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but GC had never heard of CC, QB, JBHE, Venture scholars or many of the other opportunities/resources presented to us.
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<p>I do not find it unusual, except for GCs from very selective high schools, for GCs not to have knowledge of CC, QB, JBHE, and other programs/sources of information. My DD's GC was very pleasant, but I recognize that she had a very large caseload of students and could not devote quality time to any one student. I can tell you that this is the case in many public High Schools throughout the country. </p>
<p>It is because of this that I count my lucky stars that I found CC. Needless to say that without CC, the admissions process that I just went through with DD would have been much more difficult than it was.</p>
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[quote]
I do not find it unusual, except for GCs from very selective high schools, for GCs not to have knowledge of CC, QB, JBHE, and other programs/sources of information. My DD's GC was very pleasant, but I recognize that she had a very large caseload of students and could not devote quality time to any one student. I can tell you that this is the case in many public High Schools throughout the country.
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<p>If that was my S situation, I would be more understanding but my S GC is the assistant dean of college counseling and has over 25 years experience. Not to mention only about 20 kids on ea conselors caseload. The school is a very well regarded independent school w/ a 100% 4 year college matriculation rate. I think that even for a counselor with a moderate caseload, it is hard to stay on top of all the programs and resources for various students. I have lobbied hard for the school to add CC and the other sites to their links.</p>
<p>Although one would have hoped a GC at a prep school would have heard of these programs and information sources, it is not that shocking. The colleges use things like Questbridge to bring in applicants who would not otherwise be on their radar. Students at selective prep schools apply to the elite colleges in huge numbers. The colleges are not looking to Q to help them find kids at, say, Exeter, but rather to find students from public schools that may never have considered, or never heard of, these top colleges.</p>
<p>For the same reasons, the elite colleges already have well established relationships with many many prep schools, and they do not have to beat the bushes in that of all arenas.</p>
<p>The elite colleges look to the prep schools, magnets, and publics in wealthy regions for many of their minority students because that is where they find large numbers who are academically qualified.</p>
<p>I do think it is important to realize that, as others have noted, the most selective private elite colleges have the highest graduation rates for African Americans. Yes, the coursework is challenging, and yes it can be overwhelming to enter such places without a strong academic background. However, they are selective enough that anyone who is admitted can get through. The colleges insure this by accepting only students who can do the work.</p>
<p>Students run into academic difficulty for a wide variety of reasons, not just poor preparation, and the AA grad rate is much lower at the flagship state universities than at the elite privates. Michigan 72%, UCLA 73, Berkeley 70, Penn State 66, UNC Chapel Hil 76. Virginia, which seems to be the flagship public with highest African American graduation rate, bucks the trend at 86, but even this puts it below two dozen elite private colleges and universities.</p>
<p>Just revivin' this thread -- how's everyone doing? We're psyched here. My D has finalized her list to 9 as follows:</p>
<p>Iowa State (EA)
U Mass Amherst (EA)
U MD College Park (EA)
Fordham (EA)
Loyola Marymount (EA)
University of Rochester (RD)
Brandeis (EA)
Washington U in St. Louis (RD)
Yale (RD)</p>
<p>She's received acceptances at Iowa State (full tuition merit) & Loyola Marymount (no word on merit yet!), and we're keeping our fingers crossed for the rest. </p>
<p>OK, so we know that Yale and Wash U are reaches, but no matter what happens, I'm proud of her. She increased her score by 150 points on the SAT (2040=710V/600M/730W) which hopefully allows her at least a snowball's chance in H-E-double- hockey-sticks of admission at her reaches. Paying for it? Well that's another story!</p>
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<p>Why do top schools only recruit AA's with wealth (middle-class and above) or a wealth of opportunities (going to an elite boarding school, etc.,)?<<</p>
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<p>Actually, I've found the opposite experience at our high school. Top performing AA students of low income/single parent socioeconomic level get into top schools with lots of financial aid and scholarships...AA students of wealth are lumped in the pool with other middle-class and above kids.</p>
<p>I would scrutinize the opportunities [or lack thereof] at U of Massachusetts-Amherst. That school has a severe deficit when it comes to monetary support from the legislature, and the university's administration's reputation is no better.</p>
<p>Alternatively, I know Black alumni who speak very well of their experience at Iowa State University. The academic support as well as the undergraduate placement office is effective. A friend and ISU graduate was hired by a Fortune 500 company in a great job straight out of college.</p>
