<p>bburson … I am not sure, it might turn into another “disagreement” if not an argument. The thing is, Harvard has a supplemental essay - which worries me. But thanks for the feedback parents. :)</p>
<p>A counselor friend suggests that parents can pick 2-3 colleges that the student applies to if the student is allowed to do the same. This seems like a reasonable compromise.</p>
<p>You should apply, but just not pay the application fees! That’s a great idea!</p>
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<p>I sometimes buy an article of clothing that’s a tad too small for me, with the hopes of losing 5 pounds and having it fit perfectly! HA! </p>
<p>(I’d go ahead and let him apply to the uber reach schools.)</p>
<p>I think I’d encourage the kid to swing for the fences – we are getting down to the deadline wires and you may not end up paying all six fees just because the student may get exhausted. Tell him that you will pay – and have him come get the card when he’s ready to hit “submit.” Ask him to leave his last choices to finish at the end. Both of our guys had a couple colleges fall off the list at the end. </p>
<p>Actually, I’d encourage you to do two more things. Make sure he finishes an application for a good fit, not such a stretch school (I am not that keen on the term “safety” because it can end up being thought of as “loser” – not fair to the many wonderful schools out there!). Anyway, he certainly needs a strong plan in case all the big bumper sticker schools poop out. </p>
<p>Secondly, please do take a moment and let this great kid know how thrilled you are that he is in your life. He is a strong student and that Eagle is a significant accomplishment. Please make sure he knows how amazed you are that he’s such a great kid. That kind of language is often felt by parents but not always expressed and now is a really good time for him to hear that you think he’s awesome – no matter what school colors he’s wearing next fall.</p>
<p>For Putturani,
If your parents can afford the $75, why not toss your hat in the ring? I know, I know. It is more than $75. It is an essay and other work at a time when you have tons to do. But it sounds like you have some strong assets and could be a contender. </p>
<p>In fact, you are in a perfect place. You are willing to consider H (or other selective schools) but you are aware that there are many terrific options available that might be better priced or better aligned with what you value. You are ready to be a careful shopper (rather a refreshing change from the desperate “pick me!” sorts we see so often here at CC). </p>
<p>The classic advice used to be apply to 3 schools: one reach, one fit, one safety. Now we seem to have expanded to “Three categories” with multiple applications in each – but it is still worthwhile to try for a reach if the grades and SAT scores are in the general ballpark. I wouldn’t advise a 3.0 student to spend money on a Harvard app (sigh. Why always Harvard? Dartmouth and Cornell are so much more charming!) – but the strong students should certainly pick at least one reach school and “give it a go.”</p>
<p>Thank you Olymom, we have a good relationship and I like to think he knows how much I respect his accomplishments, but this can probably never be under-expressed.</p>
<p>His best friend is a Frosh at Stanford and is doing really well, except in one class where the young man actually passed over 2 classes. He was also at 25 percentile in standardized test, though he earned 800 on the Sat II, thus the skipping which is now problematic.</p>
<p>I agree that it is all about the fit, but I’d rather wait until he is accepted to fly him all around. We are CA residents, and UCSC would be lovely for him, a complete “safety”; Davis is highly likely, UCLA a reach, but reachable I think. I’d just like to add some private schools to the mix, and don’t know of many applied physics programs other than the hugely competitive ones. He has fallen in love with just about all the schools he has visited, Yale, JHU, UMD, USC, and UCLA-- I think he is just really happy at the idea of moving out and moving on.</p>
<p>Dang, this is so hard. thanks to everyone! I will let him swing for fences, or at least several of them!</p>
<p>Unless he’s got some unmentioned hook, most of those schools are unrealistically high reaches. I would encourage your S to reduce the number of high reaches, so that he can spend more effort on the essays for the schools he applies to.</p>
<p>Thank you Olymom, what you call my refreshing lack of "pick me"mentality is what has been bothering me for weeks because I percieve it as some sort of apathy. So thank you for putting my mind at rest. I was (and still am, tbh) getting so worried that I don’t have a “top-choice” and that I will probably be pretty much happy wherever I end up. Anyway, sorry bburson for hijacking your thread!</p>