Extracurriculars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is URM?

Undeserving Rich Minority

[Anonymous]

or, more traditionally, Under Represented Minority

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the college. Some like the dedication shown by kids who only do a few things but have done them for long periods. I highly recommend your daughter do an interview when she applies, it will really help back up her passions.

Spoken like a true novice to the college admissions process. Most colleges don't do or even consider interviews, and the ones that do typically only assign it minimal weight. I wouldn't count on turning a decision around on the basis of an interview.

The bottom line is that extracurriculars play a distant third in the process at best, behind grades, test scores and probably URM status. In some schools they don't matter at all, and in every school where they do matter, a couple of extracurriculars seen all the way through school will trump the "serial joiner" every time.

Based on your decription of what your DD is up to, I'd say she's fine on the extracurricular front for many, many good colleges. Maybe not Harvard, but she won't get in there with a B average anyway.

I'd stop worrying so much about extras and encourage her to pull her grades up the best she can, without stressing her out. Beyond that, I'd leave her alone.

Your post just proves that ignorance and arrogance is an unbeatable combination!

OP, do not listen to this ignorant poster. We went through the college admissions process last year. Many colleges do encourage and some require admissions interviews. We discovered that interviews are helpful to admissions counselors in deciding how interested your child is in their school. The only colleges DC didn't get into (or was waitlisted) were colleges that DC didn't visit or interview at, including some of her safety schools. If you can visit the college, definitely schedule an interview!

The above information is not correct. First, it is not clear which interview the poster is referring to but the "interview" related to the college admission process is not scheduled by the applicant. The interview is set up by the alumni interviewer and the specific date/time is agreed to by both sides. Visits to colleges have no influence on the admission decisions and "interviews" with "school alumni" have virtually non to zero impact on the admission decision as well.

Indicating that the applicant is "full-Pay" will impact the admission decision.

I agree that full pay is useful. Not applying for FA can help your child as long as you are applying to a college that does not meet 100% of financial need. In that case, FA status makes no difference.

Also, this poster has no idea what s/he is talking about. Are you a high school troll? Get back to class!

Interviews are scheduled by the applicant. My DD applied to several selective SLACS, and she scheduled interviews at all of them. Our high school invited admissions officers from a bunch of selective colleges to visit, and many of those admissions officers told us parents that interviews, while not always necessary, can influence admissions decisions. They help the admissions officer decide whether the kid is really interested in the college, or just phoning it in. They will not make or break an application, but in this competitive environment, anything that gives a kid a slight advantage is worth pursuing.

OP here. We have been told by every school we have visited that has an option to interview that it is useful. It certainly doesn't hurt.

As things are shaping up, my DD, of course, is interested in both UVA and WM. As of this writing, these are both reach schools. Maybe schools she is looking at include Southern Methodist University (SMU). Not sure next where things fall next down the list. There are several schools I've asked her to look at because they offer scholarships specific to her program of study and/or our national/ethnic/religious heritage. I think her list will be a combination of state, private schools with student bodies in the 5 - 12K range. She seems most comfortable with that student body size.

I don't get caught up in the HYP hype. I know my DD is not headed there. We are looking for a good school that where she is a good "fit" and where she will get an education that will help her to expand her worldview and help her to spread her wings. Less than 1 percent of US undergraduates attend an Ivy League school, yet the other 99 percent (myself included) still seem to find a path to success.

"Solid B average" won't cut it for UVA/WM so those are beyond reach unless URM applies.

THIS. Your daughter has as much of a chance at getting into U-Va or William and Mary as Harvard. You are dreaming. William and Mary in particular is very tough on white female applicants, and at both schools the average four year high school GPA is over a 4.0 in the toughest schedule the school offers. U-Va cares more about GPA in tough classes than anything else, including SAT, and isn't going to accept your daughter with her grades even if she starts the next Microsoft. You need to face reality.

This is what I meant when I said no "top" school for her. At this point, Tech and likely JMU are off the table for her as well. Full pay at SMU? Maybe. But even there her start-up won't make a difference.

Other posters have suggested that your daughter has nothing to worry about when it comes to the future because she is an entrepreneur. I agree. She will be fine. But colleges aren't going to care about this. Keep you eye focused on schools that take B students if you want your daughter to go to college.

[Anonymous]

A bad interview kills your chance of getting in, a good interview doesn't guarantee your acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bad interview kills your chance of getting in, a good interview doesn't guarantee your acceptance.

My son just went through the admissions process. Interviews don't mean anything. They basically set-up these so that alumni can feel like they are participating in the process and contributing when in fact their reports mean nothing unless the interviewee used profanity, punched the interviewer etc. Prepare and do well obviously but know that they count for maybe 1% of the admission decision.

[Anonymous]

For a B student with an interest in entrepreneurial work, she should look at someplace like High Point University in North Carolina. The PP 's are correct that barring some missing key piece of info, no B students are getting into UVA or W&M. Kids who got no B's in all of HS are regularly denied there. But there are plenty of schools out there that could be great fits. FYI, CNU seems to prefer interviews if you're looking at any VA schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a B student with an interest in entrepreneurial work, she should look at someplace like High Point University in North Carolina. The PP 's are correct that barring some missing key piece of info, no B students are getting into UVA or W&M. Kids who got no B's in all of HS are regularly denied there. But there are plenty of schools out there that could be great fits. FYI, CNU seems to prefer interviews if you're looking at any VA schools.

She might get into GMU with a B average.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP my DD just went through the process and I can tell you that the chance that your daughter will be rejected by very good schools is the same as an A student getting into the best schools. You will be surprised by some of her acceptances and baffled by some of the rejections. Have a good mix of schools to apply to and be realistic. Don't apply to any she won't go to and don't automatically cross any off your list. The outliers on naviance btw are athletes so keep that in mind when you see a C student got accepted last year. There is always a back door into any college whether it's a community college pipeline or taking classes without enrolling and getting good grades to convince them to accept her full time.

[Anonymous]

I don't get how a mix of As and Bs and one or two Cs are"bad" grades in a full IB diploma program. I've asked her to look at schools specifically recruiting for IB diploma candidates such as Drew University, SMU and University of Tampa. Tampa offers merit scholarships to IB diploma graduates with at least a 3.2 and appropriate test scores. I've been very impressed with some of the interns we've had in my office from Washington College in Chestertown, MD and Belmont University in Nashville,TN (latter has the highest graduation rate for NCAA Divsion I basketball). The other top notchinterns who ended up with job offers from my clients were from Towaon, UMBC and the Paul Hall Center for Martime Training and Education.

[Anonymous]

Ole Miss.

[Anonymous]

Not a fit. Too southern.

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin, Boulder, Arizona.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bad interview kills your chance of getting in, a good interview doesn't guarantee your acceptance.

My son just went through the admissions process. Interviews don't mean anything. They basically set-up these so that alumni can feel like they are participating in the process and contributing when in fact their reports mean nothing unless the interviewee used profanity, punched the interviewer etc. Prepare and do well obviously but know that they count for maybe 1% of the admission decision.

My DD punched the interviewer in the nose. She got in anyway, to our surprise.

[Anonymous]

On Wisconsin! But probably too cold!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a B student with an interest in entrepreneurial work, she should look at someplace like High Point University in North Carolina. The PP 's are correct that barring some missing key piece of info, no B students are getting into UVA or W&M. Kids who got no B's in all of HS are regularly denied there. But there are plenty of schools out there that could be great fits. FYI, CNU seems to prefer interviews if you're looking at any VA schools.

She might get into GMU with a B average.

No, you need B+ average for GMU.