Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.

If hard working means the high stats kid, he/she likely DOES have more options.

+1 that kid has all the same options as the B+ (they will be a stand out student at the colleges that might be a match/reach for the B+) AND can take a shot at the harder-to-get-into schools.

Unless they get yield protected.

OP - I was just going to say exactly this. Yield protection is real. The "just below Ivy" kids look too good for the T20 - 50. I see it on Naviance - kids with 4.0/1580 getting rejected from Boston University, U of Richmond, U Miami, etc.

Yep, my kid was average. Only applied to a few schools, got into 4/5, several before Christmas. Many friends were stressed the whole year and ended up at pretty average schools given the multiple rounds of testing, visits, tours, coaches, stress, etc. I was surprised by the final choices. They were not much better, I really don’t think it was worth it, but I’m glad the kids are happy at their (expensive out of state) schools.

GMU, VCU, JMU

I relate.
I have 2 kids (at competitive privates) who are just below the sure-thing kids. If you're top10% at their schools you can pretty much pick your college--even at the level of Yale.
The next rung down and you're throwing the dice in the mix for the lesser Ivies and other top 20s.
The next rung down and you're securely out of top20 land.

My kids are in that intermediate rung which is highly stressful. College counseling says that almost any school is within reach but we should maximize strategy, etc. It would be a lot easier if my kids were just B+ students. I have a third kid who is still in middle school and doesn't seem to be a strong student. I think admissions will be easier with this one.

Anonymous wrote:Relatable! My B+ kids have had no problems.

What schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't relate. I have A students who are not ivy level and it actually seems really hard to find a college that is both a good fit and affordable.

They should get great merit aid at liberal arts schools. E en my B student got good merit aid at them.

I have a similar situation as OP with my 2 kids. However we are limited to schools that are either in-state or equivalent to in-state cost. I believe my older kid will have more options because his stats will get him more merit at schools that my younger kid my get into but probably less or no merit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.

If hard working means the high stats kid, he/she likely DOES have more options.

+1 that kid has all the same options as the B+ (they will be a stand out student at the colleges that might be a match/reach for the B+) AND can take a shot at the harder-to-get-into schools.

Unless they get yield protected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.

If hard working means the high stats kid, he/she likely DOES have more options.

+1 that kid has all the same options as the B+ (they will be a stand out student at the colleges that might be a match/reach for the B+) AND can take a shot at the harder-to-get-into schools.

Anonymous wrote:My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.

If hard working means the high stats kid, he/she likely DOES have more options.

Relatable! My B+ kids have had no problems.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.

My DD was like this and it was interesting to explore so many different colleges. There are great options out there that the prestige-focused will never encounter.

Like which? Especially if not ultra expensive

Anonymous wrote:I can't relate. I have A students who are not ivy level and it actually seems really hard to find a college that is both a good fit and affordable.

They should get great merit aid at liberal arts schools. E en my B student got good merit aid at them.

Anonymous wrote:My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.

My DD was like this and it was interesting to explore so many different colleges. There are great options out there that the prestige-focused will never encounter.

I can't relate. I have A students who are not ivy level and it actually seems really hard to find a college that is both a good fit and affordable.

My older kid is a very high stats kid, competitive, really wants an Ivy (and won't get it). And the process sucks. I look forward to going through it with my younger kid, who gets B+'s, is relaxed, has very specific interests, and won't be aiming for top schools. I feel like there will be tons of great options for him, which is ironic since my super hard-working kid should theoretically have many more.