I can’t say this to my kid’s face, of course, but...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school it is simply not allowed. They claim it shows students are serious about each of the 10 schools they applied to, so colleges know the kid isn’t throwing spaghetti at the wall.

In a pandemic year this struck me as being very unfair. Seems like hogwash to me.

Maybe DD could have gotten around it by applying to schools where you self-submit, but the counselors go over each and every intended college application, they fully expect you to update your lists and to let them know of any changes.

Counselors and teachers have a deadline to submit their recommendations and transcripts into the common app. If I recall, it gets sent to all the schools that the student has selected. There's also an option which allows you to "turn on" a feature so that your counselor can review all your applications. After they have done what they need to do, turn that feature off and add all the other schools. What can they do? Your kid will already be in the final semester of HS or close by then. F them!

I’m the PP. If only we’d known about this, LOL.

[Anonymous]

OP, thinking of you. Hoping that last one that was still pending came through? Or maybe you visited the safety and found he really loved it? Sending positive vibes your way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this college admissions cycle has parents questioning this insanity and what it does to our kids. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/967617.page

Parents are cursing the insanity. But if a kid wants to go to college, you have to go through the application process. The process has to change.

Curious—-how? I mean one of my kids is years away from this process. I can’t imagine it getting even tougher than it is right now.

+ 1 This is overwhelming and depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this college admissions cycle has parents questioning this insanity and what it does to our kids. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/967617.page

Parents are cursing the insanity. But if a kid wants to go to college, you have to go through the application process. The process has to change.

Curious—-how? I mean one of my kids is years away from this process. I can’t imagine it getting even tougher than it is right now.

+ 1 This is overwhelming and depressing.

The positive news, if there is any, is that the number of high school graduates is expected to flatline over the next decade, if not decline slightly. So at least it won’t get even more competitive.

But what bothers me is how smaller schools are doing so little to differentiate themselves. What’s happening right now is that while applications to a small number of highly selective public and private schools are soaring, they are declining lots of other places. The problem for most schools is that they represent a poor value proposition.

At the very least, many schools should be considering how they can better differentiate themselves on price. Sadly, there does not seem to be any major widespread move to halt tuition increases anywhere.

Perhaps the best bet is Biden’s proposed free community college. This would give cost conscious student the opportunity to graduate from state flagship schools after transferring from community colleges and paying only half the cost. It could be a major game changer in terms of incentives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Sadly, this is not a terribly uncommon story this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Sadly, this is not a terribly uncommon story this year.

There's an interesting article on why this is happening. With test-optional, elite colleges are seeing more diversity in their application pool. Elite colleges are now more about diversity and inclusion. Standardized test scores are old news now.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/covid-has-made-getting-into-a-top-u-s-college-even-more-competitive-and-this-new-normal-looks-here-to-stay-11619390903?mod=mw_latestnews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Sadly, this is not a terribly uncommon story this year.

There are enough kids like this to fill Harvard's freshman class, so how is Harvard's admissions process anything other than a lottery?

Clearly, HYPSM doesn't choose all these kids to fill their class, so naturally many are surprised (shocked) to find they didn't get into these top schools. What then? What indeed?

Apply to a range of schools no matter what your GPA, and make sure the schools your kid applies to he or she will be happy to attend.

My PBK Summa Cum Laude college kid went to her safety, her last choice school, and is now in a top grad school, the envy of all on DCUM.

Relax, parents. Your high stats kid will do fine at their safety. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Def happening this year for White or Asian males...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Def happening this year for White or Asian males...

Right. no one wants straight white males without a cool/differentiating hook at the elites (varsity athletics is not a hook). They need a hook/unusual story or unprecedented adversity. At least the ones I know who got into highly selective (with worse scores) had one of those things if they were a straight white male.

[Anonymous]

NACAC openings came out early with openings at Boston University. OP if your student is still looking, ask your guidance counselor to call on his behalf. My kid applied a few years back and the supplemental was a Why BU 250 words.

also on the list this year: Fl state, Ohio state, Colorado state and college of Wooster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Def happening this year for White or Asian males...

It's even tougher for females. There are more high stats young women applying to college today than men, especially for LACs. (E.g., at Brown the last few years, 40+% more women have applied than men.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give up. It’s hard to to stay optimistic. He worked his ass off at his private school, got mid-1500 on his SAT, continued his in person volunteering throughout the pandemic (which I was not excited about, but he wanted to do it). He has had one B+ his entire 4 years of college, the rest As. His teachers speak highly of him and I believe they must have written good letters.

His counselor said his list was solid. He’s been waitlisted or rejected nearly everywhere. He has one acceptance to a “likely” and that’s it. Only one place teaming and it’s a huge reach, esp this year.

It’s hard to stay positive, happy, and upbeat for my kid. He is unexcited about the one place he got in. I know I should try to point out the positives of getting in that one place but it is so hard. I wish he would defer and take a gap year. I brought it up once but he said he isn’t interested.

I’m not thrilled with his college counselor at school. She hasn’t even checked in on his to see how he is doing. I give up on that process too. He is crushed. I am crushed for him.

I’d anyone else having this horrible of a situation? And please don’t say, “my love sucks too, my daughter only got into Emory and not Brown” or some such nonsense. His safety he got in is a safety for everyone.

This is the part that doesn't make sense. He shouldn't be stuck with a true "safety for everyone" type school if he has > 1500 and near straight As. Did he take APs? How did he do on the tests?

Not OP, but have a friend with DC in similar boat - perfect subject test scores, perfect SAT, straight As, varsity athlete, consistent ECs. W/Led @ ED1/ED2 at an Ivy, top SLAC. Rejected EA at two top publics. WLed @ some others. Admitted at a safety which doesn't crack top 100 national universities or top 50 public universities lists. Still hopes to get in off WL at the more competitive schools.

Def happening this year for White or Asian males...

Right. no one wants straight white males without a cool/differentiating hook at the elites (varsity athletics is not a hook). They need a hook/unusual story or unprecedented adversity. At least the ones I know who got into highly selective (with worse scores) had one of those things if they were a straight white male.

This is not true at the vast majority of LACs, which generally receive many more applications from girls than from boys and thus often have different admission standards for boys. Some universities have a similar issue. (An easy way to hone in on the universities that tend to attract fewer applications from males: look for those that don't have football teams.) Sometimes you can see the difference in the acceptance rates. E.g.:

Vassar: male acceptance rate= 30%; female= 21%
Wesleyan: male= 20%; female= 14%
W&M (does have football, but strong LAC vibe and many more apps from girls than boys): male= 43%; female= 34%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NACAC openings came out early with openings at Boston University. OP if your student is still looking, ask your guidance counselor to call on his behalf. My kid applied a few years back and the supplemental was a Why BU 250 words.

also on the list this year: Fl state, Ohio state, Colorado state and college of Wooster.

The bolded is not correct. I looked at that list. The openings in BU are only for transfer students not first year students.

[Anonymous]

Update?