Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard from a friend today that this happened to her son. Does this happen more often than we think? I remember some stories from last year, but I didn't come across any examples until today. Now her son thinks he won't get in anywhere.

Can you tell us the safety school?

If you do, we can give you other schools of similar quality that he has a chance of getting into that he may not have considered before.

I hate that he thinks he won't get in anywhere now... that's an awful feeling for a teenager. 🥺

Here's the thing - I know the school, but I don't know his stats (and didn't want to question her about it since its not my business and she was obviously upset). My friend just described the school as a safety for her son. So I don't know if the school was truly a safety. Still, I imagine that parents around here do some basic level of research to figure out safeties and targets (i.e. common data set); and this friend is someone who would be on top of those things. The school is Clemson.

Anonymous wrote:I heard from a friend today that this happened to her son. Does this happen more often than we think? I remember some stories from last year, but I didn't come across any examples until today. Now her son thinks he won't get in anywhere.

Can you tell us the safety school?

If you do, we can give you other schools of similar quality that he has a chance of getting into that he may not have considered before.

I hate that he thinks he won't get in anywhere now... that's an awful feeling for a teenager. 🥺

Mine was WL at two true safeties. Both were likely due to lack of interest shown. One ultimately made an offer with merit before the acceptance deadline, and he took it, though there were "higher ranked" schools that admitted him. The other one he declined the spot on the WL.

This is why you should have about 3 safeties.

Possible reasons are the "safety" was ranked too highly to be a real safety, or there was yield protection going on, or there was some problem with the application like something was not completed properly.

Anonymous wrote:What is CCO?

College Counseling Office

Anonymous wrote:Is it a school that used to be considered a safety, but now has so many applications it’s getting more difficult to get in? Like maybe Auburn or Alabama?

I graduated from Auburn and was recently looking at admissions data that went from 1992 to 2022. The acceptance rate dropped 28 percent just between 2021 and 2022 and I am sure has fallen a few more points since then. I knew it had gotten harder anecdotally but seeing the hard numbers was fascinating.

What is CCO?

Anonymous wrote:Deferred EA from 2 schools that CCO had categorized as safeties.

Which schools if you don’t mind sharing?

Deferred EA from 2 schools that CCO had categorized as safeties.

Also, there isn’t a stipulated definition on DCUM of what constitutes a safety.

I’m so sorry. Stating the obvious but sad truth: Safeties do not have 100% acceptance rates.

I’m so sorry for your friend’s son. Maybe he can still look into other options just in case? He will likely get in to one if he applied broadly but what an awful feeling!

Is it a school that used to be considered a safety, but now has so many applications it’s getting more difficult to get in? Like maybe Auburn or Alabama?

I heard from a friend today that this happened to her son. Does this happen more often than we think? I remember some stories from last year, but I didn't come across any examples until today. Now her son thinks he won't get in anywhere.