Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I guess not "Big 3," but Potomac parent here with rising senior. Though kid has met with college counselor, parents have not and probably won't, considering requested emails to set up said meeting have been completely ignored. Clicked through to kid's Naviance and was horrified at the schools the counselor put in. Honestly, just can't face this process. Didn't really for older kids until late summer and all worked out fine. Not everybody is as intense and insane as DCUM would lead you to believe. In any event, OP, you now full well that your kid is a top applicant. Why do you need to come here with this question?

OP again. Thanks for this response. Actually, I am pretty sure (100 percent certain) that DC is NOT a top applicant (in the sense of the top 5 or even 10 kids in the class) who can be nearly certain that they will end up at a T10 school. The students who have strong records but are below this tier face more uncertainty than they have in the past. Even counselors seem limited in their ability to help forecast outcomes (perhaps bc they mostly only know what has gone on in their own schools).

Even though you were told to ignore advice from public school parents, here is mine since you asked. My DC is a rising senior in MCPS, with very rigorous course load, 1550 SAT and 3.9 uw gpa. DC is working with a private college counselor, and these are the schools on their list right now: Emory, UVA (reaches), W&M, Wake Forest (targets), possibly UNC (reach/target), UMD (safety). DC needs to add a couple of targets and safeties.

UNC accepts less than 10.5% out of state. I would not list that as a target for anyone.

University of Florida ownz UNC now. It's the top public flagship outside of UCLA/UCB/UMich and will only keep rising in stature as people pour into the state. I wouldn't be surprised if it's #1 within the next 5-10 the way Michigan and Cali are bleeding residents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

That is bad advice, though? Don’t apply to all of those because they’re completely different. But visit all those varieties to get a sense of what your kid wants.

Agree. Also, the only Ivies that have EA are SCEA, and you can't apply to other schools (except state schools) EA if doing one of those. The other Ivies and many LACs are ED. And, the Ivies would be a poor gamble with this GPA and EC level.

OP, if looking in NE, there are lots of great LAC options in PA, CT and NY: Wesleyan, Colgate, Hamilton on the more competitive end. Skidmore, Conn College in the middle. Juniata, Muhlenberg, maybe Bard as safeties.

Boston area has good uni options: BU, BC, Brandeis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I guess not "Big 3," but Potomac parent here with rising senior. Though kid has met with college counselor, parents have not and probably won't, considering requested emails to set up said meeting have been completely ignored. Clicked through to kid's Naviance and was horrified at the schools the counselor put in. Honestly, just can't face this process. Didn't really for older kids until late summer and all worked out fine. Not everybody is as intense and insane as DCUM would lead you to believe. In any event, OP, you now full well that your kid is a top applicant. Why do you need to come here with this question?

OP again. Thanks for this response. Actually, I am pretty sure (100 percent certain) that DC is NOT a top applicant (in the sense of the top 5 or even 10 kids in the class) who can be nearly certain that they will end up at a T10 school. The students who have strong records but are below this tier face more uncertainty than they have in the past. Even counselors seem limited in their ability to help forecast outcomes (perhaps bc they mostly only know what has gone on in their own schools).

Even though you were told to ignore advice from public school parents, here is mine since you asked. My DC is a rising senior in MCPS, with very rigorous course load, 1550 SAT and 3.9 uw gpa. DC is working with a private college counselor, and these are the schools on their list right now: Emory, UVA (reaches), W&M, Wake Forest (targets), possibly UNC (reach/target), UMD (safety). DC needs to add a couple of targets and safeties.

UNC accepts less than 10.5% out of state. I would not list that as a target for anyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I guess not "Big 3," but Potomac parent here with rising senior. Though kid has met with college counselor, parents have not and probably won't, considering requested emails to set up said meeting have been completely ignored. Clicked through to kid's Naviance and was horrified at the schools the counselor put in. Honestly, just can't face this process. Didn't really for older kids until late summer and all worked out fine. Not everybody is as intense and insane as DCUM would lead you to believe. In any event, OP, you now full well that your kid is a top applicant. Why do you need to come here with this question?

OP again. Thanks for this response. Actually, I am pretty sure (100 percent certain) that DC is NOT a top applicant (in the sense of the top 5 or even 10 kids in the class) who can be nearly certain that they will end up at a T10 school. The students who have strong records but are below this tier face more uncertainty than they have in the past. Even counselors seem limited in their ability to help forecast outcomes (perhaps bc they mostly only know what has gone on in their own schools).

Even though you were told to ignore advice from public school parents, here is mine since you asked. My DC is a rising senior in MCPS, with very rigorous course load, 1550 SAT and 3.9 uw gpa. DC is working with a private college counselor, and these are the schools on their list right now: Emory, UVA (reaches), W&M, Wake Forest (targets), possibly UNC (reach/target), UMD (safety). DC needs to add a couple of targets and safeties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

That is bad advice, though? Don’t apply to all of those because they’re completely different. But visit all those varieties to get a sense of what your kid wants.

I don't know. My older child really didin't know what they wanted so applied to a variety of schools similar to list above (minus the Ivies). In the end, had a small number of different options to choose from. Sometimes it's just really hard to know come application time. I think that list is interesting for those who still aren't sure.

That’s a little high and mighty of you. My kids went to a public school where they got mid 4 GPAs but there were no test retakes, nor did they take 15 APs. Pretty sure despite your disdain for public school kids and parents, everyone here knows that private school GPAs don’t tie to public in any way. We’re not stupid.

I'm confused....where is the disdain for public schools in the posts you are quoting?

I think PP was responsding to an earlier poster who talked about 15 APs in school district w permits retakes.

