Anonymous wrote:Just a minor point if you are adding suggestions from this list- I would not consider UMass Boston given what your child is looking at. It’s sort of distant from the other college areas - sort of out of its own and not really in a residential neighborhood. Kind of separated from everything by the highway and roads. It is more of a commuter/suitcase school.

The stretegy there is: Go to UMass Boston, live someplace fun on the Red Line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what were your expectations with this list? It is chock full of reaches. Your student will be fine, but may not have many choices.

A 1490 is a great SAT, but unfortunately it isn’t helping the application for most schools on your list.

Also, when did he apply to Pitt? That is an “apply in August” school.

+1. A little low for UVA. 75Th percentile had a 1510. But median a 1470.

So half of the students have lower SAT scores that the applicant. I don’t know what people are thinking. He will get into half of these schools.

This is unrelated to OP. BU has a College of General Studies. There is no minimum requirements. If after two years in the program the student has at least a 2.0 GPA and 60 credits they can complete the Bachelor’s in their chosen major.

The OP can get into BU on his high scores but it will depend on major and how many applicants in a given year. He’ll do ok, OP. Plenty of good options on his list.

Enrolled student score ranges are percentiles, not acceptance rates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what were your expectations with this list? It is chock full of reaches. Your student will be fine, but may not have many choices.

A 1490 is a great SAT, but unfortunately it isn’t helping the application for most schools on your list.

Also, when did he apply to Pitt? That is an “apply in August” school.

+1. A little low for UVA. 75Th percentile had a 1510. But median a 1470.

So half of the students have lower SAT scores that the applicant. I don’t know what people are thinking. He will get into half of these schools.

This is unrelated to OP. BU has a College of General Studies. There is no minimum requirements. If after two years in the program the student has at least a 2.0 GPA and 60 credits they can complete the Bachelor’s in their chosen major.

The OP can get into BU on his high scores but it will depend on major and how many applicants in a given year. He’ll do ok, OP. Plenty of good options on his list.

That’s not how it works. Did you not read OP’s kid was deferred at wash U with a 4.8? OP’s kids sounds like the white affluent male who must compete at a higher level
for these slots - hence what people are saying about needing to hit the 75th percentile. The bottom half are for URMs (Yes, still figured out through essays), first generation, athletes, legacies, where still in effect, big donor families, institutional priority cases, questbridgr, geographically desirable students, foreign full pay students, national award winners, etc. bland kids of privilege still
Must have higher stats AND rank high against their own classmates on top of that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what were your expectations with this list? It is chock full of reaches. Your student will be fine, but may not have many choices.

A 1490 is a great SAT, but unfortunately it isn’t helping the application for most schools on your list.

Also, when did he apply to Pitt? That is an “apply in August” school.

+1. A little low for UVA. 75Th percentile had a 1510. But median a 1470.

So half of the students have lower SAT scores that the applicant. I don’t know what people are thinking. He will get into half of these schools.

This is unrelated to OP. BU has a College of General Studies. There is no minimum requirements. If after two years in the program the student has at least a 2.0 GPA and 60 credits they can complete the Bachelor’s in their chosen major.

The OP can get into BU on his high scores but it will depend on major and how many applicants in a given year. He’ll do ok, OP. Plenty of good options on his list.

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to share my child’s profile for input if you’re willing. He’s a junior at a Fairfax County public high school (VA, not TJ) with a 4.0 GPA and a 1500 SAT (second attempt, with plans to retake). He’s part of an Engineering CTE, class President and will participate in Boys State due to an interest in leadership (not military-focused). He plays a sport but is not a captain, does not plan to continue it in college, and is not at a recruitment level (keeping the sport private). He has also completed a few STEM-related internships.

While he’s strong in STEM, student leadership, and earns A’s across the board (public school grading context acknowledged), he’s not interested in engineering school specifically. He’s more drawn to entrepreneurship, marketing, maybe economics, but we’re trying to be thoughtful about fit and not add unnecessary pressure by targeting ultra-selective undergraduate business programs.

His profile feels similar to many strong students we know. He’s particularly interested in schools like Tufts, BC, Emory, Vanderbilt, which seem popular among peers. He also really loved visits to WashU and Duke (understandably).

I like some of the safeties being mentioned here and we will chose at least 4. I would appreciate feedback on whether his profile has a realistic shot at some of these more competitive schools. How do students get into these reaches or targets - does ED work? or do they typically end of in safeties? I looked at the acceptances over the past few years at his school and many seem like they have a "hook".

Mine is at one of the schools you mentioned. Single digit acceptance rate, won the lottery. Public HS, no particular hooks. Very strong standardized test scores (submitted), very strong GPA. High but not highest rigor across the board, and APs but not a ton. Did not submit AP exam test scores. Excellent writer, very strong in some but not all STEM. Fantastic essay that I saw afterwards - spoke from the heart. Interesting mix of activities and leadership. Competitive club sport that continues in college. If there’s a hook I would say also that this kid is super engaging and beloved by teachers, and guess that the LORs were very strong. Respected leader. Had a very realistic list that included realistic targets and safeties and EA applications. Accepted RD. I see a lot of comments here that are unrealistic in terms of definition of targets and safeties. Be conservative in that regard. And as others always say and as we did - visit targets and safeties and help your student understand they can be happy at many schools. Give those safeties and targets love, interview if possible - they might be generous with merit. My student did have friends that were disappointed at first but all of them have been very happy where they are. The system is random in some respects but your best defense is good strategy. And in the end embracing the outcome (or ofc transferring, def have friends whose students have done that and that worked out too). Good luck and sending good wishes to students going thru this process - that they might also enjoy these years and not be stressed all of the time.

I’m happy to share my child’s profile for input if you’re willing. He’s a junior at a Fairfax County public high school (VA, not TJ) with a 4.0 GPA and a 1500 SAT (second attempt, with plans to retake). He’s part of an Engineering CTE, class President and will participate in Boys State due to an interest in leadership (not military-focused). He plays a sport but is not a captain, does not plan to continue it in college, and is not at a recruitment level (keeping the sport private). He has also completed a few STEM-related internships.

While he’s strong in STEM, student leadership, and earns A’s across the board (public school grading context acknowledged), he’s not interested in engineering school specifically. He’s more drawn to entrepreneurship, marketing, maybe economics, but we’re trying to be thoughtful about fit and not add unnecessary pressure by targeting ultra-selective undergraduate business programs.

His profile feels similar to many strong students we know. He’s particularly interested in schools like Tufts, BC, Emory, Vanderbilt, which seem popular among peers. He also really loved visits to WashU and Duke (understandably).

I like some of the safeties being mentioned here and we will chose at least 4. I would appreciate feedback on whether his profile has a realistic shot at some of these more competitive schools. How do students get into these reaches or targets - does ED work? or do they typically end of in safeties? I looked at the acceptances over the past few years at his school and many seem like they have a "hook".

Just a minor point if you are adding suggestions from this list- I would not consider UMass Boston given what your child is looking at. Its sort of distant from the other college areas - sort of out of its own and not really in a residential neighborhood. Kind of separated from everything by the highway and roads. It is more of a commuter/suitcase school.

You should be okay, very normal to worry when waiting.

OP, yes your list was not wisely constructed. Btw I don’t agree Pitt is a safety with these stats.
I hope it works out. A good lesson for others - you would be best served to honestly assess what for you are reaches, targets, safeties. This list was not balanced in any way.

As another way to alleviate unproductive panic, look into the community college/branch campus routes into these schools.

UMD, UVA, Pitt, and Michigan have some paths to transfer in.

UMD - Montgomery CC
UVA - UVA Wise
Pitt - Pitt Johnstown
Michigan - University of Michigan Dearborn

Check on those before going crazy.

Also with everyone's suggestions here, Michigan State, Indiana, and Penn State are the closest flagship matches.

I would call Northeastern and let them know you're interested in their NU.in program. With those stats you won't get into the Boston campus. But a 1490 makes you very competitive for the fall semester abroad, then spring at Boston. Also, let BU know that you are interested in their spring admission program.

RD's are so tough at some of these schools because of the amount of students taken in the ED1 and ED2 rounds.

he'll probably get into one of those and if not he can get a gap year.

but it was really dumb to apply to places like UMD and Pitt so late.

if you have younger children, you need better strategy for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a list of colleges with late deadlines:

https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-late-application-deadlines-complete-list

Ideas from that list: the University of Arizona; the University of Iowa; the University of Kansas; and UMass Boston.

UMass Boston might scratch the Boston itch.

The others are great, fun, respected schools in wonderful college towns. People here know UMd. outranks them, but few people outside the DMV area know that.

I mean: ideas for safeties from that list. Try adding two.

Good advice

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a list of colleges with late deadlines:

https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-late-application-deadlines-complete-list

Ideas from that list: the University of Arizona; the University of Iowa; the University of Kansas; and UMass Boston.

UMass Boston might scratch the Boston itch.

The others are great, fun, respected schools in wonderful college towns. People here know UMd. outranks them, but few people outside the DMV area know that.

I mean: ideas for safeties from that list. Try adding two.

Here’s a list of colleges with late deadlines:

https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-late-application-deadlines-complete-list

Ideas from that list: the University of Arizona; the University of Iowa; the University of Kansas; and UMass Boston.

UMass Boston might scratch the Boston itch.

The others are great, fun, respected schools in wonderful college towns. People here know UMd. outranks them, but few people outside the DMV area know that.