Highly Disappointed and Confused

College Search & Selection
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<p>Xiggi, awesome advice, as always. </p>

<p>As the parent of a kid who gapped by choice and got all she wanted out of it and more, I enthusiastically endorse gapping…but with several cautions. First and foremost, your daughter has to love the idea. It takes a certain personality–she needs to have enough self-confidence, love of independence and initiative to get through a year doing her own thing while her buds are all enjoying the freshman experience. A year is a long time in the life of a young person. </p>

<p>Second, I’m so glad UT84321 said “give her $10K” to support her gap year, as the notion a gapper will be able to save a bunch of money for college is unrealistic, except for the minority who can live at home and land an incredible job. As exceptional as our children seem to us, especially when we’ve been viewing them through “college admission” goggles, to prospective employers, they are simply kids with a HS diploma and little to no job experience. In this economy, your HS grad may find it surprisingly challenging to get a decent job if you live where there are a number of unemployed young adults, including college grads, and/or current college students. In our town, there’s a surplus of them competing for every entry level position right down to grocery sacking and fast food counter help. If she goes this route, she needs to start looking now, before the summer break!</p>

<p>Third, and similarly, if she wants to explore service opportunities, she needs to be putting in apps now. A lot of college grads who can’t get a job on graduation are flocking to the various service corps and volunteerism.</p>

<p>Fourth, and finally, if she gaps to go through the admission cycle next year, she needs to factor in the time and emotion involved. Is she up for injecting that into her gap year plans? Logistically, if her gap plans take her away from home, she will need to have computer and phone access, a means to communicate with rec letter writers, her HS GC and colleges, a reliable mailing address to receive mail, etc.</p>

<p>Like I said, gapping can be great. But I don’t think it’s a solution for everyone, and careful planning is essential to making it a successful experience.</p>

<p>Good luck, OP.</p>

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<p>TXArtemis, I never would have though of all that practical advice. Thanks for that.</p>

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<p>I’ve heard good things about Truman State in Missouri, and it is inexpensive. With its late deadline, this might be a good option.</p>

<p>Our guidance counselors suggest that each student apply to two safety schools. I wish this a universal guideline.</p>

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<p>Those two safety schools should also be schools that the students would WANT to attend. They should not be acting as “backups.” That would be the worst case.</p>

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<p>I agree with the gap year idea. Take a gap year off, maybe take some general education classes/basic level classes at a community college and reapply somewhere?</p>

<p>and yes, I second the Truman State idea. It’s a fantastic public school and a great place to spend one year until you decide where you want to go! Plus there’s no application fee so it can’t hurt to apply?</p>

46

<p>I’m looking through the lists right now of schools still accepting applications:</p>

<p>New College of Florida is accepting applications through June 15th. Ask anyone on CC, that is a fantastic option!</p>

<p>Also, gotta put a plug in for Clemson, they are still taking applications through May 1st if there is still room (ask them about that before you apply)</p>

<p>I’d definitely apply for New College though (seems like you like LAC’s so that would be perfect)</p>

<p>I’ll make another post if I find more schools!</p>

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<p>also found that the University Of Pittsburgh takes applications on a rolling basis so contact them too and see if they have any more open spots. </p>

<p>Based on the 4 schools I mentioned, I would say:

  1. New College Of Florida
  2. Truman State
  3. Pittsburgh
  4. Clemson</p>
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<p>So far she has contacted both Bowdoin and Middlebury about the wait lists and has told them she’s take any kind of entrance opportunities. Her HS Principle is making calls himself to tell them what an impressive student he is but he has left three messages and they aren’t returning his calls. She’s writing a nice letter about why she wants to go - thanks for the advice on what to put in it. And she’s looking up all the options that you all are sending to us - thank you for all the advice. Unfortunately this week she is committed to 12 hours at school before the musical that she’s participating in and then it’s right into AP Exams and then on to prom so I think there will be no breathing until Mid May for her. The pace that she has been keeping all through HS keeping her grades up and participating in all these activities is crazy. A gap year may be her best options should the wait lists not come through just so she can get a bit grounded. But I do appreciate the other school options of good schools - she’s been so busy in school she has had little time to research college options.</p>

