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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Interesting thread from someone who has had DCs in a Big 3 and a top NYC private. If this is the first time you have a DC going through the process, well, it can feel like rocket science for a bit. DCs' school doesn't calculate GPA, doesn't rank, doesn't offer APs, doesn't use Naviance, etc. so it is a little overwhelming in the early phase when trying to figure out what makes sense when your DC begins to construct a list (after your DC has looked at big/small, rural/urban schools, etc). What does a 3.6 mean when you read both here and on CC about 4.5 weighted GPA, etc?

While we never got a full handle on it, we did get enough to feel comfortable with the list and the ED options. We were fortunate that DC had the best college counselor of the bunch and were confident that the guidance/suggestions were as strong as possible in these less predictable admissions times. DC had the good luck of getting into their ED.

Regarding where a DC falls on a class rank, I kinda get when folks here preach that "it doesn't matter," but I can't help but think of my friend with a DC at another NYC private. Her DC really wanted to go a certain Ivy. The parents had both gone to Ivies, but not this one, and they were really not as familiar with how college admissions had tightened (for lack of a better word) over the last 5-10 years (even more so in last 2). Think they believed that their education would be a thumb on scale for DC. The DC really is a top student (though very, very shy) so we were all pretty shocked when DC didn't even get the courtesy of defer (term of art used at our DCs' school), but an outright reject. So come to find out, 12+ other kids had also applied to this Ivy, 3/4s were legacy, and ~1/2 had better stats. When friend has the WTH happened convo with the counselor later that spring after her DC is admitted to another school, the counselor says "well sometimes a school reaches down and takes an unhooked kid...." Friend told her that if they work together again, that she would appreciate a lot more candor. Yes, my friend was naive, but she says that if they had some additional information, they would have worked more with their DC on being realistic about a list. Maybe would've still gone for an ED reach, but would've been able to pivot once DC got the bad news. [/quote]

A good guidance counselor never has 12 top kids all applying to the same exact top school.  They need to spread that around better and horse trade.  Like the U.K. counselors do when their students apply to Oxbridge colleges. They spread about the 40+ Small colleges.
You never want to have the kid applying to XYZ department at ABC college, same as your top kid, but they are major donor or URM or doing a sport. Counselor at SFS our years would have told you, apply to a small number, a couple others are here and there, but one of these three will work. And then they go to bat for you there. They can’t for 12+ kids. They will be asked to force rank. [/quote]

Twelve kids for the TOTAL grade, not twelve for the counselor.

Agree on the never want your DC applying when a top hooked kid is to same school. DC's BF mulled five schools - a number of girls were holding off until she made her decision as she was a stronger student than them. Even one of the legacies held off. [/quote]

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