<p>Do you personally believe that it is worth it to apply to schools you don't believe you can get in?
What if the application fees are too high?
Or their are a lot of essays?
What if it was free but there were a lot of essays?
Would you apply?
I'm just curious as to what other people think. :)
and I hope everyone's college apps go well! Good Luck!</p>
<ol>
<li> It’s worth it to apply just to have the chance, as long as you’re not riding everything on that one college. First apply to the safeties and then apply.</li>
<li> Most fees are about the same. 50-100.</li>
<li> If you’re really bogged down, then don’t apply. Apply to those you really want to.</li>
<li> Same as question 3.</li>
</ol>
<p>Put five $50 bills in the center of a barbecue grill and ask yourself, is it worth it setting these on fire, just to say I did it? Because that’s essentially what you’re doing. Worse yet, it’s probably not even your money, it’s your parents. So why don’t you go work for a week or so, cash your paycheck, and set the bills on fire? Then get back to me and tell me it was all worth it.</p>
<p>If you want to waste your time writing essays and submitting a free app, that’s entirely up to you. But please don’t waste your parent’s money by applying to schools you have no realistic chance to get in.</p>
<p>Hey, I guess I should have said this earlier. I’m just wondering about your opinions. I don’t plan on doing this. (Btw, I am personally, as in not my parents the money I got from working, paying for all college admission stuff)<br>
The reason I posted this is because this topic came up in class and it seemed like a 40-60 split. 60 percent people saying not worth it. And I just wanted to know more opinions.</p>
<p>Let’s put it this way: I didn’t think it was worth it when my kids were applying to college. (I didn’t apply to any college where I didn’t think I had at least as good a shot as the rest of the applicant pool.)</p>
<p>And I’d encourage that 40% to think the matter through a little further. Suppose that by some fluke you do get into Stanford or MIT, where you really don’t belong, and go there and you’re in class every day with people who can more or less eat you for lunch. How’s that going to play out?</p>
<p>“You don’t think you can get in”</p>
<p>does this mean you think the odds are slim or that you have absolutely no hope of getting in?</p>
<p>Yea, I think it is worth it, especially if it’s free to apply to, what’s the worst they can do tell you no? A lot of people say my chances of getting into UCLA are slim, but I’m still applying anyway. I have a lot of backups, so I’m not worried if I don’t get into UCLA. I come from a disadvantage background, so I get a lot of fee waivers.
Idk, I’m a risk taker, so I’m going for it.</p>
<p>I have fee waivers as well and I’m going for it. I have 2 back-ups so I’m set just in case. I would rather know I didn’t get in than wonder for the rest of my life</p>
<p>Especially if you have fee waivers and the time it’s a free roll of the die. It’s always good to have feedback and options.</p>
<p>I’m with Sikorsky. Why aim for a school where you will be near the bottom in terms of academic accomplishment or ability? Doesn’t sound fun to me. </p>
<p>Aim for a school where you will fit in and be happy.</p>
<p>I think that would depend on what “don’t believe you can get into” means. If I am wildly outside of their application requirements, then no, it doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>But if you’re borderline or only slightly below their admissions stats, then I might.</p>
<p>And I’d encourage that 40% to think the matter through a little further. Suppose that by some fluke you do get into Stanford or MIT, where you really don’t belong, and go there and you’re in class every day with people who can more or less eat you for lunch. How’s that going to play out?</p>
<p>Generally students who get admitted to these schools do very well because they get a lot of support. It’s just like lower-income students who get admitted with lower stats: they graduate at the same rates as their upper-income peers at these schools because of the support that they get there. If a student gets into Stanford or MIT, they likely DO belong there - as the school could make up entire classes just from valedictorians or 2400s if they wanted to.</p>
<p>We’re also assuming that HS grades are a perfect reflection of accomplishment and ability, when they are not.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>But then the premise of the question, at least as I interpreted it, doesn’t really apply.</p>
<p>It really depends if we’re talking a run-off-the-mill 2.8 student with no AP’s applying to MIT, or a student from a low-performing school where typically no one goes farther than the local directional but who’s the best in his/her class applying to a top-ranked school…
In the first case it’s really “barbecue your money” but in the second case it’s worth it.</p>
<p>You should talk to your guidance counselor and use Naviance to determine how much of a reach you’re facing. If it’s a complete pipe dream with no chance of getting besides divine intervention… toss the app. If, however, you are a reasonable candidate AND if you focus the majority of your attention on your realistic schools, I think it’s fine to toss in a Hail Mary.</p>
<p>Another scenario might be if your parents really want you to apply to a reach school. It has been my personal experience that family harmony is worth a few hours of essay writing.</p>
<p>I am doing the same thing! I am applying to many schools, some that I don’t have a great chance of getting in to, but I like taking risks. I wish you the best of luck! Btw I am also applying to UCLA!</p>
<p>I like the idea of high reach…i’ve tried to encourage my kids to go for it…my feeling is better to be rejected by certain colleges than never try at all. And who’s to say that something won’t work out? A kid at our school last year got into Duke…and nobody, including the kid,…thought that would happen in a million years.</p>
<p>its just interesting how everyone views this.
@Edgarm116 and @eruditefire even if you have fee waivers, you still have to pay to send your scores right?</p>
<p>^ Well I got to send 8 scores for free and the schools where included. I would pay 20$ at most for another 2 schools I’m thinking of applying to</p>
<p>I think this thread reveals why the admission rate is 6% at some of the Ivies.</p>
<p>Well qualified candidates, please note - 6% admission rate does not mean your personal chance to get in is 6%. This is not PowerBall.</p>
<p>@elvisthepup. I don’t know. Either way I guess. (In case you missed it : I’m not talking about me, it’s just a general question) </p>
<p>@mrmom62: it does kindof. But I don’t think that it would increase much.</p>