Does your school cap the number of colleges kid can apply to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Parents look at college placements when choosing a school. GDS wouldn't get the kind of results they get without these kinds of policies. It's a little hypocritical to want the college office to produce certain results, and yet not follow their guidance. They want their kid to benefit from other kids being restricted and not to have their kids have the same restrictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The general recommendation by private college counselors is to apply to 6-9 universities/colleges. 2-3 reaches, 2-3 matches, 2-3 safeties.

So a max of 10 seems eminently reasonable, OP. The essays have to be really well written. Counselors seek to avoid students overextending themselves and sabotaging themselves with poor personal statements and supplemental essays.

Not anymore, 10 to 15 is the new recommendation.

No it is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

I know that ours gives good counseling advice on how many to apply to but doesn't restrict. I am ok with this. I am also in the "10-12 is plenty" camp - there is a lot of value in putting in the work to create a thoughtful list. With that work done, a student can also submit higher quality applications. Finally, if they still get shut out of top 10, top 20, top 30 - it will all be fine (but I know others aren't ok with some of these stances).

But despite my own feelings, I'm still saying it's not really fair to say "you chose private school and if you don't like it go elsewhere" when a person who applied for their child to start at GDS for 9th grade might not have been hyper focused on the details of college admissions. For some people this sort of detail might not be discovered until later, not to mention policies change over time (they have at our school, for sure).

I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Parents look at college placements when choosing a school. GDS wouldn't get the kind of results they get without these kinds of policies. It's a little hypocritical to want the college office to produce certain results, and yet not follow their guidance. They want their kid to benefit from other kids being restricted and not to have their kids have the same restrictions.

I agree with 10-12 recommendations but this statement is BS and pretentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

I know that ours gives good counseling advice on how many to apply to but doesn't restrict. I am ok with this. I am also in the "10-12 is plenty" camp - there is a lot of value in putting in the work to create a thoughtful list. With that work done, a student can also submit higher quality applications. Finally, if they still get shut out of top 10, top 20, top 30 - it will all be fine (but I know others aren't ok with some of these stances).

But despite my own feelings, I'm still saying it's not really fair to say "you chose private school and if you don't like it go elsewhere" when a person who applied for their child to start at GDS for 9th grade might not have been hyper focused on the details of college admissions. For some people this sort of detail might not be discovered until later, not to mention policies change over time (they have at our school, for sure).

I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

Is this a Big-3? AFAIK, Sidwell, GDS, and the Cathedral schools all limit to around 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

It's not hard to believe, but I doubt (even in 2022) that applying to >10 schools is needed for a Big X student if Ivy-type schools are not among the targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

NCS does not limit. That's very helpful to my average DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

I know that ours gives good counseling advice on how many to apply to but doesn't restrict. I am ok with this. I am also in the "10-12 is plenty" camp - there is a lot of value in putting in the work to create a thoughtful list. With that work done, a student can also submit higher quality applications. Finally, if they still get shut out of top 10, top 20, top 30 - it will all be fine (but I know others aren't ok with some of these stances).

But despite my own feelings, I'm still saying it's not really fair to say "you chose private school and if you don't like it go elsewhere" when a person who applied for their child to start at GDS for 9th grade might not have been hyper focused on the details of college admissions. For some people this sort of detail might not be discovered until later, not to mention policies change over time (they have at our school, for sure).

I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

Is this a Big-3? AFAIK, Sidwell, GDS, and the Cathedral schools all limit to around 10.

NCS does not limit. As a NCS family, we support that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

I know that ours gives good counseling advice on how many to apply to but doesn't restrict. I am ok with this. I am also in the "10-12 is plenty" camp - there is a lot of value in putting in the work to create a thoughtful list. With that work done, a student can also submit higher quality applications. Finally, if they still get shut out of top 10, top 20, top 30 - it will all be fine (but I know others aren't ok with some of these stances).

But despite my own feelings, I'm still saying it's not really fair to say "you chose private school and if you don't like it go elsewhere" when a person who applied for their child to start at GDS for 9th grade might not have been hyper focused on the details of college admissions. For some people this sort of detail might not be discovered until later, not to mention policies change over time (they have at our school, for sure).

