Sidwell college guidance office
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Anonymous
Then that reflects badly on the college guidance system. A school doesn't have to admit 100% of applicants in order for it to be a pretty sure thing for a particular applicant. I think we all know a safety isn't defined as a school with 100% acceptance. At DC's school, the only kids who don't get in anywhere are those who, like PP, feel they are entitled to go to a top school and aren't realistic with their applications. |
Anonymous
This, exactly. The idea that someone doesn't get into a college because they can "only" apply to 9 schools is patently ridiculous. When safety schools are chosen objectively and well, they are true safeties with admission virtually guaranteed for the applicant given his or her grades/scores/ECs. (I would argue that a true safety is also one the family can afford, but since these are Sidwell families perhaps that is less of an issue.) Assuming a kid doesn't have real problems on their resume (e.g., run-ins with the police, cheating, etc), a kid applying to 9 schools who didn't get into ANY? was either unrealistic in picking "safeties" or didn't apply to enough safeties. (If you are applying to 9 schools, I think at least 2 of them should be "safeties.") |
Anonymous
The kids don't need to apply to more than 9 schools (and, BTW, the school doesn't enforce that strictly), nor do they need to apply to a school that accepts 100% of the applicants (e.g., a community college), but they do need more guidance than the college counselors have generally provided in coming up with a list. They also need more support on writing essays. Finally, they don't need the "manana" approach that the college counselors have generally espoused. This isn't brain surgery -- other schools do a better job. Survey their programs and institute best practices. |
Anonymous
Yes, every year there's a kid who doesn't get in anywhere, so the counselors freak out and use this as an example the following year when they tell the kids that they won't get in anywhere. Result: many kids don't apply to their top picks because they're afraid they won't get in . . . . and there's always still one kids who doesn't get in anywhere. So, the counselors freak out and the following year . . . . The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. |
Anonymous
| If a college guidance counselor is doing her job she will tell applicants that a desired school is a long shot and they are unlikely to get in. That is called using your expertise. That doesn't mean the applicant shouldn't apply there. It just means they shouldn't be surprised if they don't get in. Applying to 9 schools should easily allow a range between reaches and safeties and schools in between. Its the counselor's job to make sure at the very least that there are safeties in the mix. |
Anonymous
| Its the parents' job to make guide their child, you just can't farm that out to the GCs. It's too important in terms of learning to develop choices, choosing, being aware of one's own strengths, limits, interests, understanding constraints such as money and all the related matters about going to college. |
Anonymous
UMD has gotten a lot harder to get into. It is no longer necessarily a safety. Some of the campuses, like Baltimore, are a little easier to get into than College Park, but it is not a strong safety. I'm not sure what is really a guaranteed safety. Anyone have ideas about a good safety school? |
Anonymous
Yes . . . to a certain extent. the problem is that all of us parents went to college in a prior era. The competitiveness (and excellence) of many colleges has changed. So when kids rely solely on their parents they can have a distorted view of where they should apply. I went to (one of HYP) and there is no way I would get in today. I know that but I see many parents who don't get that things have changed. |
Anonymous
| I think it's crazy for a school to limit the number of colleges a student can apply to. Today, getting in is totally random. You may not get into Duke, but happen to get into Harvard. The kids who apply to as many schools as possible (so long as they can put their heart and soul into each of the essays) has the best chance of winning the lottery that is today's college admissions process. |
Anonymous
If every kid did this, then the odds of admission would go down even further for every kid. It would be mutually assured self-destruction. |
Anonymous
+1 -- The problem at Sidwell is not the limit on the number of applications; the problem is that the counselors pretend that strategic considerations don't exist -- instead of helping kids and parents figure out a strategy, including choosing safeties that kids can live with. The result: one-quarter of the class applies to Michigan and one-quarter to Tufts (with a significant overlap here among students falling in the middle-quarter of the grade). MADness. |
Anonymous
| FYI regarding safety schools: some mid level schools do not automaticlly accept students that are way above their typical profile because those students do not usually enroll. If they do, they often transfer out quickly. These mid level schools want to admit students that are likely to attend and stay. If a student is above the normal admissions profile of their safety school, then they should show interest in the school by visiting, calling, or e-mailing and asking about an honors program. If this interest is not demonstrated, then don't be surprised if they are not offered admissions. I know this because DH works in academic administration at a mid level university. |
Anonymous
| 17:01 it is often called Tufts Syndrome. |
Anonymous
I have studied Naviance for our school and this is definitely true. At one college I looked at the applicants with the highest GPAs/scores were waitlisted/rejected while the kids in the next tier down were accepted. I suspect they were ones who also didn't visit or show much interest in the school because it was a safety. |
Anonymous
| Exactly, schools want students who also want them. They do not want students who think of them as a safety and will be gone as quickly as possible. |