AA Male Chances at Selective Schools

Parents Forum
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<p>madville, I'm coming in late to this thread, but would like to add some comments. </p>

<p>First, I’m not clear on your financial situation. Will your family qualify for need based aid? If yes, then your son’s list can be as wide as you like. If, on the other hand, he will require MERIT aid, then you’ll need narrow that list down NOW to schools that offer it.</p>

<p>Second, I agree that your son will be a person of interest to all U.S. colleges. Of course this doesn’t mean guaranteed acceptance but there’s nothing in his background that would keep him out of the most selective colleges, and plenty that would get him IN. He should be concentrating on what he wants, not on where he would get accepted. Have a good safety or two and go for the gold. </p>

<p>This is doubly true for the more remotely located LACs like Bowdoin, Middlebury, Grinnell, Hamilton and even those that are the most selective like Amherst and Williams. These schools are competing for bright accomplished URMs like your son and it’s a buyers market.</p>

<p>Third, FIT is everything – social, academic, geographical, political, etc, etc. I went to Michigan a mega-sized (but academically excellent university) and didn’t fit. I had a so-so experience. My son went to a small LAC, Williams, and had an off the charts good experience. From this the last thing I want to do is generalize. On the contrary personalize! Your son needs to find the fit that’s best for him.</p>

<p>Over a four year career you take 32- 40 classes, 24-30 if you spend junior year abroad. If you have wide interests, about a half will be in your major, so unless you’re going for an obscure field (The culture and language of Tonga) or are already at a graduate level in Math or Physics, you won't run out of stimulus, even at a small school.</p>

<p>That was certainly my son’s experience. He could have filled up his course schedule for another 4 years or even 8! and still not take all the fascinating and challenging courses that his LAC offered, both in his majors and in unrelated electives. </p>

<p>We live in Indonesia, a country that few Americans know much about and few colleges recognize as being influential or important on the world stage. My son was amazed at the depth of experience among the faculty at his LAC: several were experts in the culture, language and politics of our host country and they went out of their way to meet with my son to discuss his life experience as an expat. Similarly, the more academically “popular” countries like China, Japan or India offered wide and deep choice of courses offerings, even at this small LAC.</p>

<p>I’m a fan of seeking UP to the college with the most intellectually challenging environment you can get into. Many smart highschoolers think they are ready for graduate school level courses, but get a shocking wakeup call when their first year papers are roundly criticized. (There are a couple of threads to this effect going on right now.) If you choose a college that is academically rigorous you will be swept along by the intellectual maelstrom; if you choose a college where you are the biggest intellectual fish, you may outgrow the pond.</p>

<p>I the real issue here is not the size of the course catalog but the intellectual rigor. Some colleges just demand more of their students than others – this goes for large universities and small LACs and I think the continued CHALLENGE is what keeps kids engaged for four years.</p>

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<p>I agree with all the comments above. But I doubt you'd find the intellectual environment at any LAC (including my alma mater) any more invigorating than a really good honors college at a good flagship in the first year (other than in wealth, the student bodies in terms of GPAs and SATs etc. will look identical, except those at the honors college would have had less of the advantages of wealth to get them there), and I am downright positive that - in the subjects your son mentions - he would find the intellectual atmosphere in East Asian studies far more invigorating at Wisconsin than at any LAC that I know of, and in Arabic, at several dozen fine universities public and private.</p>

<p>(If he were looking to major in English, or economics, or political science or some such, I would probably put forward a much different view.)</p>

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<p>the thing about the East Asian Studies program at Wesleyan is that while it may be smaller than Harvard's, it's woven throughout the curriculum in ways that a larger university would never think of -- nor have to. There are courses in the religion department, courses in dance and music, courses in film; there's a theme house. He'd be getting a well-rounded education (almost in spite of himself) AND have access to one of the most unique educational experiences in America.</p>

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<p>Well S has completed Questbridge app and has applied "ED" to several schools including an Ivy or two thanks to your prodding, lol! It's a lightweight stressful process just because of the uncertainty of one, getting in and two, affordability.( We have no misgivings of how supremely competent/deserving the other applicants are.) S feels, as well as his advisors, that of the schools listed, although they vary in many different areas, he would be able to adjust and do well because of his personal traits. We are continuing to look into visiting as many schools as possible, and that, we believe, will help him get a much better idea of where he could see himself should the opportunity present itself. Once again, many thanks for all the valuable input and words of encouragement.</p>

