DD is only applying to safeties

[Anonymous]

I am trying to get DD to apply to more than just the "safety schools" where she exceeds the 75% threshold.

We are VA residents, and she has a 3.75(U)/4.15(W) with 1400 SAT's.

Her colleges are
Va Tech (non engineering)
JMU
Penn State
U Del


Her interest is Crop/Environmental Science.

She did not like UVA.

[Anonymous]

Is it her college experience or yours? Let her apply to the schools she is interested in attending.

[Anonymous]

Those are good affordable schools. You raised a smart kid going into an important field. Be happy.

[Anonymous]

OP, our DS had a 36 ACT and 4.3 GPA (private school with limited APs). Very strong essay and great ECs with focus on service.

We tried to get him to apply to Yale, Duke, Dartmouth and Brown, but he would not. He was interested in one particular top 20 (not ivy) school. Applied there and a bunch of other matches/safeties. Fortunately he got into his first choice.

She clearly knows what she wants, and you should support her.

[Anonymous]

There’s no rule that says everyone should have a highly selective school on their list. Those are wonderful schools and if she can’t imagine herself at others, why push it?

Would you honestly tell a child to go to a school she didn’t even like simply because it was selective? Do you think a she’ll get the most out of your tuition money at a school she doesn’t like?

These are all wonderful schools and she’s not setting up for driving/flying across the country. Lucky you!

[Anonymous]

Good solid schools - nothing wrong with that list.
Our DD (out of state) with a 3.4/3.7 and 1290 applied to JMU, VT and UDel and was accepted to all 3. Received merit at UDel.

We have friends who live in VA and their daughter with a 4.0/4.75 and 1520 SAT applied to UVA and was wait listed.

[Anonymous]

Uh, sounds like she's a grown student CHOOSING where she wants to apply. What with it being her life and her education and all.

Time to stop acting like you're in charge of her life.

[Anonymous]

All of those schools have Honors Programs/Honors Colleges. If you want her to push for something, encourage her to apply to those honors programs. They often come with financial support and offer smaller classes and additional educational opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I’d confirm she doesn’t want to consider W&M. Other than that, she’ll love Blacksburg, and you’ll love the tuition cost savings.

[Anonymous]

With that interest, I might encourage her to look at Cornell’s Ag school, assuming it’s within your budget. Otherwise I’d leave her alone.

[Anonymous]

With that major, a big state school should be perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of those schools have Honors Programs/Honors Colleges. If you want her to push for something, encourage her to apply to those honors programs. They often come with financial support and offer smaller classes and additional educational opportunities.

Yes! Land grant schools are the best in this field. We sure do need smart folks in agricultural. Might also want to look st SUNY Environmental and Forestry ( which may not have the crop studies she wants) and UMass which is a fun place to go to school, has plant and soul science and an honors college. SUNY ESF sweetens thé pot for out of staters with good stats.

[Anonymous]

Smart kid!

[Anonymous]

Those are all great choices. VT will be more selective this year after they bungled it last year. So, I would not consider that a safety.

[Anonymous]

Yes to Cornell too. Sorry about plant “soul” science?^ Firgot to mention at ESF they can take some of their liberal arts classes at Syracuse for no extra charge, as well as participate in all Syracuse’s student activities.