How does this application strategy look?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does she feel about having W&M and VT as her choices? If she doesn't get into UVA (and at our private, her stats put you in the running but not guaranteed by any stretch), that will probably be what she's considering and I'd ask her how she'd feel if that was really her situation. If she's ok with that and can see herself liking them both, or at least one, then sounds good. If she's going to be disappointed with VT and W&M, then I'd keep looking.

You’re a private school parent projecting your own dislikes and disappointments. We public school folks don’t think like you do.

[Anonymous]

Drop Delaware

Add Middlebury, Duke, Wake, and Maryland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drop Delaware

Add Middlebury, Duke, Wake, and Maryland

JUST STOP with the random posting of schools pulled out of your ass.

She already said she worries that William and Mary is too small, so you’re suggesting Middleberry? And Duke over UVA for premed for an in-state student whose parents are smart about money? You are out of your mind.

[Anonymous]

What did your kids counselor say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In-state VA, medium size diverse public HS, weighted GPA 4.56, SAT 1510. Girl. Captain of varsity sport, 10 APs, AP scholar. Other random clubs. Intended major is undecided but possibly Bio (pre med) or Data Science or Finance.

ED: UVA
Rolling (but applying early): Pitt
EA: UNC, PSU, VT
Regular: W&M, Delaware

What would you add (or drop) to/from this list? Thoughts?

I hope she enjoys UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't want to try private? maybe a few top SLAC like Wellsesley. If just public, how about UM, UCLA?
The list is really short in today's standard.

OP here. We've been reading and researching but can't really find any comparable privates that would give decent merit aid. We wouldn't qualify for need-based and while we could pay $90k a year for college, I'm just not convinced it's worth it. Especially since it's looking likely DD will want to attend some form of grad school as well. I don't know - is that a mistake? She is our oldest so this is new to us. We have the money but we are frugal by nature and I do think she'd be happy somewhere like UVA.

You DD should get in UVA, but it's not guaranteed. What if she were rejected? other schools in your list are no match of UVA, that's why I suggest a few alternatives of UVA equivalent. Unfortunately, they are all OOS. Maybe UNC or GT's tuition is little lower?

On the other hand, you DD only go to college once a life time(she could go to graduate school, but it's different), if you can afford it, why not help her to full potential? 200k is a lot, but...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't want to try private? maybe a few top SLAC like Wellsesley. If just public, how about UM, UCLA?
The list is really short in today's standard.

No, other lists are too long. This is a smart list. She's going to get into several excellent, fun, and close by state schools. Recommending adding a single sex private liberal arts college to this list is so random it's ridiculous.

OP, congrats to you and your daughter for being so smart and level-headed about this. Your post is a breath of fresh air.

She WILL get into UVA if she applies ED.

You sounds like you work for AO in UVA, LOL. Nothing is guaranteed these days, if she were rejected by UVA, there is only UNC equivalent to UVA.
With her stats, she has good chance getting in top public schools and top 30 privates. If you go OOS, cost will be close to private college's anyway. And you'd better have more options to choose, after all, never say never, you could qualify for financial aid, there are some privates are very generous with aid.

[Anonymous]

UVA may or may not be a shoo-in, but it is certainly not a "shoe-in."

[Anonymous]

+1 for UGA

[Anonymous]

I would add UGA to the list, especially UGA honors. Her stats are well within the range for UGa honors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does she feel about having W&M and VT as her choices? If she doesn't get into UVA (and at our private, her stats put you in the running but not guaranteed by any stretch), that will probably be what she's considering and I'd ask her how she'd feel if that was really her situation. If she's ok with that and can see herself liking them both, or at least one, then sounds good. If she's going to be disappointed with VT and W&M, then I'd keep looking.

You’re a private school parent projecting your own dislikes and disappointments. We public school folks don’t think like you do.

I’d be thrilled with VT and W&M for any of my kids. I framed it this way because I had a kid not get into his ED1 or ED2 and not really love any of his EA or RD choices. Turns out he didn’t really think he’d be considering them. Sharing that perspective in case it’s helpful because sometimes things don’t break for really high achieving kids like OP. I did this thought exercise with my other kids and it was helpful. Personally I think those would be great options but I don’t know OP’s kid.

[Anonymous]

Duke or Vanderbilt or Emory or Penn if made of money.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We will strongly consider adding UGA and UF to the list, although I'd prefer she land somewhere geographically closer.

But to answer other PP's I do think she would be fine with W&M or Pitt/PSU/UGA/UF. She is a bloom-where-she's-planted type of person. If she doesn't get into UVA ED, then it's not very likely she will get into these other top privates either. Kids with her profile do typically get into UVA from our public but we obviously know it is somewhat of a crapshoot.

I do really appreciate all the thoughts and comments. I want to make sure we are thinking of all the angles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't want to try private? maybe a few top SLAC like Wellsesley. If just public, how about UM, UCLA?
The list is really short in today's standard.

No, other lists are too long. This is a smart list. She's going to get into several excellent, fun, and close by state schools. Recommending adding a single sex private liberal arts college to this list is so random it's ridiculous.

OP, congrats to you and your daughter for being so smart and level-headed about this. Your post is a breath of fresh air.

She WILL get into UVA if she applies ED.

You sounds like you work for AO in UVA, LOL. Nothing is guaranteed these days, if she were rejected by UVA, there is only UNC equivalent to UVA.
With her stats, she has good chance getting in top public schools and top 30 privates. If you go OOS, cost will be close to private college's anyway. And you'd better have more options to choose, after all, never say never, you could qualify for financial aid, there are some privates are very generous with aid.

In the top 30? Without a need component?

[Anonymous]

UVa is never a sure thing from a northern va public