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<p>Just as many of you have forcasted, it looks as if from at least the interest point of view, S is getting some additional consideration from some other schools. In addition to Middlebury, he has been extended an offer to visit Macalester, and after submitting his transcript, things are looking promising for Bates. A special thanks to the Macalester adcoms, who after a glitch in his initial application to visit Macalester, still facilitated his visit weeks after their initial list was set. While being able to visit is one thing and acceptance and matriculation another, we are encouraged by the early interest from these highly regarded schools. Thanks to all the CC community for their suggestions, encouragement, and insights.</p>

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<p>Great news madville. You must be so proud of him. He must be thrilled too.</p>

<p>Keep us posted. We'd be happy to weigh in on the choices as they crystallize. Don't forget to prompt him to keep thinking about his major areas of academic interest.</p>

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<p>Update:</p>

<p>DS has been accepted to in no particular order, Swarthmore, The Ohio State University Scholars Program, Rice, Vanderbilt, Denison, and Middlebury.</p>

<p>He was waitlisted at Washington University. Still awaiting a few more heavy hitters, but he's not ungrateful, just waiting to see how the FA plays out. Just as many had predicted, he would have some nice options. Not meaning to gloat, but it is a very exciting time and quite frankly, a little more than we expected.(I wasn't as optimistic as some CC parents, but now I understand!) We had read how competitive this group of hopefuls would be and were advised by his GC that many schools that had been very accomodating were rejecting more promising students lately. It is such a relief to have great affordable options. The rest is on DS. Regardless of what transpires with the other schools he is waiting to hear from, we feel extremely fortunate and really blessed. Once again thank you CC!</p>

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<p>madville, thanks so much for the update, and congratulations to your son! He has such wonderful choices. If you have any questions about Swarthmore in particular, please ask. My son graduated in June, and he happens to be "home" on break from grad school this week.</p>

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<p>Congratulations! Thanks for the update. Best to you and your S as you await financial aid packages, and await his decisions.</p>

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<p>Congratulations! He has great options.</p>

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<p>Congratulations. I'm glad you revived the original thread, because it is fun to look back on the thinking aloud process as the application list was put together. Best wishes to your son for choosing his "keeper" from that fine list of catches.</p>

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<p>Another update:</p>

<p>DS made the cut with Amherst and Williams and wasn't so fortunate with Stanford. Well you can't win them all, and you certainly can't go to them all, but he wishes he could, lol! By the time the dust settles next week, he should better be able to compare packages. While the acceptances are nice, we're looking forward to seeing where he is most likely to find the optimum situation. Still waiting to hear from a few more believe it or not, but so far the potential suitors are looking great for him.</p>

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<p>Madville,</p>

<p>Such wonderful news!! Congrats on the amazing acceptances. Once the FA comes in, there are really going to be some tough decisions to make (but the joy of having such great choices).</p>

<p>I am going to pay forward the advice that was given to me, when the acceptances came through and I got scared about the money; If they can get in, the money will come. </p>

<p>Your son has been accepted to some amazing schools that have committed to provide an affordable education for middle class families. It has been a long night and you are on the brink of dawn for the joy that is coming in the morning.</p>

<p>So hold on a little while longer, as it's gonna be all right!</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for the continued support and encouragement everyone! I have been so very blessed to have children who have been very fortunate to be in these enviable positions. One last update, I promise, lol! DS just text me that he has been accepted to UVA as well. As Ice Cube says in one of his old school songs, "today was a good day!"</p>

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<p>Final tally:</p>

<p>Acceptances; Amherst, Williams, Middlebury, Denison, Bates, The Ohio State University, UVA, Rice, Vanderbilt, Emory, Swarthmore.</p>

<p>Waitlisted, Washington University</p>

<p>Rejected, Princeton, Yale, Stanford. </p>

<p>Now he visits, compares offers, and makes a choice. Extremely fortunate to have the choices he has. It's especially humbling in light of the other CC'ers who weren't able to make the cut at their dream schools. Once again, thanks to entire CC community, and by the end of the month, he should have made his decision.</p>

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<p>Madville,</p>

<p>Is your S planning to visit Williams? My S was also accepted to Williams and UVA. He is trying to find time to visit Williams.</p>

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<p>College admissions are tough! He applied and was waitlisted for the accepted students visiting days at Williams! Have to look into what plan B is for students waitlisted for the visit. Right now the plan is Amherst, who scheduled their visiting days on the same dates( very sly) and will fill the void. As of now there are several favorites. S will ultimately choose where he "feels", (sounds so cliche' ish) best at. Is nice to have several outstanding choices. Harder to see them all in 3 weeks!</p>

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<p>My S is also seeking the best "fit". My Husband and I are praying that what S feels is the best "fit" is the place God would have him attend. At the moment S says he likes all the schools to which he was accepted.</p>