DD's already emotionally committed to a school

[Anonymous]

DD is a junior now and has wanted to go to the same college since about the 6th grade and if I'm being frank, she has a pretty good shot of getting in. It's a very good school but not top twenty or anything like that. She is going to apply early decision which I am supportive of but I don't want her putting all of her eggs in one basket. Whenever I bring up applying to other schools she says, "Sure, yeah whatever I'll apply to Maryland or something." Her counselor and I have told her about the need for safeties and such but she has no interest in looking into colleges she would like attending and I don't want to make application decisions for her. Although I wouldn't mind her attending UMD (especially because it's so cheap), I do not believe it is the environment she would want and in addition to that, it is not a safety school at this point. How do I get her interested in looking at and applying to a variety of schools that she would enjoy attending and not just her dream school?

[Anonymous]

I was planning on going to community college if I didn't get into my dream school. My parents talked me into applying to one safety. I got into my dream school.

[Anonymous]

She’s a junior, and there is a lot of time between now and when applications are due. Plan some college visits over the summer and next fall. Then if she doesn’t get in early decision, she will still have time to apply to other schools.

[Anonymous]

Backtrack for a moment. Is everything perfect with her dream school?
Has she visited to know if she likes the vibe?
Do you have the money? It seems like a private school from your description.
Does it have a strong program in the major she wants?
Kids change a lot from 11 to 17, you want to make sure she isn't just stuck in a childhood fantasy.
If all that checks out then I'm glad you are supportive of her goal. Prepscholar has a thing in which when you look up a school it will tell you reach, target, and safety schools that are similar which could be a useful tool to help find other schools.

[Anonymous]

What is this dream school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Backtrack for a moment. Is everything perfect with her dream school?
Has she visited to know if she likes the vibe?
Do you have the money? It seems like a private school from your description.
Does it have a strong program in the major she wants?
Kids change a lot from 11 to 17, you want to make sure she isn't just stuck in a childhood fantasy.
If all that checks out then I'm glad you are supportive of her goal. Prepscholar has a thing in which when you look up a school it will tell you reach, target, and safety schools that are similar which could be a useful tool to help find other schools.

We have visited twice, once "officially" and another time we just wandered around.
She doesn't know what she wants to major in but there a good programs in all of the things she is really interested in.
We have a high HHI and have the money set aside for full pay at a private university.
Thanks for the tip about Prepscholar - I'll take a look at that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is this dream school?

Wellesley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Backtrack for a moment. Is everything perfect with her dream school?
Has she visited to know if she likes the vibe?
Do you have the money? It seems like a private school from your description.
Does it have a strong program in the major she wants?
Kids change a lot from 11 to 17, you want to make sure she isn't just stuck in a childhood fantasy.
If all that checks out then I'm glad you are supportive of her goal. Prepscholar has a thing in which when you look up a school it will tell you reach, target, and safety schools that are similar which could be a useful tool to help find other schools.

We have visited twice, once "officially" and another time we just wandered around.
She doesn't know what she wants to major in but there a good programs in all of the things she is really interested in.
We have a high HHI and have the money set aside for full pay at a private university.
Thanks for the tip about Prepscholar - I'll take a look at that

What even is full pay for a school these days? You can't just google the tuition and other costs, multiple times four, and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Backtrack for a moment. Is everything perfect with her dream school?
Has she visited to know if she likes the vibe?
Do you have the money? It seems like a private school from your description.
Does it have a strong program in the major she wants?
Kids change a lot from 11 to 17, you want to make sure she isn't just stuck in a childhood fantasy.
If all that checks out then I'm glad you are supportive of her goal. Prepscholar has a thing in which when you look up a school it will tell you reach, target, and safety schools that are similar which could be a useful tool to help find other schools.

We have visited twice, once "officially" and another time we just wandered around.
She doesn't know what she wants to major in but there a good programs in all of the things she is really interested in.
We have a high HHI and have the money set aside for full pay at a private university.
Thanks for the tip about Prepscholar - I'll take a look at that

What even is full pay for a school these days? You can't just google the tuition and other costs, multiple times four, and call it a day.

??
I'm sure OP knows more about her financial situation than you do. I also presume "we have a high HHI and have the money set aside for full pay at a private university" is code for 'we're loaded and money isn't an issue' but even with that, what does it have to do with getting her dd to apply to schools other than Wellesley?

[Anonymous]

I am sure you realize that Wellesley has a 28% acceptance rate. Schools of this size are all about creating a class that is diverse which can help or hurt an applicant. Have you consulted the Common Data Set to compare statistics? Is that a test optional school? If so, are you submitted test scores?

It's great that she has a first choice. ED results will notify applicants around Dec 15th. What if she gets deferred? Most other applications would be due by January 1. After a deferral, it is hard to regroup and push out other applications.

[Anonymous]

College acceptance is hit or miss these days. Just look at the VA Tech thread on College Confidential or here. Let her know if she doesn't get in and doesn't apply to a few more, she'll be living at home going to CC until she gets in somewhere. That is usually motivation for them, lol. There is still time and if she applies to Common App schools, there's usually not much to be done after you enter the info the first time- just write a few short essays about yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is this dream school?

Wellesley

So easy. Have her write down five things she likes about Wellesley and apply to schools with those characteristics.

Also, can you afford Wellesley?

[Anonymous]

Has she visited the other Seven Sisters (at least, those that are still single sex)? They aren't exactly safety schools, either, but they might be worth applying to instead of pinning all her hopes on Wellesley.

[Anonymous]

My dd is also head over heels for one school with a 20% acceptance rate. She can’t imagine herself anywhere else. She should be a match, but I consider anywhere less than 30% a reach for everyone.

I told her she needs to have one more reach, at least two matches and two safetys. We will be happy to visit colleges until she finds those, or I will pick them out for her. Her decision.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the posters who suggested taking her on some college tours. There are so many lovely colleges; I'm sure she will realize that once she has seen some more.