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<p>I haven’t read the whole thread but wanted to comment that some of the top schools are not interested as much in kids with high grades and scores, and “resume-packing” EC’s, as they are the kid with a certain talent, or other individual quality that they can bring to campus that adds to the general mix on campus. In other words, top colleges (and others) are looking to build the class, and admissions reflects their desire to have a diverse and interesting group as a whole. That’s why it can be such a dicey business for students who have worked hard in high school and would seem to have done everything “right.”</p>

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<p>I think the other nice thing about Truman State is that I think under certain parameters, admission is automatic. She can fill out the application in about 1/2 hour. There is no application fee. She can reuse the Common App essay. </p>

<p><a href=“Admission | Truman State University”>http://admissions.truman.edu/apply/Application.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Some of the other ones that Pierre mentioned are just as easy.</p>

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<p>Why didn’t you applied for more?
I applied to 10+</p>

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<p>^^Unhelpful comment. The point is not that the OP’s daughter didn’t apply to enough colleges. The problem is that all but one were highly selective reaches for all applicants and admissions offers didn’t come through. If someone applies to 2 safeties, 2 matches and a reach, that’s plenty in most cases, unless you’re going on a merit hunt.</p>

<p>Anyway, good luck to the OP and your daughter. She sounds like a great kid.</p>

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<p>

This is not very good advice for somebody whose number one choice was Dartmouth. I agree that the OP’s main problem was no matches, but I also think that the results might have been better if there had been more reaches–after all, she was waitlisted at both Middlebury and Bowdoin. There are more similar schools in that league, and some just a little less selective, that might have been good choices. This is also why I think I would suggest the gap year, unless one of the waitlists comes through.</p>

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<p>People can apply to as many colleges as they want to. I still think that in most cases there’s no need to apply to 10+ colleges if you do your research and really know what you want–unless you enjoy applying to colleges and have money to burn. What struck me was the assumption that if you apply to fewer than 10, that’s somehow worthy of criticism.</p>

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<p>Agreed.</p>

<p>Older D applied to 5; older S applied to 3; younger S applied to 7; and younger D applied to 7 as a freshman applicant, and 6 as a sophomore transfer.</p>

<p>Research is important, and casting a wide net over a variety of colleges.</p>

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<p>@tomhenry – You clearly are open to the suggestions you are receiving so far. A few of us are concerned about financing your daughter’s education at one of these schools.</p>

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<p>Does this mean you would need financial aid from Dartmouth, Middlebury or Bowdoin in order for your daughter to attend? If so do you have reason to believe that the award you will be given will be enough? I don’t mean to pry but this board is a great resource for other colleges that you could afford if the need based aid you can expect from one of the above schools wouldn’t be enough.</p>

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<p>I also recommend the gap year option. </p>

<p>I was rejected by all my reach schools last admissions cycle, took a gap year to travel and work at a non-profit charity, took care of little logistical things I didn’t have time to do during the school year, picked up a few hobbies, and re-applied. I got in this year. It works if you utilize your gap year well, I think.</p>

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<p>tomhenry I am so sorry your daughter is in this position. The “mistake” you made-and I really don’t mean that harshly at all-was you trusted the the person being paid to offer guidance to your daughter was competent. The GC may well be competent if the student fits into the typical student profile-but if not watch out. We have that same thing here-fortunately I found CC at least in time to have a wide range of schools my son could consider and apply to-no thanks to the GC or the school. If I hadn’t by chance found this place we could well be in your exact situation.</p>

<p>The gap year option does seem a viable one. I hope a WL comes through and she can go to one of those schools.</p>

<p>I don’t know if sending her to a school she really doesn’t seem enthusiastic about and paying that much for it would be a good option.</p>

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<p>Space Available List is up!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1141598-nacac-list.html#post12563579[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1141598-nacac-list.html#post12563579&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>For a student considering New England colleges, the spaces available at Vermont may be worth considering.</p>