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[quote=Anonymous]My take after going through the college application process with two kids is that applying to true reach schools (ie schools where you’re child has less than 5% chance at admission) is a net negative.

Both of my kids had good grades at good schools, excellent ECs with top ten percent test scores and all advanced classes.   This made them competitive for T50 schools but really long shots at T10 schools.  But like everyone around here we applied to a mix of target, safety and reach schools.   The results were exactly as predicted.  Admitted to every school except the reaches.

The prevailing wisdom is - “at least you took your shot.”   However, I think that sentiment overlooks the cost of applying to reach schools:

1.  Fees.  While application fees are small potatoes when thinking about college costs its not nothing- I certainly would have preferred to take my wife out to a nice dinner rather than send Princeton, Harvard and U of C almost $300.

2. Time and trouble.  The reach schools’ applications are considerably more trouble than other colleges.  I particularly dislike U of C’s zany question.  Both of my kids spent hours brainstorming, drafting and editing their essays.  All time that would have been better spent enjoying their senior year.

3. Disappointment.  Life already has its bumps and troubles you don’t have to go look for them.  While  my kids didn’t have big expectations and therefore weren’t terribly disappointed each rejection did take the air out of the evening.  It also makes for uncomfortable moments with well meaning grandparents, aunts, uncles etc.

4. Waitlisted.  The worst position is being waitlisted.  It creates all kinds of distractions and makes planning difficult.

Look, of your kid is a good candidate for a top school go for it.  But if your kid is a standard issue overachiever save yourself the money, time and trouble. [/quote]

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