What has surprised you - as your kid comes to the end of this process

[Anonymous]

at our school, you get HYP SCEA, you don't apply elsewhere. it's considered greedy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How envious I would feel of the families whose kid got into their ED school in mid December and they don’t have to deal with deferrals, rejections and waitlists. And how they can enjoy senior year with significantly less stress and not be wishing away time until the next decision or now until after May 1 to see what waitlist movement there is.

agree it's nice, but there's a nagging sense in a lot of people's minds that they undershot, etc.

Not really, unless you're wishy washy.

Do the research, run the NPC financials, and pick the college you want to go to ED within the academic profile. If/when accepted to the top choice school, it really does alleviate stress and allows for a more enjoyable senior year.

Applying to 15+ schools creates the "nagging sense..." in and of itself, and in most cases, the "merit hunting" vanity play is futile.

In the end, you can only attend ONE college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That it's really easy to get into college if you're a good student with pretty good scores but not top scores (in this case a 1400). My ds got in everywhere he applied but one college as a normal kid who picked easier APs and enjoyed his life without stress. I was so worried and thought it would be a lot harder than it was.

That's because you most likely actually had a variety of schools. You likely had at most 2-3 reaches, 3-4 Targets and 2-3 Safeties. If you do that, at any level, you will see success (at least 50%). The key is knowing that just because your kid is Higher stats, does not make a school with 10% acceptance rate a Target.

Reach: under 20% acceptance rate
Target: 20-50% acceptance rate and your kid is at/above 50% (always good to pick at least 1 where your kid is at/above 75%)
Safety: 50%+ acceptance rate and your kid is at/above 50%. You get a Likely/True safety if you take acceptance rate to 75/80%+ and your kid is at/above 75%

Follow that, demonstrate interest, because yes some of those targets will assume you are using them as Safety/target (and rightly so) so you need to convince them you are actually interested, and you should get into 50%+ of targets and safeties.

It's easier to take that mindset when you have a kid in the 1350-1450 range, because they already know the T20 are largely out of reach, you can apply and take a shot, but highly unlikely. So their reaches are oftentimes schools with 15-25% acceptance rates or higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The idea of perfect fit is utter BS...most kids could be happy at many different places - parents are just putting more pressure on kids to subscribe to some concept of the perfect fit when its not realistic.

Yes, but fit does matter. My kid's ultimate top 2 choices with acceptances are similar schools over all--10 points difference in rankings. Both are amazing for STEM and engineering. However, one is nerdy and the other is much less nerdy and has more students not in engineering (more LA, whether it's part STEM or not). For my kid, the less nerdy (and higher ranked school) is a MUCH better fit for them. The core curriculum adds to that fit---allowing my kid to only take "extra courses" in two area, so my kid wipes out core curriculum classes with dance classes, which they'd be taking/doing anyhow.

So yes, my kid could survive and make a path at the other school, but she chose the less nerdy/much better fit school. That was the school that each time we visited I just saw her light up with excitement---these were "her type of people" and we got that with each tour/visit and contact with students and faculty. I knew from our first visit that this was going to be her "top Choice" just from her reactions.

So we didn't search for the "perfect fit" we just found one that was a ton better fit wise than any other school. She chose well and is extremely happy and excelling academically

[Anonymous]

So much about my DS, he has/had a higher tolerance for risk in this process than I would have guessed. He did not want to do ED, not 1 and not II even after peers had their choices locked down.

ED is for the schools, not the kids, so few really are applying because it is their 1st choice, it is because they are told it's their only chance. Some schools are predatory in this way.

Demonstrated interest matters, more track it than admit it. Same with "need blind" having major caveats.

Finally, love the schools that love you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

This. Our kid, like many from the DMV, is a high-stats, full pay kid. Their targets are reaches for most kids. Make sure your kid's safetys are schools they are willing to attend, because there's a good chance that's where they will end up because the top schools yield protect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

Agree in theory, but it’s hard. Have the benefit of looking back now, but my overachiever was not yield protected at safeties and targets so wonder how true that really is. Got into top schools, and the waitlists came from the schools that don’t like to be backup for ivies/t10. They were never going to be happy with a safety, but would have made peace with free. Not saying it’s right, but some just aren’t going to be able to be truly happy at a safety and want to be pushed by their peers in that environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

Agree in theory, but it’s hard. Have the benefit of looking back now, but my overachiever was not yield protected at safeties and targets so wonder how true that really is. Got into top schools, and the waitlists came from the schools that don’t like to be backup for ivies/t10. They were never going to be happy with a safety, but would have made peace with free. Not saying it’s right, but some just aren’t going to be able to be truly happy at a safety and want to be pushed by their peers in that environment.

