Tufts is a reach for anyone. It really cares about fit and will accept students with less than perfect grades if they bring enough other stuff to the table.
Thanks, yes, I know. I think he is a fit for Tufts. Still deciding, though.
Bringing up this thread again. Anyone think a Yale application would be foolish? Or in the ballpark?
@ucbalumnus @roycroftmom @intparent @mathmom @marvin100 @TheGreyKing @gallentjill @compmom
Thanks.
I don’t think any school is foolish for the 2-3 reaches I assume he’ll be applying to. As long as he is aware of the odds and you are both prepared for him to not get in, I don’t see any issue with it. He has perfectly fine stats.
I agree with @intparent , and I think it’s appropriate to have a good array of reaches.
I think your son is a reasonable applicant for Yale. There’s nothing in his profile that would keep him out and a lot that would make him a person of interest. His “second” EC (after music) will be important too.
If he’s seriously interested in Yale, then he needs to make some hard decisions regarding SCEA, EDI and EDII. Yale says that there’s no admission advantage to applying SCEA, but I think the perception of advantage is hard to negate. A SCEA application would preclude EDI, and if he were to be deferred into the RD round, then EDII would be questionable too. It’s a complicated decision, emotional as well as strategic.
My son applied ED and was admitted to Williams. He pondered applying early to Yale, but ultimately his comfort level with Williams’ culture and environment rose to the top. He had a great experience there. Although his area of interest was in the visual arts, not music, my impression is that any committed arts involvement is a major boost at Williams, especially under ED. They have to populate all of those ensembles! Williams doesn’t have minors, but double majoring is fairly common, and performance opportunities are widely available for non-majors as well.
My son’s other top choices were Hamilton, Kenyon, and Wesleyan. At the time Skidmore and Conn College were safeties, but now I’d consider them more in the lower match range.
Brantly, I forget if anyone has discussed your son doing an arts supplement. His percussion training and skill will be a big plus, especially along with his academic record and stats. I really think his music will make a big difference in admissions. As you probably know, a supplement would include a recording (audio or video), a music resume, concert programs or media articles, and one or two letters of recommendation from teacher(s) or director.
Has he visited Yale and met with the music dept? Would he study with a grad student or professor? Would he be playing in NYC as well?
Your son is a strong applicant and Yale is a possibility. There is absolutely no reason not to apply!
The more challenging question is whether to add Yale to the RD list or to apply SCEA.
The biggest problem with Yale SCEA is that you lose the ED1 opportunity somewhere else, and ED is more likely to confer a larger advantage at one of your son’s LACs. But if Yale is his favorite and he always would wonder “what if,” then he should apply to Yale SCEA or to everywhere RD including Yale. Some of his favorite LACs have ED2, so he could consider that as well should he be deferred or rejected from Yale SCEA. (If he interviews well, if I do not recall incorrectly, I believe Yale offers that option?)
Your kiddo is a strong applicant, but IMO it’s little top heavy. Is he sure of those safeties? Might he consider another safety or match?
As long as your kid has two safeties he likes, I have no problem with lists that are top heavy. I don’t think either of my kids had anything that you could really call a match school - and that was fine because they could have been perfectly happy with their safety schools. I agree with whoever said that he should send in an arts supplement. I can’t remember if you said what else your son brings to the table. My younger son’s best friend attended Yale. He played bass in the string orchestra, and the jazz orchestra and electric bass in a garage band. Summers he taught at a music camp and he volunteered at Hebrew School. And he’s just a nice fun kid. He loved Yale. He’s currently trying to make a go of it in music.
In this day and age, I’ve encouraged students to be SURE a safety is a guaranteed admission- either apply rolling or to a school with a guarantee with certain stats. Don’t want to hear about another andison situation (for us old cc’ers, that was a case of a super strong student getting in nowhere because the expected safeties weren’t, and probably thought he was overqualified so denied him).
We have this debate often, but for schools that consider interest, showing sincere interest is important. I think with sufficient interest, a school can be a safety without guaranteed admission. I do agree an early rolling or EA admission takes a LOT of pressure off. And 2 safeties are a very good idea.
If your son does choose to apply to Yale SCEA, I highly recommend finding another safety that is either rolling admission or a public institution. Those are exceptions to the SCEA restriction and in case he gets rejected or deferred from Yale, it takes some stress away for him to have at least one acceptance. It is very hard to be waiting until March/April when friends have EA decisions in hand.
Also, regarding Ithaca - they have an Honors College and your son would likely get accepted there. I think that would make it feel like more of an academic fit for him if his reaches/matches did not pan out.
Thanks, all. Yes, he has prepared an arts supplement. His private teacher helped him. Common app and supp essays are 98% done. It’s now just a matter of deciding to ED, or not to ED, that is the question …
@ Brantley. As a Yale music parent, I always recommend it to really top kids who want lots of music opportunities but not a performance major. While SCEA isn’t necessarily a big advantage, if it’s a first choice, I say any advantage is helpful. If you have a strong ED school, then obviously you have to make a tough choice. Make sure all the supplemental essays are strong, submit the music supplement, and be hopeful. As long as you have matches and safeties as well, no harm in trying.