What if your child does not get into college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This generation is the largest population. It's realistic that deserving kids will not receive acceptances. I hope your child finds comfort in learning that true test in character is getting back up, not avoiding the fall.

Agree with the sentiment, but the vast majority of American colleges are not selective at all. There are essentially no academic barriers to going to college. The median 1100 SAT scoring high school senior can get into most four year colleges in the country. A "high achieving" student can only strike out if they were really unrealistic about their competitiveness and limited themselves to the most selective schools. We're talking students deluded enough to think they can apply to MIT and Caltech with Georgia Tech OOS as a backup just because went to TJHSST or a Whitman student thinking they automatic at any of the "lesser Ivies" with a 1400 SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're starting our college search with the question "OK, what would be a good safety? A school where I'm at of above the 75th percentile of scores and grades that I would love to attend?".

After that, we'll aim higher.

That’s a good strategy. Finding a good safety can be a real challenge. Everyone knows what the top schools are. Identifying the hidden gems is a lot harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to be judgemental because I believe it's not an option for some families to apply to many schools. Application fees and SAT, ACT, AP exam mailing requests can be financial burden to many families.

I would avoid CC and try to find a job in the field of study. If not, finding any job is easier to explain on the next college application that the gap year was meant to save money for college.

This generation is the largest population. It's realistic that deserving kids will not receive acceptances. I hope your child finds comfort in learning that true test in character is getting back up, not avoiding the fall.

Um....no. The number of students going from HS to college in the US has been declining steadily since 2011.

[Anonymous]

It could have easily happened to me. I was rejected from my safe school. For whatever reason, though, my reach school accepted me. I was rejected from VT, ODU (safety), and George Mason. I was accepted into RPI. Go figure. This was in 1982.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It could have easily happened to me. I was rejected from my safe school. For whatever reason, though, my reach school accepted me. I was rejected from VT, ODU (safety), and George Mason. I was accepted into RPI. Go figure. This was in 1982.

I thought admissions was much more predictable back then......interesting.

[Anonymous]

"OK, what would be a good safety? A school where I'm at of above the 75th percentile of scores and grades that I would love to attend?".

If you are in Fairfax County, I'm not sure that this is a sufficient strategy for W&M. That would be a 33ACT, and I'm not sure that a candidate with a 33 ACT and GPA at the 75% percentile can really still call that a safety. Competitive yes, maybe even likely. But not safety.

[Anonymous]

I’m curious why all the shade is right g thrown at community colleges. Why not do the two yea guaranteed admissions to W&M or UVA at NOVA?

[Anonymous]

As others have mentioned, applying as a transfer is very different than applying as a freshman. Once you have any credits (ex: CC), you apply as a transfer and usually, merit awards do not exis for that students. Merit awards are to lure kid into the school. Also, some schools demand their transfers have 30 or even 60 credits behind them. Do your home work before taking cc classes.

If my child was faced with this dilemna (and it happens), I would urge them to volunteer, work and reapply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious why all the shade is right g thrown at community colleges. Why not do the two yea guaranteed admissions to W&M or UVA at NOVA?

Because not all college majors will accept credit from NOVA. Yes, a student is guaranteed ADMISSION but that is not the same thing as guaranteed ACCEPTANCE OF CREDITS. After two years at NOVA, my DS could be guaranteed admission to W&M, UVA, etc., but would need to spend an extra year at the 4 year school to satisfy the requirements for his major. This is not necessarily cheaper.

Then add in the issue of no merit $ as raised by PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious why all the shade is right g thrown at community colleges. Why not do the two yea guaranteed admissions to W&M or UVA at NOVA?

Because not all college majors will accept credit from NOVA. Yes, a student is guaranteed ADMISSION but that is not the same thing as guaranteed ACCEPTANCE OF CREDITS. After two years at NOVA, my DS could be guaranteed admission to W&M, UVA, etc., but would need to spend an extra year at the 4 year school to satisfy the requirements for his major. This is not necessarily cheaper.

Then add in the issue of no merit $ as raised by PP.

What? The best option for your kid is going to CC, where's the question of aid to begin with? Are schools lining up now with aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to be judgemental because I believe it's not an option for some families to apply to many schools. Application fees and SAT, ACT, AP exam mailing requests can be financial burden to many families.

I would avoid CC and try to find a job in the field of study. If not, finding any job is easier to explain on the next college application that the gap year was meant to save money for college.

This generation is the largest population. It's realistic that deserving kids will not receive acceptances. I hope your child finds comfort in learning that true test in character is getting back up, not avoiding the fall.

Well- if I only had a certain amount to spend on college apps I sure as heck wouldn’t blow it all on reach schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who uses UVA as a safety sounds like an idiot and they deserve what they get.

UVA is a safety school for TJ kids.

[Anonymous]

I guess it just depends where you are. This situation usually affects the high achievers. I know a kid with like a 3.9 average and 1550 SAT who did not get into safeties because they all thought she would go to a higher-ranked school. The yield game is challenging unless you apply to a school that accepts everyone.

[Anonymous]

Hard to know whether it is better to simply reapply the next year or to try to go to a lower ranked school and transfer.

[Anonymous]

There are ALWAYS college with openings Op.