<p>"Now she just has to convince her schools that she is not using them as safeties for the Ivies"
Isn't it a topsy-turvey world: its almost as if you have to put in some reaches as safeties in case your safeties/matches don't believe you're really interested!</p>
<p>Donemom, I'm sorry to say that I have actually thought about it the same way. LOL.</p>
<p>Cur, I think the key is showing real interest. My D's is planning college trips for the fall (she has been very insistent that she wants to visit while school is in session). Although she has reaches to consider, I think she will schedule overnights, class attendance, and/or interviews at the safety/match schools.</p>
<p>To me this makes the most sense in term of the way our family spends time and money. I mean, you kick the tires and ask to see service records on the used car you are seriously considering buying, not on the new Mercedes you know you can't afford. We figure that if she gets into a reach, there will be time enough to visit - but the odds are that the visit will never be needed. The safety/match schools are a different matter: she probably will get in, so its a good idea to narrow down the list in advance to those schools she seriously would like to attend.</p>
<p>But at the same time, when you arrive for an interview or overnight at a campus, its kind of telegraphing the fact that you are seriously interested. I think my d. will also be well prepared for those interviews, asking very specific questions about the school that reveals that she is seriously interested, or explaining her interest in the school in very specific terms. So basically - I'm not too worried that her safeties will reject her out of fear that she doesn't really want to attend. </p>
<p>So the point is -- if you are really interested, show it.</p>
<p>DD has only three schools on her list to apply to...two are matches (we think) and one is a safety. She loves all three and sees no reason to look any further. All three schools have courses of study that interest her, and all three schools will allow her to study and play oboe without being a music major. All three are in locations that she loves. We (the parents) can't see any reason for pushing her to look further (although she is "humoring" us by looking at one school closer to home).</p>
<p>I totally agree with the idea that if these are the schools you want, and you are happy with them, then this is where you should apply.</p>
<p>What I don't agree with, though, is false reasoning that makes you feel better about the choice. It should be the best choice; you shouldn't have to rationalize. For instance, the idea t hat if you had to write more than one essay you'd write none of good quality is rationalization; of course you could. BAd qquality is easy to write; writing that one good essay can happen whether you have more to write or not. And imagining that reach schools are cut-throat is rationalization; getting in may be; but mostly they are the opposite.</p>
<p>So pick the schools that make you happy, but don't fall back on false reasons. Rely on your good sense for real reasons.</p>
<p>I've looked at many "prestiguous" schools on paper and two in person, bnut something about them that just makes me dislike them. I can't really put my finger on it, but it's there. Maybe its the attitude of the students or adcoms, maybe its the curves, I don't know. What I know is that just don't draw me in. I'm not a slacker by any means, and I don't want to slack off in college, but at the same time I don't want to be to drowning in course work. I fully expect the freshman transition to me be harder for me than most students, so that is the back of my mind.</p>
<p>I disagree with the assumption that a good essay is easy to write. I've had people tell me I'm a good writer since I was 10 or so (Of course, they may be wrong.) , but writing is laborous. It is constant revision, and revision takes time.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your input, and it is good to know there are others who follow my own thought process.</p>