Start the Common App in 9th grade...keep using it to add all the EC stats. You get into the habit of logging your accomplishment as well as have a fair sense where your application is weak.

Chart your courses for the entire HS journey beginning of 9th grade

Advanced Math actually starts from ES years. Don't wait for the school to enrich and accelerate. You can do it on your own by using Khan Academy.

College visits from 10th grade. Virtual is absolutely fine. Interview them.

No big deal. I had b/g twins go through the process. They were interested in different schools for different majors. Both applied to schools in which they were interested, ignored Naviance or school matching platforms. The schools they picked happened to be match/safeties. Both applied test optional and got into most of the schools they applied to with sizable merit aid. Neither talked about college selections or applications to friends, which I think helped reduce the stress. I oversaw the process to make sure they did not miss deadlines but overall was mostly hands off. I would not do anything differently. They are both happy with their choices.

I third the comment about UNC... no one from our school ever gets in, my kid wasn't gonna be the first so though she loved it, did not apply.

Repeating alot here but:

1. Take the SAT or ACT fall and spring junior year, then one more time in Sept senior year if you need it.

2. Have the common app essay DONE before senior year starts. I gave my kids an August 1st deadline and it was mostly done LOL. Supplemental essays for ED school were next and then others as needed. Applied ED by Oct 15th. Get an essay consultant to help ensure these are appropriate subjects and as polished as they can be.

3. Utilize ED, EA and rolling. Contrary to what someone posted here, no one seems to be doing well in RD and who wants to wait that long?

4.My kids did ED to an in state top choice (UVA) and had solid back ups with a safety or two, a reach or two and hopefully some matches. Before they heard about ED, my son was accepted to a safety liberal arts college with $36K per year merit award and my daughter was accepted to two schools that she would have happily attended (one was a match and one was a safety with $38K in merit per year).

5. Don't discount the importance of actual regular teenager jobs. My son is a golf cart attendant and my daughter is a pet sitter. They don't have to be doing an internship with NIH.


Honestly, this year was not stressful for us. I can't believe how stressed i was back in August with it all in front of us, but it worked out tremendously well with relatively little effort. Both kids into UVA ED in December and just focusing on enjoying their senior year.

Anonymous wrote:Love every school on the list. "Safety" means "lesser" to prestige hunters, so maybe cool it on that word.

Love this!

Also agree with the person who said "grades grades grades." My kid hit a couple of rough patches, and I think I would have gotten a tutor involved earlier if I could do it again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, unless you have close to perfect SATs/ACTs, avoid the big state schools entirely.

Why is that?

What? No.

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, unless you have close to perfect SATs/ACTs, avoid the big state schools entirely.

Why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a high stats kid how many matches/reaches would you suggest including if they’re applying to 10 schools total? (And by matches/reaches I mean BU/Colgate type schools, not ivies.)

For a true high stats kid I would 1) ensure first choice is done ED and 2) apply to more than 10, with the extras in the "high match/match" category.

Is 4.0 uw (with 9-11) APs total and 1540 SAT true high stats? School limits applications to 10.

Anonymous wrote:Best advice ever-
Stop looking at rankings
80% of students are applying to the same 20 schools regardless of fit, based on rank and reputation alone.
Make sure your kid is finding the right school and not just focused on attending a top school.

It might be good advice but your numbers are total crap. Stop making up fake numbers to make points.

Anonymous wrote:For a high stats kid how many matches/reaches would you suggest including if they’re applying to 10 schools total? (And by matches/reaches I mean BU/Colgate type schools, not ivies.)

For a true high stats kid I would 1) ensure first choice is done ED and 2) apply to more than 10, with the extras in the "high match/match" category.

For a high stats kid how many matches/reaches would you suggest including if they’re applying to 10 schools total? (And by matches/reaches I mean BU/Colgate type schools, not ivies.)

Don’t fill out FA at schools you don’t want your DC to attend. EA some reach schools.

Parent of a junior. A couple people mentioned only filling out financial aid for some schools. Maybe I am not remembering this right but I thought there was a box on the Common App to check if you are applying for FA. How do you do it for some schools and not others if the kid uses the Common App for multiple schools?

Best advice ever-
Stop looking at rankings
80% of students are applying to the same 20 schools regardless of fit, based on rank and reputation alone.
Make sure your kid is finding the right school and not just focused on attending a top school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, unless you have close to perfect SATs/ACTs, avoid the big state schools entirely.

Why is that?

Because many/most practice yield protection.

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, unless you have close to perfect SATs/ACTs, avoid the big state schools entirely.

Why is that?

Anonymous wrote:More safeties on the list. Really have a good reason for applying to a reach. Write it at least draft essays over the summer. Listen to your kid and let them listen to their gut. My DD loved VCU from the very first time we visited Richmond and saw it by accident. She loved the arts/science kind of dual emphasis. Then she applied a million other places... and is now probably going to choose VCU. Sometimes (at least for her) her initial gut response was the right one. Good luck, OP

Agree with this part. It is all about safeties, from now on - especially if the schools stay test optional (which is BS, BTW).