If your school limits students to 8-10 applications

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people have answered your question, you just disagree with the answer.
It comes down to schools have their reasons for the policy. You are welcome to disagree and go to a different school or lobby for change. I do think a well-prepared parent with research on the changes in admissions trends could make a good case to raise the number from 8-10 to say 12-14 but OP doesn't seem to want to do that she just wants to whine.

Incorrect. No one has answered the question why it should be the decision of the school and not the family. They just keep repeating the policy and why they like it.

Please note that this policy exists primarily at tony private schools where the guidance counselors don't want to have to hear from the parents that one kid got all the slots that their kid "deserved". At least the PP prior to you had the courage to admit it.

It's an unfair policy by its design. Let all kids apply and let the best win.

[Anonymous]

DS was limited. Applied to 12 which included 2 ivies. In hindsight, could have easily eliminated 2. Probably 4. In our situation, 8-10 seems reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS was limited. Applied to 12 which included 2 ivies. In hindsight, could have easily eliminated 2. Probably 4. In our situation, 8-10 seems reasonable.

*NOT limited.

[Anonymous]

My son went to a private outside of DC. Thankfully they did not restrict applications. He applied to engineering programs at 23 schools and got tons of rejections. He ended up getting merit aid, 24k/yr and 19k/yr at 2 schools. He picked the 24k school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

But no one can say why it is fair the student and their family can't decide instead of an arbitrary rule?

Why is THAT so hard?

Answering again, and for the last time: Because it isn't fair, even though you like it. That's a preference, not a justification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

But no one can say why it is fair the student and their family can't decide instead of an arbitrary rule?

Why is THAT so hard?

Answering again, and for the last time: Because it isn't fair, even though you like it. That's a preference, not a justification.

Other people think it *is* fair. Again, you just disagree. You have a preference for no restriction just as others prefer the limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

But no one can say why it is fair the student and their family can't decide instead of an arbitrary rule?

Why is THAT so hard?

Answering again, and for the last time: Because it isn't fair, even though you like it. That's a preference, not a justification.

Other people think it *is* fair. Again, you just disagree. You have a preference for no restriction just as others prefer the limit.

Seriously, I responded to the poster once, but this is the hill they want to die on…

[Anonymous]

It’s not fair to the very wealthiest and connected. These private high schools are asking D list kids to be treated like athletes - pick one and commit early so the herd can move forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

But no one can say why it is fair the student and their family can't decide instead of an arbitrary rule?

Why is THAT so hard?

Answering again, and for the last time: Because it isn't fair, even though you like it. That's a preference, not a justification.

Other people think it *is* fair. Again, you just disagree. You have a preference for no restriction just as others prefer the limit.

Why is it fair? Why do I have to ask this so many times and why won't you answer?

I can answer why my position is fair: because it directly affects the student, especially if they are seeking merit aid or applying to elite colleges, or both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

But no one can say why it is fair the student and their family can't decide instead of an arbitrary rule?

Why is THAT so hard?

Answering again, and for the last time: Because it isn't fair, even though you like it. That's a preference, not a justification.

Other people think it *is* fair. Again, you just disagree. You have a preference for no restriction just as others prefer the limit.

Seriously, I responded to the poster once, but this is the hill they want to die on…

Responding is not answering. You did not answer the question. One can speculate why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Many people here disagree with you.

Why is that so hard?

But no one can say why it is fair the student and their family can't decide instead of an arbitrary rule?

Why is THAT so hard?

Answering again, and for the last time: Because it isn't fair, even though you like it. That's a preference, not a justification.

Other people think it *is* fair. Again, you just disagree. You have a preference for no restriction just as others prefer the limit.

Why is it fair? Why do I have to ask this so many times and why won't you answer?

I can answer why my position is fair: because it directly affects the student, especially if they are seeking merit aid or applying to elite colleges, or both.

OMG. Plenty of people have said why. It is considered fair to the student body overall to not allow a few stand-out students to hoard acceptances. It is also considered fair to the counseling staff to not overburden them/neglect other students by catering to students who want to apply to a ridiculous number of schools. The school cares about the student body overall, not one whiny parent. You could also just ask your individual school why they have the rule. Maybe they have other considerations that go into it.

[Anonymous]

It is probably fair and reasonable to expect the school to send transcripts and letters of recommendation for each student to 8-10 colleges.

