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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DS goes to MCPS W School. Got into a discussion in homeroom and discovered all but one of the 15 kids were applying to UVA. Brought this up with his (rather large) friend group at lunch who almost all reported to also be applying to UVA. I know it's a great school but what causes the intensity of the draw for MoCo and DC kids? [/quote]

OP -- I think PPs are missing where you say that your DS was in two discussions with other students where virtually all said they were applying to UVA. Does your DS now feel pressure to apply to UVA whereas maybe previously he wasn't considering it? I'm wondering if that's where this is coming from. Is he feeling now like "I'd better apply too; everyone else is applying so I should, as well; there must be something there I'm missing out on if I don't at least apply."

This can happen a LOT with college-bound students in high school. They talk about colleges and applications far more than parents really realize and many kids can get very wound up, wondering if they should apply to X or Y or Z because others are doing so. And they spread tons of misinformation to each other (not intentionally but because they just hear all kinds of myth and nonsense about specific colleges and about the application process in general).

If your DC looks at UVA and sees majors there of real interest, and programs that fit well with DC's interests, then DC and you can research it and see if it's right for application, but otherwise, I'd emphasize hard to DC that the right college is going to be the one with the best academic program for DC's interests plus a campus atmosphere and student body where DC will thrive as a person. Knee-jerk application to a generic university just because Everyone Applies There is a waste of precious time.

Maybe your DC is NOT feeling any pressure but just was filling you in -- that's good if that's the case! But just noting that kids can feel a ton of pressure of which parents sometimes aren't aware, when it comes to "If you don't apply to UVA/UMD/Giant college X/Elite college Y you must not be very smart because all the smart kids apply there." [/quote]

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