<p>This is a terrific thread of very interesting article links on the college admissions process. If anyone knows of other links, please add them. Navigating</a> College Admissions: A Series Overview : NPR
This link is to an NPR series on navigating the college admissions process, which includes the above-reference quirky essay article.</p>
<p>This is interesting–LACs that advertise meeting 100% of financial need if admitted don’t add that they won’t admit you if you have financial need (unless you are at the very very top academically). Too late I learned about need-blind vs need-aware admissions. So if you are brilliant, they will give you $ if you need it, and if you are not the brightest kid in the pot but have no or little financial need, they will admit you over smarter but poored kids. And most of these places will entice the standouts, need or no, with merit scholarships. In summary, these places want brilliant and/or wealthy–and are using deceptive advertising when they talk about ‘meeting financial need’. </p>
<p>So the very-smart-but-not-brilliant poorer kids go to in-state publics, and maybe the Honors College at said in-state publics. </p>
<p>When all is said and done, one’s life and future success do not require attendance at a top-tier LAC, nor will they be ruined by going to an in-state public.</p>