<p>The Common App website states that schools can NOT see what other schools you have applied to. I am taking them at their word, but standing by to be proven wrong when carolyn discovers the Real Truth. ;)</p>
<p>I truly doubt that use of the common app vs the school app matters to these schools. They have data entry clerks doing summaries, their "index card" systems (ala interesteddad) rating each app on certain key factors and "summarizing the kid". I can't imagine that they're going to have which format and whether on paper or electronic as an issue that rises to the level of consideration in their actual decisions. I'm thinking (guessing) that the obsessing about fonts, margins, paper vs. electronic etc. is going on only on this side of the table. (within reason, of course; one needs to print out the commonapp (or any app) and see how it "reads" as well as looking carefully at how it "reads" on the screen to make sure it is easy on the eye and emphasizes what you want it to emphasize).</p>
<p>Thanks Jmmom. Three of the schools on my daughter's list require the common application, and she's thinking of using it for the other schools as well. To show that she's not just filing applications randomly, she's planning to use the essays on each college's own application (they are different from the common application ones). I wouldn't have known it was possible to "customize" the common application like this if you hadn't let me know Jmmom, so I thank you for that.</p>
<p>as for too much info, I don't think that is possible when it comes to</p>
<p>-merit aid
-info on great regional schools for matches or safe bets
-athletic recruiting</p>
<p>All of these issues can be very difficult to research. Here a poster you "know" can give you the skinny on a trip report, for example-- and it's practically as good as going your self.</p>
I don't think that you can assume that students who drop out of public institutions are "unhappy" -- there are many other reasons students drop out, and statistics do not tell you what happens to those students later on. The demographics at a public university are different - so overall you may have a higher percentage of students who are married or have children, students who are military reservists, students who are employed or place high value on employment and career opportunities. A part time or summer job may turn into full time work with an offer from an employer that the student is unwilling to turn down. Public universities also tend to be far more flexible and make it easier for students to follow an on-again, off-again route to graduation - precisely for the reasons that they are serving their demographic. My guess is that the vast majority of pubic university "dropouts" have left college for financial or family reasons, with the "financial" not always referring to negative pressures.</p>
<p>Having worked in the business of looking at these issues, we considered that students who had the GPA to continue, but did not, were not the same as those who were failing. Surveys of those students often found many reasons impacting their decision, with most being economic. Often these students were quite happy with their experience and often pursued higher education elsewhere, often attending more than one school.</p>
<p>Loved Gladwell's article from New Yorker, thanks for the link. On the bright side of HYP Jewish quotas from 20s thru 50s (at least) we have an excellent school that probably would not have existed otherwise, Brandeis. Makes you wonder about the institutional memory/history of places that claim to be "bastions of liberalism"</p>
<p>Emerald posted :"D wasn't actualy targeted for many top schools however, mostly obscure Oregon or Idaho schools.
Interestingly, Reed has been noted on other boards as a prolific mailer, but we didn't receive anything from them until I requested something.
I have no idea what list we are on, or not on."</p>
<p>the list you're on depends on the information your daughter gives while taking the PSATs. there are optional questions like : " do you want colleges that match the info you give (religion, private, athetic region e.t.c i don't remember) send you some information about their school.</p>
<p>The broader you answered these questions the more schools you'll get ads/scams from and the narrower/ stricter you make this (my friend specified schools in NY only), the fewer colleges you'll get info from.</p>
<p>I 've been getting loads of mail since 10th grade ( i get them every day except sundays) ivys except HYP (they're too cool to send me mail lol), duke, emory, williams, wellesley e.t.c even though i'm 90% sure i can't get into any of these schools. I still can't figure out why i get them. maybe because i'm URM and very low income ~25k and they just want me to apply to boost their low admission rates.
$100k a year is wicked rich to someone like me. and i can't get over the fact that some consider it middle class income.
But then w/o those mails, i won't have a clue about anyother school except my state school or even know about this REALLY HELPFUL site.</p>
<p>YOU GUYS ARE REALLY HELPFUL. and i can't stress that fact enough.</p>