Hello everyone, thank you in advance for replying to this. I posted a similar thread a while ago, but now the problem is slightly more complex. My parents (specifically my dad, god knows why) are really pushing me to apply ED to Scripps (most likely because they think it’s the best college I’ll get into). I am, to a greater extent, mostly fine with that decision, and I would have no worries getting deferred or rejected, because hey! more choices for me. However, my parents believe that I will get accepted, and that’s what I’m so scared about. I don’t know if I can spend 4 years in a place that although I think is very nice, I don’t necessarily “love”. Here’s where the problem gets worse. If I do not get accepted ED1 to Scripps(i.e. deferred or rejected), my parents want me to ED2 CMC (Claremont McKenna). I wouldn’t mind if I wasn’t accepted to my ED1 because I will get into some schools RD. I interviewed with CMC a couple weeks ago, and to say the very least: I shot myself in the foot. I did so unbelievably bad (this was my first college interview) and I told my parents that it went “ok”. I do not like CMC at all. They have a nice campus and nice programs, but I don’t think it’s suited to my taste. My dad (I can’t negotiate with him, it’s like talking to a brick wall.) keeps telling me to apply there ED 2, even though I want to go to Scripps so much more than CMC. The fact that my dad is pushing these things onto me is horrible. I know he means the best, but his persistence that I have to apply there is making want to drop ED all together and just apply EA and RD.
To a give a brief rundown of my academics: 3.75 UW/4.1W (bad sophomore year) 3.59 UW UC/3.95 UC/4.14 uncapped UC, 2210 SAT (680CR/800M/730W/10E) with superscore of 2220 (exact same math and writing, but 690 CR). 770 on both SAT 2 Chem and Math 2. Taking the ACT in Sept, retaking both subject tests in October, along with SAT in November (for the sake of RD). AP Chinese I got a 5, I am waiting on AP Chem, APUSH, APLAC. Next year I will be taking AP Calc AB (most likely switching to BC), AP Gov, AP Macroecon, AP Physics 1, AP Lit. Intended major: Chem/undeclared depending on school.
I know Scripps and CMC are both really good schools, but I feel like my parents have lost hope in me. Do they think I won’t get into any other good schools? Do they think that I’ll get squeezed out of the Claremont system if I apply Regular? Can someone please give me advice for what I should do for my admissions process? Thanks so much!
Paragraphs are good for reading. You should look into that.
What schools do you really want to attend? If you did as badly as you think at CMC it sounds like you will be going to RD schools (barring the Scripps admission). And you don’t need to absolutely Love your school. It’s four years of your life. You can then do whatever the heck you want.
@“Erin’s Dad” sorry, some formatting problems got in the way, but I fixed it. Also, I would like to go a school with a bigger student body (my high school currently has 2300+ something students) and I feel more comfortable in those environments. I had basically all of the UCs as my RDs and a couple OOS stuff (NYU, CMU, University of Washington, etc.). My dad doesn’t like that too much (too much competition for resources, I get it.), so that’s why he prefers that I stay in a small environment like the LACs.
–What are your favorite schools on the list?
–What do you want to major in?
–Are you sure you can afford these schools, especially out-of-state publics?
@Dunboyne my major is the very last thing in the second paragraph. My parents don’t mind paying for any school. And our income bracket is too high to receive any form of financial aid.
@Dunboyne I really would not like to apply anywhere ED because of the whole binding aspect of it, but I am totally fine with applying EA. I do have some dream schools I want to apply to (but I have little to no shot of getting in) but I am applying RD just to get my test scores up first.
You may be in somewhat of a bind since your parents are paying the bill. That being said, CMC may be a bit of a reach for you since they had a very low admission rate this year. Less than 10 percent.
Now that being said:
The Claremonts are a five campus system so even though the schools look small, they technically are not. Students take classes across campuses, and some of the schools actually allow you to take off campus majors. If the size is really something that is bothering you just keep that in the back of your mind.
It does sounds like you would be OK with Scripps but really not OK with McKenna. When my son and I did the tours he had a bad reaction to McKenna as well and has decided not to apply. It was really not a fit for him. He loves Pomona and Mudd, however. The schools are really different! In reality, if you really think you wont be happy at McKenna, why not put that in one of your essays for ED and let the committee know that you are applying not because you want to, but because you have to. Then they can reject you and you will be free to continue to RD. You can also contact them after you have submitted your paperwork and talk to someone in admissions and let them know. I am not a person who normally says that you should lie to your parents, but if you truly think this is a bad fit and you really don’t want to go there let the school know and let them be the bad guy. Just an idea.
@LKnomad wow… i didn’t know that you could do that thing with the application. I toured all the campuses bar Mudd (because although it’s my favorite school, I can’t get in in a million years.). I don’t want to offend my parents, because yes, they are paying. I won’t mind getting into Scripps, because I can always transfer and it’s not a bad school. I hope I did bad enough on my interview to get me rejected (I actually cannot believe I am saying this)…
@michelle426, I don’t think you have to worry - if you don’t get into Scripps ED, it’s doubtful you’d get into CMC EDII which is an even more difficult admit. But you shouldn’t apply anywhere ED if you’re not sure you’d like to attend.
@SpiritManager I’m trying to tell my dad that… he hates the UCs and believes I have no chance of getting in. Scripps would definitely be considered a choice for me, but not necessarily my final destination.
@michelle426 These schools don’t want to admit people who won’t be happy on their campuses. There is nothing wrong with being honest with a simple phone call and letting them know. My guess is that the adcom would be very understanding and someone else who really wants to go could take your potential spot. Just ask them to reject you rather than withdraw the application - if that is possible.
