EMERGENCY- College Selection Dilemma! Please help!

College Search & Selection
21

<p>Rather than think about strategy (we can go on for very long on that one), you need to think about what's right for you. Unfortunately, your GC and WashU have conflicting interests at stake that go against with yours-- your GC wants you to get into a high-ranked school so she can brag about it and use it as an asset in next year's group, WashU wants you to apply to them and only them. </p>

<p>WashU is a wonderful school, your GC thinks you can get into a higher-ranked one. Do you want the higher ranked ones, or do you want WashU?</p>

22

<p>Go with your gut. Don't go with prestige.</p>

<p>If WashU and Yale were equally prestigious (assume this in your mind), which would you go to?</p>

23

<p>Ok, I'm leaning heavily toward WashU right now.</p>

<p>Before I finalize my decision though, I have another question: Is my accomplishment in journalism a significant enough hook to schools like Yale?</p>

24

<p>Hooks for an ivy league school are things like Olympic athlete. I think you and your family would be extremely happy if you chose WashU and you shouldn't worry about pleasing your counselor who, as unalove points out, probably has an agenda of his/her own.</p>

25

<p>Bill Bank: If you are thinking about going on to grad school, I would definitely take advantage of the free tuition at Wash U and use the savings (or what your parents are now willing to pay towards Yale or UPenn) for an MBA. Better yet, do the five year program at Wash U.</p>

<p>S1 was accepted at some ivies as well as Wash U (Scholar acceptance into their law school program). If Wash U had offered us the financial aid that the ivies did, I would have pushed very hard for Wash U. For us, the ivy he chose was cheaper and closer.</p>

<p>We live in VA and Wash U is very well known and respected on the east coast. S2 is also applying there in addition to ivies and other engineering schools. It is a good school, try to go beyond the "ivy" label.</p>

<p>I have to echo others' posts; like 99.9% of applicants, you are not a shoe-in at any school. Your writing and related awards may push you in or they may not. The thing about Wash U is that they care very much about interest shown. Applying RD (when they are aware of your free tuition situation) will not earn you any points. If you are accepted ED, it sounds like you will be happy, if you are deferred, then see what happens with your choices in the RD round.</p>