Yes it copied the wrong text, it was the post from the sidwell parent that you noted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

That is bad advice, though? Don’t apply to all of those because they’re completely different. But visit all those varieties to get a sense of what your kid wants.

I don't know. My older child really didin't know what they wanted so applied to a variety of schools similar to list above (minus the Ivies). In the end, had a small number of different options to choose from. Sometimes it's just really hard to know come application time. I think that list is interesting for those who still aren't sure.

That’s a little high and mighty of you. My kids went to a public school where they got mid 4 GPAs but there were no test retakes, nor did they take 15 APs. Pretty sure despite your disdain for public school kids and parents, everyone here knows that private school GPAs don’t tie to public in any way. We’re not stupid.

I'm confused....where is the disdain for public schools in the posts you are quoting?

I think PP was responsding to an earlier poster who talked about 15 APs in school district w permits retakes.

Anonymous wrote:

I guess not "Big 3," but Potomac parent here with rising senior. Though kid has met with college counselor, parents have not and probably won't, considering requested emails to set up said meeting have been completely ignored. Clicked through to kid's Naviance and was horrified at the schools the counselor put in. Honestly, just can't face this process. Didn't really for older kids until late summer and all worked out fine. Not everybody is as intense and insane as DCUM would lead you to believe. In any event, OP, you now full well that your kid is a top applicant. Why do you need to come here with this question?

OP again. Thanks for this response. Actually, I am pretty sure (100 percent certain) that DC is NOT a top applicant (in the sense of the top 5 or even 10 kids in the class) who can be nearly certain that they will end up at a T10 school. The students who have strong records but are below this tier face more uncertainty than they have in the past. Even counselors seem limited in their ability to help forecast outcomes (perhaps bc they mostly only know what has gone on in their own schools).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

That is bad advice, though? Don’t apply to all of those because they’re completely different. But visit all those varieties to get a sense of what your kid wants.

I don't know. My older child really didin't know what they wanted so applied to a variety of schools similar to list above (minus the Ivies). In the end, had a small number of different options to choose from. Sometimes it's just really hard to know come application time. I think that list is interesting for those who still aren't sure.

That’s a little high and mighty of you. My kids went to a public school where they got mid 4 GPAs but there were no test retakes, nor did they take 15 APs. Pretty sure despite your disdain for public school kids and parents, everyone here knows that private school GPAs don’t tie to public in any way. We’re not stupid.

I'm confused....where is the disdain for public schools in the posts you are quoting?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

That is bad advice, though? Don’t apply to all of those because they’re completely different. But visit all those varieties to get a sense of what your kid wants.

I don't know. My older child really didin't know what they wanted so applied to a variety of schools similar to list above (minus the Ivies). In the end, had a small number of different options to choose from. Sometimes it's just really hard to know come application time. I think that list is interesting for those who still aren't sure.

That’s a little high and mighty of you. My kids went to a public school where they got mid 4 GPAs but there were no test retakes, nor did they take 15 APs. Pretty sure despite your disdain for public school kids and parents, everyone here knows that private school GPAs don’t tie to public in any way. We’re not stupid.

Why don’t you look at the Instagram 2022 acceptances for your school, and you probably could apply to any of those schools your child likes.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would post on the independent school board. You are really looking at the opinions/knowledge of a very specific group of people (the parents of 2021, 2022, 2023 Big3 grads).
Also, it would help immensely to have some idea of what your child is looking for.

Sidwell parent here of very recent grad. agree with this ^^

Related, learn to filter out advice you get on DCUM from parents of excellent students in DMV public schools. It’s as if that is entirely separate track. Almost none of their maxims apply, especially at ultra grade-delfated Sidwell. To cite one example, a very close mom friend with teen in excellent public assured me that my kid should probably forget about certain top schools because 1. Kid didn’t make it to linear algebra and 2. Kid’s GPA wasn’t anywhere near a 4.0, let alone a 4.7 or whatever one gets when one takes 15 AP classes in a school district that allows test retakes.

It’s a different set of parameters- not better, not worse.

OP, college was a crapshoot for last year's seniors. If your kid doesn't have any hooks, I would focus on finding a few safeties (nothing in the T30 for example) that your kid really likes. Then let them apply to another 9 or so schools that they are interested in.

OP, you should take your kid up to Philadelpia and walk around Penn, Drexel, Temple, Swathmore and Haverford.

At another time, go walk the UMD, WVU, Penn State or UVA campuses to get a sense of "big school" feels.

The main questions are urban/suburban/rural and big/small, as well as geography: Mew England, Close to home, midwest, west, or south.

Once you answer those questions, developing a list is relatively easy. Don't get stuck on names, even with your kids record, they are not a shoe in anywhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

That is bad advice, though? Don’t apply to all of those because they’re completely different. But visit all those varieties to get a sense of what your kid wants.

I don't know. My older child really didin't know what they wanted so applied to a variety of schools similar to list above (minus the Ivies). In the end, had a small number of different options to choose from. Sometimes it's just really hard to know come application time. I think that list is interesting for those who still aren't sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
3 Ivies
2 In-State
2 other in DMV (apart from in-state)
5 OOS Public Flagship.
3 SLACs

EA for all.

NP. My junior can use this advice. Thank you!

Rising senior at one of these schools and kid’s CCO said that was too many applications. They recommend 3 safeties, 4 targets, 3 reaches. They say 12 should be max number of apps. My kid is building list still but got the sort of general feedback you seek from CCO already - if you haven’t, I would check in if I were you. And yes, kid had 3 individual CCO meetings already, which is a pretty standard schedule, I think.