I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

Is this a Big-3? AFAIK, Sidwell, GDS, and the Cathedral schools all limit to around 10.

Yes (not GDS) and given a strong recommendation of 10 (maybe 12) across the spectrum of reach (anything below a 20% acceptance rate), target, and likely. But there not a hard line restriction as GDS families are indicating. I'm certain there would be conversations discouraging more than the 10-12 but they explicitly said the will not restrict anyone. Again - I think the guideline is a good one. And NOT because it would create/save more spaces for the students outside of the top students in the grade (which is subjective anyway), but because students should be more thoughtful in where they are applying rather than spread so thin with hopes of hitting lottery at top 10/20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

It's not hard to believe, but I doubt (even in 2022) that applying to >10 schools is needed for a Big X student if Ivy-type schools are not among the targets.

Totally agree....but the point is that not every parent comes in knowing or even thinking about a college counseling policy at 9th grade...such that they "should have known better" and "chosen something else". That's all. Again, I agree 10(ish) should be fine for most situations - but it does require being thoughtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

I know that ours gives good counseling advice on how many to apply to but doesn't restrict. I am ok with this. I am also in the "10-12 is plenty" camp - there is a lot of value in putting in the work to create a thoughtful list. With that work done, a student can also submit higher quality applications. Finally, if they still get shut out of top 10, top 20, top 30 - it will all be fine (but I know others aren't ok with some of these stances).

But despite my own feelings, I'm still saying it's not really fair to say "you chose private school and if you don't like it go elsewhere" when a person who applied for their child to start at GDS for 9th grade might not have been hyper focused on the details of college admissions. For some people this sort of detail might not be discovered until later, not to mention policies change over time (they have at our school, for sure).

I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

Is this a Big-3? AFAIK, Sidwell, GDS, and the Cathedral schools all limit to around 10.

NCS does not limit. As a NCS family, we support that.

NCS has the reputation as being the worst of the pressure-cooker schools in this area. Not great from a mental health perspective to allow limitless college apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Application numbers are restricted so the top students don’t get all of the acceptances. They need to spots open at top colleges for the next tier of students.

This is it.
Do you guys not get it or are all your kids in the top 10%?

I have a straight A student at GDS. Do you really want him applying to all the top 20 schools? your B student is not going to get admitted if both our kids apply.

I thought we are in a free country... How could a school restrict kids how many schools they can apply?

Because GDS is a private school, and sending your child there is entirely voluntary. If you doin't like their rules, you should pull your kids out and find a school that allows you to apply to more than 10 colleges.

Not a GDS parent but this comment has no basis in reality. Parents applying to HS don't know that GDS is going to restrict applications.

Caveat emptor. I don't know of any highly selective independent school in the area that allows students to apply to as many colleges as they want. Do you?

I know that ours gives good counseling advice on how many to apply to but doesn't restrict. I am ok with this. I am also in the "10-12 is plenty" camp - there is a lot of value in putting in the work to create a thoughtful list. With that work done, a student can also submit higher quality applications. Finally, if they still get shut out of top 10, top 20, top 30 - it will all be fine (but I know others aren't ok with some of these stances).

But despite my own feelings, I'm still saying it's not really fair to say "you chose private school and if you don't like it go elsewhere" when a person who applied for their child to start at GDS for 9th grade might not have been hyper focused on the details of college admissions. For some people this sort of detail might not be discovered until later, not to mention policies change over time (they have at our school, for sure).

I know it's hard to believe, but there are actually parents who do not choose a Big X HS with Ivy-or-bust college placement in mind.

Is this a Big-3? AFAIK, Sidwell, GDS, and the Cathedral schools all limit to around 10.

NCS does not limit. As a NCS family, we support that.

NCS has the reputation as being the worst of the pressure-cooker schools in this area. Not great from a mental health perspective to allow limitless college apps.

You attack a school for a different reason because the school does not match your claim? For one thing, NCS is not the worst of the pressure-cooker schools. Another big 3 is (you can figure it out). Based on our experience, limiting the number of colleges a student can apply creates a lot of anxieties.

Limiting the number might work in the old days. But under test optional and other changes in policies (e.g. first gen), non-top students in private schools benefit the most from applying widely.