<p>To PTm (and others)–keep in mind what I keep reminding myself. It’s only January. We all have until May 1 to figure all of this out. JLR–“DS” is darling (or dear) son. “DD” would be darling/dear daughter. When my oldest went through this three years ago, he didn’t have a single application in until early January. Heard from the very first school late in January, but didn’t have all decisions/merid aid offers in for quite a while. After all the news was in, he narrowed it down to his top two choices and re-visited in early April. Made his decision then.</p>
<p>Yes, it’d be nice to have this all behind us (think of those lucky few who are in ED at a school they can afford with no aid!), but, really there’s a lot of time left. (And after the decision is f-i-n-a-l-l-y made, which it inevitably will be, whatever will we do with ourselves?? )</p>
<p>Very few students have the credentials to be accepted EVERYWHERE. Most students have the credentials to get in SOMEWHERE. Students can always ‘play it safe’ and apply only to schools where they know they are likely to be accepted. As their classmates with similar credentials get accepted to ‘reach’ schools will they look back and wish they had taken the chance? I’d prefer that my son not have to look back and wonder ‘what might have happened if’. And yes, being deferred/rejected hurts a little, but disappointment comes with this thing called ‘life’. Learning to deal with it is an education unto itself.</p>
<p>As to the folks in this thread experiencing deferrals/rejections with their children, it encourages me that your children are reaching for their dreams and not settling for an easy admit. This approach will serve them well throughout life. Sure, they’ll have to deal with some disappointments, but, they’ll also get to experience some real accomplishments. Try to comfort and support them when they get hurt, but, by all means let them know how PROUD you are that they TRIED!</p>
<p>I think it’s OK for kids to “let go” deferred EA colleges. S1 had a college on his list that sent the “we want first semester grades” and he rescinded his application and never looked back. It is easier to do if you have an acceptance or two and if the student is not really “invested in the college.” It also think it’s polite to take your application off the table if you have no intention of waiting it out.</p>
<p>While I stay positive in front of my daughter, the anxiety is actually weighing heavily. </p>
<p>The input available on this thread is exactly why I lurk on CC – it helps me to calm down, look at our situation in a more positive light and be grateful for the achievements thus far.</p>
<p>As MyLB reminded, I (like many others I assume) forget that an EA deferral doesn’t mean the process has ended; it’s been extended. The initial disappointment was so consuming that we didn’t stop to think that there was still hope through the RD review period. In fact, the deferral gave us the opportunity to submit strong first semester grades and some new accomplishements tied specifically to her major. We hope this presentation helps to strengthen her application.</p>
<p>Loring: Great point that those deferred should be proud to have “reached for their dreams.” I will likely use that line with my child as a pick-me-up.</p>
<p>Noone else has mentioned it, but for the lurker parents of future applicants, multiple EA deferrals could also mean that the student needs to have more realistic expectations. Be sure there are schools on the list where your student WILL be admitted, where he/she will be happy, and that YOU can afford.</p>
<p>OTOH – some schools do reject students in the EA round, so EA is not necessarily the kiss of death. Keep those grades up, send an additional recommendation if there is someone who can add <em>a new perspective</em> on your student, send mid-year updates with any awards or significant accomplishments.</p>
<p>I apologize for my ignorance, but I understand (I think) ED and SCEA, but I don’t understand what advantage EA is to the colleges, if people are allowed to apply EA to as many as they want?</p>
<p>I think the greater advantage is to the applicants. Get your paperwork in earlier; get a decision earlier. UVA is adding EA next year. I was told one reason is it’ll spread the work of the admissions officers out over a longer time period. I hear their lives are pretty miserable from January through March.</p>
<p>My guess is that there has been a huge increase in EA over the past couple of years and the colleges have too many to review in such little time that they have deferred more so as to really be able to give the applicant a chance. (at least I like to think this is the reason). I wish too that those that got acceptances to their safeties would let the schools know they are not interested as soon as possible. Yes, my DD did reach for some of the schools and because of a few bumps along the way the past year or so, it is not as easy to determine what would be an exact, realistic match. We shall see…</p>
<p>Some EA schools that offer merit will award it with or shortly after the acceptance. Showing the “love”. FA, though probably not until April. I think this helps keep the school in the kid’s mind.</p>
The first advantage is that it spreads out the reading season for the colleges so that they have fewer applications to read Jan-Mar. </p>
<p>The second reason is that they have a longer time to woo students. For example my younger son was accepted to U of Chicago last year. He really wasn’t sure that he wanted to go that far away. Chicago sent him a personalized holiday card that referred to one of his essays, a scarf, a collection of talks given at convocation about “Purpose of Education”, a calendar and a couple of more things. My son commented at one point that he knew why they were sending all this stuff, but it was still hard not to be swayed by it. Aside from the goodies they also made the educational piece extremely attractive and my son wavered between Tufts and Chicago until the very last day. I’m pretty sure that their marketing efforts had a positive effect on their yield, even if ultimately my son jumped the other way.</p>
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