What I learned after doing the college app process with 3 kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, be rich and throw a lot of money at it and everything will turn out great. Thanks, OP!

This made me LOL because it's so true. Also, let's remember that being full pay is the single largest advantage one has in college admissions.

Over FGLI? Are you serious?

100%. And if folks did any real research on this instead of bemoaning that their smart white kid can't get into a school because FGLI get all the breaks, they would realize how incredibly hard and overachieving one has to be to come from a first gen, low income background and succeed at the level to receive enough financial aid to attend a top school. But let's look at all the advantages money will give you - full pay, legacy, athletic recruitment (particularly pay to play sports), attending expensive summer programs that give you and edge (eg, ED0 at UChicago). Sure, some top schools are need blind (and many of those just for US applicants - and have a good percentage of internationals will come in full pay). but many are "need aware," and full pay is an extremely big advantage at all of them. ED, which many top schools now use to fill 1/3-1/2 of their incoming classes, absolutely advantages full pay candidates. I could go on, but honestly folks need to stop punching down and actually focus on real data.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, OP. Can you please write out all your tips for a child with LDs, ADHD with average (real average) IQ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, OP. Can you please write out all your tips for a child with LDs, ADHD with average (real average) IQ?

Does OP have a kid that fits that description? Didn't sound like it, though maybe I missed that somewhere. Assuming they do not, I would not be asking them for advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, be rich and throw a lot of money at it and everything will turn out great. Thanks, OP!

This made me LOL because it's so true. Also, let's remember that being full pay is the single largest advantage one has in college admissions.

Over FGLI? Are you serious?

My kids Ivy had 75% admitted that needed aid this past cycle. Donut hole sucker here.

Given all of the thousands of full pay kids in the area getting denials (vs a mere 1-3 Ivy admits at most schools--many none)---full pay is not the hook people think it is.

+1

Full pay allows a student to apply anywhere, knowing they can attend if admitted. What it does not do is help in any significant way for admission at need-blind schools. It is not an admissions hook or even a slight tip.

--full pay, 4/0/1570, rejected at nine T50s, waitlisted at five T50s, admitted to four safeties... whether full pay will "help" on presumably need-aware waitlists remains to be seen.

Major?

That determines admissions more than full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, be rich and throw a lot of money at it and everything will turn out great. Thanks, OP!

This made me LOL because it's so true. Also, let's remember that being full pay is the single largest advantage one has in college admissions.

Over FGLI? Are you serious?

My kids Ivy had 75% admitted that needed aid this past cycle. Donut hole sucker here.

Given all of the thousands of full pay kids in the area getting denials (vs a mere 1-3 Ivy admits at most schools--many none)---full pay is not the hook people think it is.

+1

Full pay allows a student to apply anywhere, knowing they can attend if admitted. What it does not do is help in any significant way for admission at need-blind schools. It is not an admissions hook or even a slight tip.

--full pay, 4/0/1570, rejected at nine T50s, waitlisted at five T50s, admitted to four safeties... whether full pay will "help" on presumably need-aware waitlists remains to be seen.

Major?

That determines admissions more than full pay.

poli sci

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most students, career outcomes are going to be similar whether they attend T20 or T100. Maybe if you want to be President or work at the #1 Research institution in your field it matters. But most people aren't doing that and will just end up with 2.5 kids and a house in the burbs.

Was the .5 for the dog in the family? won't it be 1.5 for this generation (overpopulation)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've saved as if my DD is going to a top 50. I don't think that's going to happen. She has some executive functioning issues her freshman and sophomore year that we are addressing. She scores fine on tests, but she has a couple of Cs on her record because she didn't turn things in on time.

I've accepted that we will just look for mid private schools. She will drown in a large state school. I went to a good school. Once I accepted my DD won't follow my path, I'm much calmer and nag much less. She will still be successful! She still has a 3.7 GPA. In what world is that not OK?

OP here - I think that is perfectly okay! I am sure she will be very very successful. Different kids are looking for different things

Really don’t mean to be rude but why is a parent who went through the process already and already shared advice continuing to insert herself in this topic. I just finished a year of college stuff and am happy to move on

Then happily move on from this thread and leave it for those of us who can be respectful and grateful to a BTDT mom.

+1
I greatly appreciate the OP taking the time to share their insights.

[Anonymous]

Thank you OP. DCUMers are ridiculous.
Thank you for taking the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, be rich and throw a lot of money at it and everything will turn out great. Thanks, OP!

This made me LOL because it's so true. Also, let's remember that being full pay is the single largest advantage one has in college admissions.

Over FGLI? Are you serious?

100%. And if folks did any real research on this instead of bemoaning that their smart white kid can't get into a school because FGLI get all the breaks, they would realize how incredibly hard and overachieving one has to be to come from a first gen, low income background and succeed at the level to receive enough financial aid to attend a top school. But let's look at all the advantages money will give you - full pay, legacy, athletic recruitment (particularly pay to play sports), attending expensive summer programs that give you and edge (eg, ED0 at UChicago). Sure, some top schools are need blind (and many of those just for US applicants - and have a good percentage of internationals will come in full pay). but many are "need aware," and full pay is an extremely big advantage at all of them. ED, which many top schools now use to fill 1/3-1/2 of their incoming classes, absolutely advantages full pay candidates. I could go on, but honestly folks need to stop punching down and actually focus on real data.

How does ED advantage full pay students over LI students even at need blind schools?

[Anonymous]

My full pay kid was rejected and wl at 7 schools. The fgli kids from our school w lower stats got in to many of them. No bitterness, she ended up at her first choice Ivy, but there is zero question that fgli kids are “privileged “ by far over full pay kids. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

^^^ tbh, it is the middle to umc public school kids who get screwed the most. Just my opinion. I am a private school mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My full pay kid was rejected and wl at 7 schools. The fgli kids from our school w lower stats got in to many of them. No bitterness, she ended up at her first choice Ivy, but there is zero question that fgli kids are “privileged “ by far over full pay kids. It is what it is.

Would you trade your kids’ upbringings for theirs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My full pay kid was rejected and wl at 7 schools. The fgli kids from our school w lower stats got in to many of them. No bitterness, she ended up at her first choice Ivy, but there is zero question that fgli kids are “privileged “ by far over full pay kids. It is what it is.

privileged? oh dear..

[Anonymous]

I’m a full pay parent and very grateful for that privilege and I hope my kid is too. With all the struggles FGLI kids face with just having to get to the starting line in some cases, why shouldn’t that be taken into consideration in college admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a full pay parent and very grateful for that privilege and I hope my kid is too. With all the struggles FGLI kids face with just having to get to the starting line in some cases, why shouldn’t that be taken into consideration in college admissions?

Why does that automatically merit them getting a leg up going to T20?

Why not improve schools in the country so everyone including FGLI get to the starting line?

It would be just silly, but for the fact that Asians whose parents immigrated poor but educated still get the short stick