Did anyone else underestimate their DC this application cycle?

[Anonymous]

I was surprised DC got into 2 out of 4 reaches and waitlisted at another. Wishing we had them apply to more reaches because they didn't get into their first choice and ended up picking the lower ranked reach school for reasons concerning fit and location. Maybe we should have explored more options at the higher end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, things absolutely turned out better than I thought they could.

DC’s first choice was a reach - we thought
His GPA wasn’t high enough
His SAT wasn’t high enough
Even if he got in, they won’t offer enough aid to make it affordable for us

Wrong on 3 counts. He did ED, was accepted, and received an aid package far better than expected.

High enough based on his school's naviance/SCOIR?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We suggested a safety with a 70-80% acceptance rate because we doubted our DC would get into their first choice, to which they were admitted. However, they ended up loving the safety, and that is where they are going.

Same here!!!! Haha! I couldn’t convince DC to pick the more selective school. Safety is it!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We suggested a safety with a 70-80% acceptance rate because we doubted our DC would get into their first choice, to which they were admitted. However, they ended up loving the safety, and that is where they are going.

Same here!!!! Haha! I couldn’t convince DC to pick the more selective school. Safety is it!!

Yep! It’s funny how it worked out. I am the PP. My kid’s original first choice was in-state, and a bunch of their friends will go there. They visited the high acceptance school (out of state - about four states away!) and loved it. The program is amazing, and it offers all the rah rah stuff they want. The distance, though, will be a pain!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice post, whether true or not, lifts my spirits today. College admissions seem hopeless to me.
-parent of rising junior

Your kid is competing with fewer kids this upcoming cycle. Those that were born between Fall 2008 - Fall 2009

Definitely a part of things. But the reasons for why there aren't a lot of great students today go beyond mere demographics. But if you have a top student with great ECs, it's been much easier - compared to a few years ago.

Not really though. Applications are exponentially rising despite fewer students.

[Anonymous]

DC had low grades/good ACT and got into every need aware college w/merit aid they applied to and rejected from every need blind college. Would have applied to more need aware colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice post, whether true or not, lifts my spirits today. College admissions seem hopeless to me.
-parent of rising junior

Your kid is competing with fewer kids this upcoming cycle. Those that were born between Fall 2008 - Fall 2009

Definitely a part of things. But the reasons for why there aren't a lot of great students today go beyond mere demographics. But if you have a top student with great ECs, it's been much easier - compared to a few years ago.

Not really though. Applications are exponentially rising despite fewer students.

No matter how many applications they submit, each kid can only attend one school.

[Anonymous]

We had the opposite. Kid got rejected or wl at every reach and even a couple targets. In at all the safeties and rest of the targets with good merit. Not sure what was missing from profile but it feel bizarrely bad luck.

[Anonymous]

DC went TO for BU with a weighted GPA that was lower than typically accepted from school - will be attending as a Fall admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I spent too much time on dcum, but I kept doubting many things. The GPA was not high enough? A high test score would not move the needle? No national awards? Say goodbye to top colleges. Listen to the school counselor and apply ED to a target school? On and on. But in the end, DC's results really surprised us.

DCUM will drive you crazy. So many mid families will tell you nobody can get in because their mid kids can't get in.

Nothing in this thread eliminates the possibility that parents are talking about "mid" schools because no schools have been identified.

[Anonymous]

I was shocked that DC was accepted to most schools they applied to. In the mix were some top SLACs, a T30 an Ivy, and a fair number of safeties. I think DC wished they had applied to fewer safeties and to more competitive schools. Which is silly because they are going to a competitive school anyway. Anectodally, all of their DCPS magnet friends are going to their first choice schools.

[Anonymous]

Unless people identify specific schools, this thread is completely meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless people identify specific schools, this thread is completely meaningless.

Not really. It can be reassuring to hear that many students had better admissions outcomes than their parents expected. Maybe we don’t need to buy into all the hype and should realize there are great options out there for our kids. Reframe the narrative around college admissions. Be realistic but optimistic. It may even turn out better than anticipated!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like no 1560+ scorers got shut out from T15!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like no 1560+ scorers got shut out from T15!

Definitely not true.