@Happytimes2001, Not only our state, I think even the town (Newton) is over-represented. She has her top two/ three favorites but reality is she loves all of the schools she visited. Part of the problem is that schools that are slightly less competitive, are out of our price range and they won’t give us any FA. It’s not the matter of name recognition, than it’s affordability.
@Ccopii, Any advice, since you have walked this road as well? Just keep reading CC?
@GGNewton @YoungThriver I’m not sure exactly what you are asking advice for here… just general admissions stuff?
If I’m going to be honest, I don’t share too much in the public forum. If you want to hear more from me or get specific advice, feel free to PM… that’s what I do with most people.
What I will say, generally, is this. Despite what happens on M10, know much you’ve learned from the process. I don’t know about you, but I feel a connection to those who even take the initiative to apply. If M10 doesn’t go your way, (which statistically, it probably won’t) you need to take what you’ve learned and use it. Otherwise, you’ve simply wasted your time. And one more thing, the process is imperfect, yes, but its pretty damn good. Last year, I didn’t think I’d get in; I knew I would. When I got rejected, I made endless excuses ranging from the school clicking the wrong button to a global conspiracy. Now I know they did me a favor. I was not ready. What I’ve learned from doing this has put me ahead so many of my peers in numerous ways. I don’t think any of this needs to be said to you. But just know, in my eyes at the very least, there’s a certain amount of respect and admiration you are awarded just for wearing the Applicant name tag–don’t forget that.
Again, feel free to reach out at any time. Best of luck to both of you!
I was never asked by my Choate AO what other schools I was applying to! Is this a sign that she’s not interested in where I’m applying to because she already decided I wasn’t a good fit?
No, skieuroup said it doesn’t mean anything except for marketing etc. don’t read to it.
We weren’t asked by any AO where we were applying. We had very early interviews so I am guessing they assumed we didn’t know yet. I was asked by a coach after applications were turned in.
@GGNewton , sorry this has all become so stressful. I can only imagine how stressfulit must be to have an advisor whose advice is suspect.
As for being asked about other schools, sometimes the AO is trying to figure out what your decision process was and whether they were part of a thoughtful process (and whether you know what you’re looking for and whether they are it.) It’s less about "yielding their admitted students " than admitting the right students in the first place.
I think it’s easy when you are applying to see the whole system as out to get you, but honestly, everyone I know who has worked in BS admissions is super committed to young people and setting them up to succeed. A friend (AD) at an admittedly less competitive school (but still selective ) told me that what she loves most about her job is seeing "something " in a kid and then seeing them develop into it, especially when the spark wasn’t a blazing flame.
GSG, you are absolutely right. This is the right mindset as at this point, there isn’t anything that we can do except for wait and trust this system to find the right peg for the kid. I agree about what you said; almost everyone we met, were genuinely interested in the kid, not only that, they got her, and connected with her. She actually was having a blast going to interviews; meeting very intelligent adults that were very interested to know her and she was having a great time! ? We were looking at certain group of school; the schools without certain facility/activity were not in our list, we had a radious from home as limit as well. I really didn’t get bothered by them asking about where she was applying, (frankly every single school asked this question) up until the SAO application, which we again answered but felt awkward about it. Anyway, I’m going to let this system do its work; at best, she will go to one of these great schools, at very worst, she will still be sleeping at home and I will get to see her every night for few more years, while we are a step ahead, gone this path, getting familiar with admission process ahead of college applications. Also, after reading threads that skieurope mentioned, I decided not to declare a first choice school.
Sounds like you have a great kid with a memorable personality! That can only inure to your benefit. Wishing you the best.
Thank you very much. Xx