<p>Congrats on the acceptances and the great SAT score.</p>
<p>If my D had your D's numbers, I'd be encourageing her to aim even higher. Columbia, UPenn, Dartmouth, NWestern Uchicago and Duke for pvt unis; UMich; NotreDame, BC and G'twn for Catholic unis; UNC - Chap Hill; Wm & Mary; Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams, Swatty, Haverford, Pomona and CMC for LACs. Not necessary those precise colleges/uni, but your D can certainly add a couple/few schs of that calaiber to her list.</p>
<p>Any updates? Most apps must be in by now. I'vre lost track of how many ended up feeling included here. I might try to put together a list here. What is the "buddy list" function, anyway?</p>
<p>There are two very smart Black girls in my son's graduating class (upper middle class suburb). The wealthy one got into Bown ED. The low income one is holding out for Harvard or Princeton.</p>
<p>I am new to this board and looking for experience from other parents. My S is a junior in the midst of SAT prep, amassing possible college ideas, etc. His grades are good (3.6) at a very competitive suburban high school with some honors classes. Board scores are going to be a problem--notoriously bad test taker (we are talking about hoping he breaks 1500!). Beautiful tenor voice that he has honed over years.</p>
<p>Singularly UNIMPRESSED with Morehouse (unjustified arrogance-who do they think they are??). He wants to stay on East Coast, preferably in/near a city with a good communications progam. Money not an issue. HBCU possiblities include Hampton. Also interested in Ithaca, Syracuse, BU Has any one had any experience with these schoo</p>
<p>I don't ever post, but this thread caught my interest. I just sent my daughter to UPenn as a member of the class od 2011. I found the process to be very interesting in that the private colleges seem to be a better fit for minorities than public universities. It definately depends on your situation. You have to be what they are looking for at that time. </p>
<p>I also recommend rigorous high school curriculums(IB, AP, Prep...). It makes a big difference in test scores, and being able to handle college course loads. D's SAT=780m, 680r, 650w. </p>
<p>Because of my D's situation(she is 15), applying to the right place at the right time was vital.</p>
<p>Triguena; I am curious about the Morehouse experience. It was perhaps reminiscent of my D's at Spelman, although it would be more fair to say, she was unimpressed, and me and H were like "who do they think they are?". For us it was because they didn't "sell it" like we had become accustomed to; "selling" was better exemplified at Emory the following day. There was no information session, just a tour by a student volunteer. They were receptive to an impromptu meeting with someone from the honors program. Could you say more about Moorehouse? Also, as a new poster I must warn you. Don't be dismayed by some of what you might read.</p>
<p>Amen to that AP/IB piece Bexline. Not much offered at my D's school and I think that's why her SAT1's were way better than her SAT 2's. How are things going with your D? I can see why schools would be looking for her! Can you expand on the private vs public thing?</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, my son was nominated for the Morehouse, but didn't pursue it because of the location.</p>
<p>However, another poster, several years ago, had a son who was accepted at Yale, who chose Morehouse over Yale. He posted follow ups for a while, all positive. If you search the archives, you will find it. It may be in the archives of the old CC, which is a different search engine.</p>
<p>Oh, okay. I was searching and couldn't find it. Did find some threads of interest though, so thanks anyway! (I was wondering what "nominated for the Morehouse" was..... ")</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, I got confused, as the Morehead is at UNC and I saw that you are in NC. It is an all inclusive scholarship for four years that includes summer internships and other percs.
Sorry!</p>
<p>No worries. I am familiar with the Morehead, although it is sadly out of my D's league. We are in N.Cal, but have family in and would consider North Carolina as well.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap in answer to your question about Morehouse: I agree with the comment that they didn't try to "sell" the school. We were at a huge college fair and every other school we approached treated my son with respect and answered his questions honestly but clearly with the goal of enticing him to get more information, apply, etc. All the Morehouse representative could say was "you gotta meet the miniumums." This was not unique to my son. He said it to the person in front of us and to the person behind us. Now how did he know that my son didn't have straight As and 2400 board scores?? I might add that my son is an extraordinarily articulate young man.</p>
<p>I talked to several Morehouse alums and the school is selling them some line about how hard it is to get into Morehouse and how high the standards are. Yeah, right. I did some digging and their average SAT (M and CR) was around 950-1000 and GPA around 3.0. Those are some minimums!</p>
<p>I've met some very impressive alumni of Morehouse, but I share the opinion that the college does not put extra effort into selling itself. It's my opinion that in a sense, Morehouse has not kept up with the times. Students and parents demand more from all private colleges but Morehouse expects applicants to stampede the doors, for no compelling reason. Morehouse has become self-selective and has lost some of its uniqueness.</p>