Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main thing would do different is start college planning earlier. Some things even in middle school ( not in stressful way, but making sure they are ready to take more difficult classes). Load up on AP, they aren't as hard as you think. SAT prep and practice tests 12 -18 months before taking test can get kids that 1500+.

Would you start test prep summer after freshman year?

Absolutely not. Do it the summer after sophomore year. Take the SAT at the end of August, right before junior year. If you want to try again to add points, take it again the following August, after a shorter round of targeted prep that summer.

In our experience, the scores go up quite a bit with that year. Some of it is just an extra year of maturity/development.Also, for our DC, AP Lang probably helped a bit with verbal, and plus being more self-motivated to do efficient and targeted self-study (again, maturity).

Similar for us too. Our DD’s best sitting was June of Junior year. Much higher than summer before Junior year. The timing wasn’t great though. She finished AP testing and then buckled down on SATs. It was grueling but she got what she needed and then could relax and do her essay over the summer.

Choose an undersubscribed major. Seriously.

A lot of this comes down to class balancing. You can’t control most of the factors, but intended major is something that is completely up to you.

Just make sure the supplementals back it up with a coherent narrative. Do your research and find ways to connect your kids ECs to the chosen major.

The challenge is that it’s hard to know from school to school or year to year what’s yndetsubscribed. You’ll have to get a little granular there. Again, do your research on each school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main thing would do different is start college planning earlier. Some things even in middle school ( not in stressful way, but making sure they are ready to take more difficult classes). Load up on AP, they aren't as hard as you think. SAT prep and practice tests 12 -18 months before taking test can get kids that 1500+.

Would you start test prep summer after freshman year?

Absolutely not. Do it the summer after sophomore year. Take the SAT at the end of August, right before junior year. If you want to try again to add points, take it again the following August, after a shorter round of targeted prep that summer.

In our experience, the scores go up quite a bit with that year. Some of it is just an extra year of maturity/development.Also, for our DC, AP Lang probably helped a bit with verbal, and plus being more self-motivated to do efficient and targeted self-study (again, maturity).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double and triple check your targets or safeties don’t yield protect. Do your research on this. Strong applicants are getting deferred at some EA schools because schools are theorizing they won’t attend if admitted.

Sounds like a rationaization for a deferral.

My kid got into Stanford last week and has not been deferred at any EA safeties. I don’t think schools really yield protect if genuine interest is shown through thoughtful/personalized essays and some light demonstrated interest (if tracked).

DP: I say demonstrated interest counts even when schools don't officially track it. They are looking for evidence of campus visits in essays etc. My DC, who was accepted at multiple Ivies RD, was deferred (OOS) from Georgia Tech despite 4.0 UW from top private and a 1590 SAT.

DC pulled the app in late Jauary -- whichever reader decided that there was a low probability of yield was right -- so we'll never know what the ultimate decision might have been.

ED felt like more of a realistic chance than it was, even with full pay/all the needed stats etc.

Aka try not to put all emotional eggs into a single digit rejective shoot your shot ED and make sure to get strong EAs in before their deadlines. If kid doesn’t get in ED, you have acceptances in great schools your kid likes soon after the rejection.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Double and triple check your targets or safeties don’t yield protect. Do your research on this. Strong applicants are getting deferred at some EA schools because schools are theorizing they won’t attend if admitted.

Sounds like a rationaization for a deferral.

My kid got into Stanford last week and has not been deferred at any EA safeties. I don’t think schools really yield protect if genuine interest is shown through thoughtful/personalized essays and some light demonstrated interest (if tracked).

At our HS, seems like kids are taking the second pathway and having a lot of success with schools like Villanova, BC, BU. Couple of Michigan and UVA admits too.

Back in the day, students only used ED for the Ivy League.

I agree that you have to decide which ED angle you prefer:

Shoot your shot and deal with the possible (likely?) fallout of not getting, getting deferred, applying elsewhere, waiting, etc.

ED somewhere you have a strong chance but where ED will still give you a slight edge (but only do this if you are truly happy to go there and not see your other decisions come in.)

DD chose the 2nd type and is very happy to be done. But she had a clear first choice that she didn't waffle on.

Don't bother applying to UMichigan and UVA if you are OOS. Even if get in, will be full pay regardless of financial need.

ED for a stretch. Don't count on it at all.

Anonymous wrote:Main thing would do different is start college planning earlier. Some things even in middle school ( not in stressful way, but making sure they are ready to take more difficult classes). Load up on AP, they aren't as hard as you think. SAT prep and practice tests 12 -18 months before taking test can get kids that 1500+.

100% on SAT prep. My DS worked at it over about 14 months until he hit 1500+, about 200 points of improvement. The test can be figured out if you have a baseline ability and willingness to grind it out. 1 v 1 tutors work much better than group classes. Online tutoring saves time too.

Anonymous wrote:Double and triple check your targets or safeties don’t yield protect. Do your research on this. Strong applicants are getting deferred at some EA schools because schools are theorizing they won’t attend if admitted.

Sounds like a rationaization for a deferral.

Double and triple check your targets or safeties don’t yield protect. Do your research on this. Strong applicants are getting deferred at some EA schools because schools are theorizing they won’t attend if admitted.

Anonymous wrote:Don't ED to a school that is offering it for the first time like USC - Marshall and Michigan did this year. Not sure if others are looking to add or expand next year, but no need to be the test subject while they figure it out.

It will also be interesting to see the effects of Georgetown moving to Common App.

Good advice

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main thing would do different is start college planning earlier. Some things even in middle school ( not in stressful way, but making sure they are ready to take more difficult classes). Load up on AP, they aren't as hard as you think. SAT prep and practice tests 12 -18 months before taking test can get kids that 1500+.

Would you start test prep summer after freshman year?

Yes. Would start for PSAT with Princeton Review after freshman year.