Not being truly happy at a safety is one things, but there are a couple hundred schools where a high stats kid can find a similarly driven academic peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

Agree in theory, but it’s hard. Have the benefit of looking back now, but my overachiever was not yield protected at safeties and targets so wonder how true that really is. Got into top schools, and the waitlists came from the schools that don’t like to be backup for ivies/t10. They were never going to be happy with a safety, but would have made peace with free. Not saying it’s right, but some just aren’t going to be able to be truly happy at a safety and want to be pushed by their peers in that environment.

Not being truly happy at a safety is one things, but there are a couple hundred schools where a high stats kid can find a similarly driven academic peer group.

DP - Examples? Curious if we’re missing out on anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

Agree in theory, but it’s hard. Have the benefit of looking back now, but my overachiever was not yield protected at safeties and targets so wonder how true that really is. Got into top schools, and the waitlists came from the schools that don’t like to be backup for ivies/t10. They were never going to be happy with a safety, but would have made peace with free. Not saying it’s right, but some just aren’t going to be able to be truly happy at a safety and want to be pushed by their peers in that environment.

Not being truly happy at a safety is one things, but there are a couple hundred schools where a high stats kid can find a similarly driven academic peer group.

DP - Examples? Curious if we’re missing out on anything.

DP. St Olaf is an absolute gem, and under most folks’ radar.

[Anonymous]

DS found a rolling admission school he loved (Pitt), applied early, got $20k/yr, and would have been done but for college counselor insistence he apply to a state school (UMd). He was fortunate to get full Banneker/Key so will attend UMd.
When we went to B/K luncheon, people were n disbelief that he only applied to 2 schools. But you don’t have to play the “apply to 16 schools” game if you can find one you like that’s affordable and get in early. He is SO glad he opted out of the high stress application roulette his classmates opted for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What has surprised you - that you were clueless about?

Dc got into a T10 over other applicants from school who had much better grades and stats. I'm guessing it was the essays and recommendations that counted more in the end

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

Agree in theory, but it’s hard. Have the benefit of looking back now, but my overachiever was not yield protected at safeties and targets so wonder how true that really is. Got into top schools, and the waitlists came from the schools that don’t like to be backup for ivies/t10. They were never going to be happy with a safety, but would have made peace with free. Not saying it’s right, but some just aren’t going to be able to be truly happy at a safety and want to be pushed by their peers in that environment.

Not being truly happy at a safety is one things, but there are a couple hundred schools where a high stats kid can find a similarly driven academic peer group.

DP - Examples? Curious if we’re missing out on anything.

Every single state flagships will have a group of highly academic, top achieving kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I contribute as the parent of a recent college grad and college junior? What I learned is that college flies by and your child can be happy at more than one school. Goodness of fit matters way more than prestige. Also, if your child creates a realistic list that includes multiple targets and safeties, you won’t have to fear being shut out. I don’t know of one single student who was rejected everywhere. As a matter of fact, every student I know has had a choice of where to attend. The only people who seem to be miserable are those who are status conscious. There will never be enough slots at the top schools for every qualified applicant so it’s just a lottery. Accept that fact by freshman year of HS and your child will be far less stressed.

This 1000%.
And those who pick safeties but their kids don't really 'like those schools". It's totally up to you to pick actual safeties your kid would be happy to attend. And yes, even a 1580/4.89647 with excellent ECs can find a good safety. You just have to look beyond prestige as the main driver. Once you do that, your life is easier

Agree in theory, but it’s hard. Have the benefit of looking back now, but my overachiever was not yield protected at safeties and targets so wonder how true that really is. Got into top schools, and the waitlists came from the schools that don’t like to be backup for ivies/t10. They were never going to be happy with a safety, but would have made peace with free. Not saying it’s right, but some just aren’t going to be able to be truly happy at a safety and want to be pushed by their peers in that environment.

Not being truly happy at a safety is one things, but there are a couple hundred schools where a high stats kid can find a similarly driven academic peer group.

DP - Examples? Curious if we’re missing out on anything.

Every single state flagships will have a group of highly academic, top achieving kids.

Many private colleges that offer generous merit will also have a number of kids who are highly academic. Not every high achiever is “supposed” to end up at a T-10 or T-25 or WASP. Some people don’t hit their stride until college or beyond, so the definition of “high achiever” in the selective college admissions context is very narrow and limited.