It is not exactly fair and reasonable to expect them to send to 20-30 colleges. Work load / time suck.

[Anonymous]

"OMG. Plenty of people have said why. It is considered fair to the student body overall to not allow a few stand-out students to hoard acceptances. "

OMG back to you.

How does it help the rest of the student body at GDS that a student applying to 15 professional pilot programs at schools like University of North Dakota, Southern Utah State, or Kansas State at Salina is limited to 10 of these schools? Odds are that not a single other student at GDS is submitting an application to any of those not well regarded schools in flyover country. This student's applications have ZERO bearing on the other seniors in their class. So, why should they be limited to just 10 applications and whose interests are served by limiting them?

If a middle class student needing merit wants to study art but has not won any major art awards and therefore has no way to gauge whether they actually have talent applies to 8 schools for a BFA and 4 schools ranked 100 and below for a major in psychology, how does that harm any other senior at GDS? Students applying to art programs usually need to do two tracks, one for art and one for a fall back major because you have no idea whether your portfolio will appeal to the art department's admission committee. In what way does limiting this kid's chances of being accepted somewhere that they can afford HELP the rest of the class at GDS who have no interest in these schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If you are thoughtful about your list and not shotgunning a bunch of reach school there's really no need to apply to more than 8-10 schools.

^ This, in spades.

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

/FYI both my kids ED admits so this did not affect us, so no accusations please. But right it right and this is wrong.

People are free to not send their kids to GDS or any other private school that does this. Our school encourages finding the right fit and there’s no way all ivies are the right fit. They’re still able to fill the grade, so it’s clearly not a big enough problem for most families.

You completely avoid answering the question. To repeat:

Whether or not that is true, why should you get to decide that, or any hs administration?

Shouldn't a student and their family be free to make that decision?

It seems like you can’t grasp that people have a different opinion. My kid’s school decides to do this to help kids focus on fit. And probably to limit the number of apps from the school to help the whole student body, not just the top students. And parents are generally fine with it. I’m okay with my schools making this decision for my kid - if I felt differently, I’d send my kid to another school. If you care so much about an individualist culture, you’re free to homeschool your kid.

It seems like you can’t simply answer the question.

Why should you get to decide or the school get to decide and not family or the student?

Also, how does limiting the number of apps help the whole student body? That makes absolutely no sense.

And how is a family supposed to know that this is even going to matter when they are choosing a high school?

NP here. DC is at an independent school that limits to 12. This is to allow students to choose colleges wisely and to spend time tailoring essays to each specific school. My educated guess is that students at independent schools tend to apply more frequently to SLACs than public school kids, which means that their applications will be reviewed more in depth, so the quality of essays matter much more than applying to a large state school. Limiting the number of apps helps the student body because colleges do limit the number of acceptances for each HS. Only the kids who really see themselves attending a particular college will apply there and will not be competing with stronger applicants who are applying just to see if they can get in, but will likely turn that college down. This doesn't seem, btw, to affect the stronger students, who get into great schools. Given that 100% of students at our HS attend college, this approach doesn't appear to hurt admissions.
Honestly, any student and/or parent looking at HSs should be asking questions about college admissions processes.

Still doesn't answer why it should not be up to the student and their family.

While I understand your point about colleges accepting only a certain number from each HS, and you admit it is a zero sum game, it seems this policy does not help "the student body as a whole" but rather helps some but hurts others somewhat randomly. Certainly no more fairly and probably less so since it is a limitation.

There is no justification for it. Let students apply where they want. Why is that so hard?

Because when you choose to join a private school, you choose to join a community that is not a free-for-all. There are rules that govern that student body that work to raise the student body as a whole. And those application policies DO help the student body as a whole because the weaker students will get admitted into better colleges (because their admissions are not being blocked by stronger students' acceptances), while the stronger students continue to get accepted into the most competitive colleges. It does not "hurt" others randomly--it prevents the strongest students from hogging the acceptances that they don't need and enables the weaker students to get accepted into more highly ranked schools. This helps the student body as a whole because it raises the reputation of the school as a college prep school. When your "weakest" students end up at top-50 SLAC or good, but not "public-ivy" state school, and your strongest students still end up at HYP, your school benefits from the reputation of sending everyone to a good college.
You don't need to send your kid to a private school. If you don't like how it runs or it's priorities and want to focus only on your kid, then pull him out.