Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Big 3 helicopter moms are out today in the college and university thread. I love it! OP, there have been some very interesting threads on collusion over the years. Obviously your kid should apply to where they want to apply, but, wouldn't you want to know which Top 20 your kid might have a shot at? These schools are only going to take so many, and most of the ones they take will have some sort of double hook. How will your kid's accomplishments stack up?
My social anxiety prevents me from being the helicopter parent I could only wish to be, which is why I’m rather out of the loop at school and instead turn to DCUM. I searched for threads on collusion, but only found ones referring to collusion on the part of colleges, not students!
Probably best to keep in mind that college counselors work for the school, not for you. We had nothing against the counselors at my son's school, but the interests of school and student obviously are not always aligned.
Anonymous wrote:When a CCO shows naviance data and a kid is below stats of previously accepted kids, or tells another kids that multiple applications are being made to same school, is that steering them away? I would say no it is simply providing data but others may disagree. My kid’s college counselor will do things like the above but will never say don’t apply - he has repeatedly said he has no crystal ball and can’t know ahead of time who will be admitted.
As for kids, I think they are aware of other kids applying but they often don’t know the full universe or know what an applicants entire profile is. I would be surprised if they horse trade applications as you suggest - not to mention most kids genuinely prefer a school, which is why they apply ED. Maybe it happens around the margins if a kid likes schools equally in the sense that a kid may go with the choice that has fewer kids applying. But I have never heard of the “collusion” you are suggesting.
The psychology I did see with my kid is to weigh their chances against previous years’ results. He was more apt to research a school that has consistently admitted kids from his school. Maybe this was smart or maybe he missed out on a better fit choice. Who knows.
Anonymous wrote:The Big 3 helicopter moms are out today in the college and university thread. I love it! OP, there have been some very interesting threads on collusion over the years. Obviously your kid should apply to where they want to apply, but, wouldn't you want to know which Top 20 your kid might have a shot at? These schools are only going to take so many, and most of the ones they take will have some sort of double hook. How will your kid's accomplishments stack up?