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</p>
<p>I disagree on that one. I didn’t do very well on my PSAT, so I took the ACT instead and rocked that test (33 composite.)</p>
<p>
Given the fact that my daughter was accepted at 4 “reach” colleges where her SATs/ACT were near or below the 25% mark, I think the above statements simply reflect a misunderstanding of the competitive admissions process. The reality is that there isn’t a college in the country as competitive (in terms of “chances”) as some of the auditions my daughter attended as a child. </p>
<p>Yes, we are all freaked out about it, but a 1:10 or 1:5 chance is far from impossible. Out in the real world, the employment market is often going to be far more competitive – it will be rare that the kid applies for a good job where there are only 5 or 10 other applicants. To assume from the fact that you or your kid didn’t “win” based on “stats” is rather egocentric – i.e., "my kid didn’t get in, therefore he must have been rejected due to low test scores, therefore it is waste of time for people in his score range to apply.</p>
<p>No matter what the “stats”, in competitive admissions the student has to grab attention and shine in some way – and even doing so does not guarantee a spot. It’s not because the kid never had a chance, it’s just that someone else got the spot. And one can safely assume that unless the stats are very low, some of the accepted students had lower stats than the students who were turned away.</p>
<ol>
<li> The college application process is frustrating and anxiety-ridden, but don’t allow it to overwhelm your lives. Parents, take these last few months before they leave home to savor every minute with your child. Find the good in them, compliment them (sincerely, of course) and simply shower them with love. Let them know that you have not lost sight of what truly matters. The memories will serve them well as they adjust to college life.</li>
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<ol>
<li>If you apply to a LOT of reaches, chances are likely that you’re going to get into one of them</li>
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<p>^^^ Maybe. Maybe not. If you get 9 heads in a row, it doesn’t increase your chances of getting tails on the 10th toss. Each event is separate and doesn’t have anything to do with the others.</p>
<p>Remember that each student is different, and that what applies to one person/family may not apply to yours.</p>
<p>I say that because I disagree with some of the “advice” given here. For example, like Calmom pointed out, kids do get into reach schools, even some with low numbers (especially if they followed curm’s advice). And as for financial aid – some schools do meet 100% of need, so why not apply? There are many stories on CC about kids who get the money they need and so can go to the expensive school – in fact, say that the expensive school ends up being cheaper for them than the less-expensive state school. </p>
<p>I think some schools require SAT subject tests even when submitting the ACT, so be careful about #50. As for #36 – the idea that kids need help – that was a hotly debated topic on CC recently, and many parents feel that their kids can and should do this on their own. And #71 (if you don’t have a hook get one now) – hooks aren’t something easily obtained. They are often something worked hard for over many years (like athletic or music talent), or something you’re born with (legacy), or something you have no control over (geographic location).</p>
<p>And I’ll also add – remember to have fun in high school. You are not in high school with the only goal of getting into a good or prestigious college. Take classes you enjoy, find time to hang out with friends, etc.</p>
<h1>? If your child says that s/he does not want to go to a college smaller than his/her high school, don’t waste your time visiting small LAC’s even if they seem like a great fit otherwise.</h1>
<h1>? If your child dislikes the student tour guide, s/he is almost certain not to include the school among his/her favorites. (The converse is also true but to a somewhat lesser extent.)</h1>
<p>WashDad, you are going to need to change the title of this to 1001 Things I Wish I’d Known Before the College Search </p>
<p>89.“Optional” essays are only optional if you don’t want to go to that school.</p>
<ol>
<li>If you travel to a school and don’t take the tour, at least sign in at admissions. You never know if that school tracks interest. (This does not pertain to Ivy’s, I don’t think they care, but some schools a notch below, do, alot sometimes)</li>
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<p>– Don’t let your college visit be over after the tour. That’s almost as bad as having somebody else decide on your college for you. Instead, hang out with students, in the cafeteria, in the student center, even in class-- every time a prospie comes to visit one of my classes, people who are not me are the first to pounce on him or her with the “So, do you have any questions for us?”</p>
<p>If you’re shy about approaching somebody directly, pretend you’re lost and use that as a way to throw yourself into conversation with a current student.</p>
<p>For students:
Take a look at the common app during the summer before your Senior. Year. Work on a draft of the essay. You will end up with a more thoughtful end result than if you wait until the chaotic Fall of your Senior Year.
For parents:
When you find yourself wishing the process to be over, remember that it will be over. And then they leave. Savor the process and your child.</p>
<p>On a more practical note…</p>
<p>If you have many out of state visits and/or require multiple visits for things like auditions, try to stick with one popular hotel chain and sign up for their rewards programs. Many of the larger schools actually have hotels on campus. For our last audition, we had a free room from all of the previously earned points.</p>
<p>Number ??</p>
<p>Better yet (re post 90), look at the Common App early in high school to see what sort of categories of activities are likely to be listed, but then follow your heart. You don’t have to fill out every chart completely!</p>
<p>Check how each college treats special considerations: medical, learning accommodations, dietary. Most claim to handle these, but implementation, and the availability of facilities and support, varies.</p>
<p>Best thing that S2 did was get a very low-key, boring job the summer before senior year in HS. There was nothing else to do but write his essay!</p>
<h1>50 says you don’t need to take the SAT. You will need to take SAT II Subject tests for a lot of schools. But no school will make you take the SAT.</h1>
<ol>
<li><p>Putting your name and social security number on the Common Application does not mean its mostly done.</p></li>
<li><p>Unlike other suggestions ot the contrary, try to stay away from child and attempt to merely be an observer to the process and make hints or remarks to child as opposed to suggestions or other demands not well received.</p></li>
<li><p>Know that the SAT Subj test report to the schools comes with SAT scores – so beware if you had a bad SAT day.</p></li>
<li><p>Take 3 SAT subj tests and prepare to take them before May of the senior year.</p></li>
<li><p>If financially possible VISIT any school put on your short list.</p></li>
<li><p>Read the “Brag about your lesser known school” thread on CC to find names of numerous valuable colleges – many of which would stump most any average college counselor.</p></li>
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<p>
</p>
<p>Qualifiers:</p>
<p>75(a) This is true if and only if (1) you are a National Merit Finalist and (2) you would consider attending one of the few schools with really big NMF awards.</p>
<p>75(b) Nice merit awards (many better than the typical $2500 NMF) are widely available, often calculated on the basis of SAT scores and GPA.</p>
<p>75(c) For admission purposes, PSAT is pretty much ignored.</p>
<p>If you and your child start to bang heads about getting things done, and you find yourself hovering and your child is getting annoyed, agree with your child that you will check in only once a week to see what they’ve accomplished and what’s on the agenda for the following week.</p>
<p>These are great tips! Good to hear the voices of experience…</p>
<p>Especially like that ‘agree to check in once a week on progress idea…!’</p>
<ol>
<li>It’s a myth that at highly selective schools, an extraordinary arts supplement can make up for a mediocre academic record. At highly selective schools, the most important components of an application are grades, rigor of curriculum, and standardized test scores. Only after you get past the threshold with those elements will other components --including talent in the fine arts – come into play. In fact, we learned this year that at some schools, many arts supplement, including some that might be extraordinary, are not even sent to the appropriate faculty for review because the rest of the application didn’t meet the academic threshold. So yes, for selective colleges it is great to showcase exceptional artistic ability, but (unless you’re already a well-known celebrity) it will not compensate for poor test scores, grades, etc.</li>
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