My son really really didn’t like the vibe at CMC so I really understand where you are coming from. He told me as we left the info session he would be miserable here. Too much emphasis on leadership. Not his thing.
Also why not apply to Mudd? There is a higher acceptance rate for females. They have more male applicants and are looking to make sure they have a balanced class. Your scores are in the range. We were there on Friday taking the tour. The admissions officer said that they glance at stats for a few seconds just to make sure that they show you can do the work, then they look at fit. They want to see a good liberal arts background as well as STEM. If you look at their common data set the admissions rate seems low BUT the acceptance rate for women is 23%!
Seriously - I think that if you are going to do an ED you might want to do Mudd. Really.
Michelle426, if your parents are paying and they insist on you obeying, then you aren’t going to have any choices and this is just venting. However, you can perhaps negotiate some slack: 1) If your mother is likely to be more supportive of your reservations and you think she can be an effective advocate, ask her to talk to your father about allowing you to apply regular decision to ALL your schools. That way, you and they can see what the full range of options is before making a decision together. 2) Use data: Get the Common Data Set, Section C data for admitted students at Scripps, CMC and other LACs that might be interesting to you. Show how your stats match up against those students. If you can demonstrate that your stats would make you attractive to several schools - and have good safeties - perhaps they will let you apply RD.
LKnomad, I know you mean well suggesting that OP go behind her father’s back and sabotage her application. But I think this is not an appropriate suggestion to a 17-18 year old. If her health or safety were at stake, then maybe. But we are talking about colleges - most kids have no choice at all and they manage to ‘bloom where planted.’ I’m sure OP will do the same.
That said, if you do get into Scripps or CMC, you would be part of the Claremont Consortium, which means you have access to the resources of all 5 schools and the level of personal attention that goes with being at a LAC. With any luck, you’ll be able to study abroad for at least one semester. It’s a great opportunity assuming you are admitted.
You still have a few months to work on your parents. Research and develop a new list with EA options that you love. Do not waste your time or any college’s time with an ED app that is not right for you.
Caving in to your father’s plan is flimsy. Stand up for yourself. This is your college experience. Sure, your father is paying for college, but don’t allow him to pay for your unhappiness. There’s no value in that.
When I was entering grade five, I needed some new sneakers, so my mother came home with these hideous orange ankle-huggers and made me wear them to school the first day. I was so embarrassed. The next day, after school, I stuffed them down a sewer and told my mother they disappeared from the cloakroom. I think she was on to me, but you get the point: free stuff that you don’t enjoy often ends up in a waste treatment facility.
If you really don’t want to be bound to any school, don’t ED anywhere. If you focus on your GPA and get it north of 3.80, with your SAT, you have a good chance at a solid UC. You don’t need to get desperate.
On the other hand, you could hunt for a school that you’re able to truly fall in love with, that you have a reasonable shot at, and ED there. What “dream schools” were you talking about earlier? Harvey Mudd and which others? ED-ing to an overly reachy dream school can be ill-advised, but it’s a better plan than ED-ing to a school that you’re already planning your escape from!
You’re applying to NYU/CMU, too, so I assume the old man doesn’t have an issue with you heading out-of-state. Do you think you might have overlooked a school where an ED is possible? Or does the concept of ED just not appeal to you?
This sounds like a situation with the potential to turn out very badly. I think the last thing either you or your father would want is for you to resent him for sending you to a school you hate. This would only serve to strain your relationship. If you were to ED to any school, ED to Mudd, a school it sounds like you love and that your father should approve of (since he seems to like Scripps and CMC). I think, more than anything, he’s scared about the budget crisis within the UC system while also not wanting to “lose” you to a school as far away as NYC- just a hunch.
Talk to him about applying ED to Mudd. You never know, and you have good enough stats, IMO, to have a shot.
I think ED should only be used when there is one clear cut fist choice school. It should be a place that if you get in you will be thrilled and never look back. If you use ED simply as an admission ploy to slightly increase your chance at a school you are not 100% sure you want to attend that would be a mistake because you might always be wondering where else you could have got into that would be preferable to where you are committed to attend.
If you would be thrilled to go to Scripps and want to apply ED, that is fine. If not, it is time to talk to your parents.
First off, if you aren’t in love with a school you shouldn’t be doing ED. However, I think you realize that—it’s your father that need to understand that. So assuming you can’t get out of it…(hopefully, you can with ore discussion), why not ED1 to Harvey Mudd and then ED2 Scripps. You mentioned HMC is your favorite and that Scripps is acceptable. (Personally, I love both but I’m a little biased—my daughter is at Scripps, and my son will be at Harvey Mudd)
You stated:
Why not? Here are the stats for this year’s admitted class. Your stats fall in the range (especially with 800 in Math!)
Standardized Tests (Middle 50%):
SAT Critical Reading: 690-790 SAT Math: 740-800 SAT Writing: 690-780 SAT Math II: 760-800
Yes, it’s a reach for anyone because of it’s low acceptance rate, but it’s not like your stats are going to keep you out.
If you have some decent EC’s (you don’t mention any in your post), you could have a chance. See if your father will accept this as a possibility.
@ClaremontMom I did consider applying to Mudd ED1 and Scripps ED2, but my parents don’t think I can make it in. Two boys at my school, one got into UChicago and the other MIT, didn’t make it into HMC. My parents were like, well if they can’t make it, you sure can’t. My GPA is lower and so are my test scores, and literally the only upside I have is that I’m a girl. I’m not even in the top 25% of my class because I lost my grades to a depression in my sophomore year. I’ll try to talk to my dad about applying there, but I definitely need to bring up my subject test scores first.
SAT Critical Reading: 690-790