Reply to Sidwell to increase tuition a WHOPPING 6.7%

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I know this thread is not about college counseling but the 15 kids applied ED to Brown could have been somewhat avoided.  The CCO office needs to be more transparent.  Seniors are applying in almost a vacuum and have very little idea who else from within Sidwell is applying ED to  the same school.[b]  If a college is oversubscribed from the senior class, we believe the CCO could have gently guided students - including ours - by saying "the competition is intense for college X from just within our school community so would you consider applying ED to college Y instead?[/b]" Some kids may have their heart set on college X and may disregard this suggestion but most senior kids know that competition is brutal and if they have better chances at a comparable but less popular college, they would change their ED/EA decisions. We found that the CCO went along with any suggestions we had without any critical responses or analysis in return. Their standard response was "we are hear to support your decisions" but what they don't realize is that kids need actual guidance and counseling versus support (which at its best means we will send your recommendations and transcript) for what the kid does not know is an unrealistic application.  [/quote]

While I agree it would be nice if they did this, they don't because they probably assume that once someone gets their heart stuck on an ED, they won't be able to talk the applicant out of it.

Some of the NE boarding schools vet applicants to certain schools, so for example, only 5 even get to apply to Yale. Would you prefer that? [b]Would you like it better if a school said 'you cannot apply to harvard or yale, we have already given those shots to other classmates, so consider Z instead"[/b]

I wouldn't and doubt you would either.[/quote]

The first poster isn't saying CCO should block anyone . . . rather it's give guidance.  If the person has their heart set on A, they'll apply to A.  But there are other students who might be choosing between A and B because both are good match reach for them.  Knowing that 15 are applying to A and 2 to B is relevant info that could steer a decision.[/quote]

Again, I agree with you. Playing devil's advocate...if school A is the top choice and both school A and B are 5% admission rate schools, then it really is a lottery. If school B is a tier down, then sure.[/quote]

Does this college counselor also write the counselor recommendation to a school?  If so, I would be quite concerned if the college counselor is steering me towards certain schools and away from others.  Why?  Because that counselor will likely provide you a lukewarm recommendation to Reach School A vs School B where they have a better shot.  At the same time, they are providing enthusiastic recommendations to the kids they think have a much better shot at acceptance to Reach School A.

Unlike some large publics where counselor are overwhelmed (so a college is not shocked if the counselor recommendation is just a regurgitation of the kid's transcript/ECs), I think colleges expect a more personalized recommendation from the Sidwell counselor.

So, while noone wants to be told not to apply to Yale...maybe it is better to be blunt vs. "go ahead and apply" when behind the scenes they wrote a not a bad, but just a neutral recommendation for you (which is code for bad at the receiving school).[/quote]

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