Reply to So much disappointment this week

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "So much disappointment this week"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This year has really proven to me how much college apps is just a lottery.

DD - Blair magnet -- wants an open curriculum school.

4.0 UW/4.75W; plenty of AP tests, significant leadership in a focused club, interesting mentoring that she's done. NMF, Presidential scholar nominee. And really, all-around - an empathetic human who really found herself during Covid and explained that emotional journey in one of her essays.

UMD Honors - half-tuition scholarship
Rejected: Yale, Amherst, Williams, Swathmore
Waitlisted: Wesleyan
Accepted at her other safety school with an interesting scholarship offer.
Waiting on two more selectives.

Maybe it's the test-optional/certain type of diversity (DD has a diversity aspect, but not necessarily the specific diversity sector that is currently being sought); maybe it's Covid deferrals. Maybe it's just that the names are thrown in a hat and are picked out...

We had a good conversation about how the 2 minutes that schools take to look at an application does not define four years of self-driven work, accomplishments and self-discovery as a human.

She is happy with the safety school. And she's not expecting much from the other two at this point. And she wasn't sad about rejections - she was angry that her type of diversity and voice were less valued and that the type of school she wants don't have enough openings/availability for the number of students qualified for them.[/quote]

Also, a Blair mom, and I know your DD is awesome, so this must be very disappointing.

Mine has very similar stats (down to NMF)! Also some great ECs and national, state and regional awards in a variety of areas. We were faring about the same until recently, but she has gotten some good late admissions. I think 2 things really helped her: 1) schools that had a "Why Xxxx" essay. She was able to make those very specific. I have to think that colleges know students are applying to more schools, so they want to choose students who are more likely to choose them back.   2) she won a couple awards in early March and was able to add an update, which added to her app and served as a reason to connect w/ her admissions counselor.

She also got 1/2 tuition at UMD (but later got that more than doubled w/ a Music scholarship from them), and she got some great scholarships from a safety. (Also, UMD should add to scholarship w/ NMF if they are designated first choice). That's all she had for a long time. We talked about all the merits of these two, and that helped.
Got rejected from Yale SCEA, Oxbridge, Mich, Williams and waitlisted at Middlebury (even after the Dept chair told her they gave her supplement highest marks and met w/ her for 40min).
I have 2 theories about the elite LACs -- either they don't interpret the Blair magnet classes as "rigorous" b/c Ostrander makes them designate only as "advanced" or they've been used by Blair magnet kids in the past as a back up and decided they will reject first. I am wondering the latter especially w/ the Middlebury situation. Are they testing to see if she will show how committed she is to them?
We were lucky that she has gotten some other great offers in the meantime (NU, Wes and Vassar). UMD and mid tier LAC are still in the running -- lots to be said for them.
Will be pulling for her w/ the 2 left. I will say, you have a reach heavy list so far. We kind of did too -- a couple safeties, a couple targets and about 8 reaches. She liked the safeties, so that made us feel better about the numbers. Also, a couple reaches came up as "hard targets" due to older data. '21 was insane, and this year is worse w/ more apps and some places dealing w/ over-enrollment from last year.
I think you are right about the lack of value on being an empathetic human. I think mine was lucky enough to get some accolades from her efforts that were deemed of value. Empathetic investments take time and don't yield that flashy credit. That doesn't seem right. Hope one of your two left sees her value. But, if not, UMD is a great option w/ the honors colleges and everything. We were on a tour the other day with an amazing guide who really helped DD see all that UMD has to offer. And the financial savings would be amazing too![/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics