I think high schools do a disservice to the kids by promoting the idea that applying to other schools is taking someone’s spot.

Trophy hunting is in poor taste. But there’s no reason that all kids have to know all things by Nov 1. Based on what - one 90 minute tour and vague sense of “aura”? Those admitted student weekends are important.

In Yale’s podcast, they clearly state they have no quota for any high school. Some years they’ll take zero from feeder, some years 12 (per them). I’m sure the other HYPSM are the same. MIT took 12 from neighboring HS a couple years ago, up from 1-2. And then back down to a few the next year.

These schools take whomever they want. The kids aren’t in competition - here anyway. Stop adding intra-school pressure.

Depends on your DC. If Princeton is his/her dream school, then done. If not, then try HYMS. Most kids that were admitted to P and other HYMS, they chose HYMS over P.

Between Harvard and Princeton, 74% chose Harvard over Princeton when they were admitted to both schools. Princeton did not do well against other top schools based on real data.

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=princeton&with=Harvard+University.

I would apply to Harvard, Yale, and MIT regular decision. But that is me as I personally would get bored of a suburban school. If I were admitted to any combination of HYM then the admitted student weekends would be critical in making a final decision. Again, I am not ragging on Princeton just personal preference with campus environment. Stanford's campus sprawls a bit too much for me IMHO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can see why the better non-HYPSM schools do ED. The trophy hunting among the HYPSM SCEA students is hideous. Needing merit or comparing FA is one thing, but gathering acceptances when they have no intention of going there is pathetic. They are wrecking things for their classmates for the giggles. Sad.

This. It's just rude. At some point you just say, "sure I would enjoy having 2 Ivies to choose from as an admitted student but the nicer thing to do for my classmates is to go with my SCEA school." I mean, how bad can it be to have to settle for Princeton (or Yale, etc)? Financial aid aside.

No. I get it there’s a lot of bitterness concerning Ivy admissions. But everyone deserves the chance to compare options. SCEA takes away some of those options, just like ED. There’s no moral failing in high performing kids playing their hands. My kid isn’t competitive in this game, and I have no stake in it, but blaming kids for their options is wrong.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, unless will for certain get 100% FA at your SCEA you apply to T25s that offer full rides.

Which offer full rides?!

Several elite schools have need-aware merit-based full rides for kids who would otherwise be partial pay. Schools like Hopkins, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Wesleyan, USC, WUSL, Notre Dame.

Vanderbilt, Emory. Beyond top 25: Boston U, Boston College, UNC, UVA, UMD, etc.

At least some of these require that you submit your RD application by Nov 1 or Dec 1 to be considered for any merit scholarships
Boston College is November 1
USC is December 1

So there is no way to get into Princeton SCEA and then decide at that point to apply to these other schools to get a scholarship offer.

I don't know about the other schools on the above list.

I’m confused by this. I thought you could apply to private schools Regular Decision, even if you apply early. If that’s not true, we need to pull a few apps!

You are correct…you can apply RD anywhere and it doesn’t matter how early you submit your RD application.

Anonymous wrote:I can see why the better non-HYPSM schools do ED. The trophy hunting among the HYPSM SCEA students is hideous. Needing merit or comparing FA is one thing, but gathering acceptances when they have no intention of going there is pathetic. They are wrecking things for their classmates for the giggles. Sad.

This. It's just rude. At some point you just say, "sure I would enjoy having 2 Ivies to choose from as an admitted student but the nicer thing to do for my classmates is to go with my SCEA school." I mean, how bad can it be to have to settle for Princeton (or Yale, etc)? Financial aid aside.

I can see why the better non-HYPSM schools do ED. The trophy hunting among the HYPSM SCEA students is hideous. Needing merit or comparing FA is one thing, but gathering acceptances when they have no intention of going there is pathetic. They are wrecking things for their classmates for the giggles. Sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, unless will for certain get 100% FA at your SCEA you apply to T25s that offer full rides.

Which offer full rides?!

Several elite schools have need-aware merit-based full rides for kids who would otherwise be partial pay. Schools like Hopkins, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Wesleyan, USC, WUSL, Notre Dame.

Vanderbilt, Emory. Beyond top 25: Boston U, Boston College, UNC, UVA, UMD, etc.

At least some of these require that you submit your RD application by Nov 1 or Dec 1 to be considered for any merit scholarships
Boston College is November 1
USC is December 1

So there is no way to get into Princeton SCEA and then decide at that point to apply to these other schools to get a scholarship offer.

I don't know about the other schools on the above list.

I’m confused by this. I thought you could apply to private schools Regular Decision, even if you apply early. If that’s not true, we need to pull a few apps!

Mine was. She had a brief moment of wondering if she should have done a few RDs but she had known where she wanted to go for so long once it was in the bag she was relieved to be done with all the essays, waiting etc

Please let this be our question PLEASE

DONE … if my kid could scream that through the Internet they would.

Our school highly discourages throwing more apps at T7 schools. If you were looking at going for full rides at a T30-100, nobody would mind that.

Anonymous wrote:HSM, yes

Are you purposely leaving Y out of this list. Hilarious.

Mine will not be done. Would apply to a few more she finds really appealing and ideally would get into > 1 and visit on admitted student days before deciding.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, unless will for certain get 100% FA at your SCEA you apply to T25s that offer full rides.

Which offer full rides?!

Several elite schools have need-aware merit-based full rides for kids who would otherwise be partial pay. Schools like Hopkins, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Wesleyan, USC, WUSL, Notre Dame.

Vanderbilt, Emory. Beyond top 25: Boston U, Boston College, UNC, UVA, UMD, etc.

At least some of these require that you submit your RD application by Nov 1 or Dec 1 to be considered for any merit scholarships
Boston College is November 1
USC is December 1

So there is no way to get into Princeton SCEA and then decide at that point to apply to these other schools to get a scholarship offer.

I don't know about the other schools on the above list.

You're right. I misunderstood the question. But the point remains: We are all systems go on Merit, even if the SCEA school works out. Not going for any other non-merit schools, other than maybe Georgetown SFS.