out they have buyers remorse, it was their decision so it's on them. It's called life, making decisions, seeing how they play out, and adapting if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll give another perspective. My kid did this last year- had identical stats to OP’s kid, plus strong but not “national award level” ECs, strong essays, etc.

Was weighing a Wash U type college and Penn type college for ED right up to the deadline, Part of me hoped he’d shoot for the Penn type and other conservative part of me hoped he’d go for the more likely admit. He went for the Wash U/more likely admit (in large part bc his private counselor urged it), got in and was happy, except that 3 other kids from his class did, too, which diluated some of his joy at the “accomplishment.” Then fast forward to the spring when lots of classmates who had aimed for the Penn type in ED and been rejected or deferred, then got into very top notch colleges in the RD round. DC felt kind of like he’d sold himself short, and why did he bust his butt on all the top classes, etc to land at a good but not top 10 college.

He’s happy at his place but I know he wonders if he could have aimed higher and succeeded.

The opposite happened at our school. Top kids without hooks did not get into T20 colleges in RD and were deferred in ED. The kids that got in all had hooks. Many of the top kids went to schools outside of T30.