Macalester

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id recommend visiting if you can between now and admissions time if DC is not planning on applying early round. Schools like this live and die on yield and so when making admissions decisions they give priority to kids who they think are likely to attend -- esp. from east coast cities where there are other high stats kids applying.

Why the added pressure? My kid applied to a bunch of schools and did not commit to one early because he wanted more time to make the decision. I hate when posters recommend trying to play the admissions game like this.

Other than making a trip, how does making a visit to not only see the school but show interest add pressure? While it can be hard to do during the busy fall, my DCs both enjoyed college visits so they weren't really high pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id recommend visiting if you can between now and admissions time if DC is not planning on applying early round. Schools like this live and die on yield and so when making admissions decisions they give priority to kids who they think are likely to attend -- esp. from east coast cities where there are other high stats kids applying.

Why the added pressure? My kid applied to a bunch of schools and did not commit to one early because he wanted more time to make the decision. I hate when posters recommend trying to play the admissions game like this.

DD is a sophomore at an Ivy coming out of a top private. She also applied to 3 SLACs (Macalester, Davidson and Carleton) that we didnt visit. She was in the top 20 percent of her class (cum laude status) and took all honors classes throughout; she was denied or waitlisted to all.

DD#2 is a senior. We are making sure to visit any school to which she plans to apply. Her list is mostly complete; we will use fall break to finalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id recommend visiting if you can between now and admissions time if DC is not planning on applying early round. Schools like this live and die on yield and so when making admissions decisions they give priority to kids who they think are likely to attend -- esp. from east coast cities where there are other high stats kids applying.

Why the added pressure? My kid applied to a bunch of schools and did not commit to one early because he wanted more time to make the decision. I hate when posters recommend trying to play the admissions game like this.

DD is a sophomore at an Ivy coming out of a top private. She also applied to 3 SLACs (Macalester, Davidson and Carleton) that we didnt visit. She was in the top 20 percent of her class (cum laude status) and took all honors classes throughout; she was denied or waitlisted to all.

DD#2 is a senior. We are making sure to visit any school to which she plans to apply. Her list is mostly complete; we will use fall break to finalized.

Interesting. I wonder if speaking with a the rep when they come to school would at least partly make up for not visiting in person. I just don't see how we'd get there this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id recommend visiting if you can between now and admissions time if DC is not planning on applying early round. Schools like this live and die on yield and so when making admissions decisions they give priority to kids who they think are likely to attend -- esp. from east coast cities where there are other high stats kids applying.

Why the added pressure? My kid applied to a bunch of schools and did not commit to one early because he wanted more time to make the decision. I hate when posters recommend trying to play the admissions game like this.

DD is a sophomore at an Ivy coming out of a top private. She also applied to 3 SLACs (Macalester, Davidson and Carleton) that we didnt visit. She was in the top 20 percent of her class (cum laude status) and took all honors classes throughout; she was denied or waitlisted to all.

DD#2 is a senior. We are making sure to visit any school to which she plans to apply. Her list is mostly complete; we will use fall break to finalized.

Interesting. I wonder if speaking with a the rep when they come to school would at least partly make up for not visiting in person. I just don't see how we'd get there this fall.

I know its getting harder and harder to get in to top colleges but it was a surprising result. (And I would never want to relive those tense days until the final decisions came after negative results from so-called "match" schools).

I think student should defin go meet the admissions rep with they come to school (DD#2 plans to attend those sessions in addition to visiting). In some cases, I think interacting with the local rep. can replace a visit, esp. if you can also clearly convey in essays a solid rationale why you picked that specific college.

Rejection is part of the process and I say to both my kids: ultimately you will reject all colleges except the one you attend. I just felt like those top midwestern SLACs dont appreciate all the east coast apps from kids who dont know much about their school and dont do anything to show specific interest.

[Anonymous]

Also, I just looked at the US News SLAC list. Macalester is ranked 27.

Similarly ranked SLAC w/in driving distance of DC include: Colgate, Hamilton, Wesleyan, Richmond, Bryn Mawr, Bucknell, Franklin and Marshall, and Lafayette. Could you do a weekend road trips and try to visit some?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Id recommend visiting if you can between now and admissions time if DC is not planning on applying early round. Schools like this live and die on yield and so when making admissions decisions they give priority to kids who they think are likely to attend -- esp. from east coast cities where there are other high stats kids applying.

Why the added pressure? My kid applied to a bunch of schools and did not commit to one early because he wanted more time to make the decision. I hate when posters recommend trying to play the admissions game like this.

Other than making a trip, how does making a visit to not only see the school but show interest add pressure? While it can be hard to do during the busy fall, my DCs both enjoyed college visits so they weren't really high pressure.

For Mac or Carleton, I recommend the dead of winter. I love it, but if you and your kid have only lived here..... it is a shock.