<p>LOL! Nice analogy, calmom!</p>
<p>I like Mr. B's list.</p>
<p>Only problem for D was that there wasn't a single rolling-admissions school on her list.</p>
<p>These are all excellent folks, thanks so much - especially to the graduating seniors who have taken the time to reply.</p>
<p>S did all the work. No physical visitations only virtual.</p>
<p>i wouldnt have applied for wharton or harvard, and would apply for u Chicago maybe, and wouldnt apply for MIT</p>
<p>Would change: It has been said before, but I would definitely echo the idea that, when applying EA or ED somewhere, you should complete all other applications. I applied EA, and finished 3 or 4 applications before December 15, but lost all confidence after being deferred, and ended up applying to 13 schools. I finished most of these additional applications within two days, and I can tell you they were not fun times. It is the last thing you feel like doing, but just find it within yourself to do it, spare yourself the misery. The last thing you want to do after receiving such a disappointment is to fill out applications.
Gladd I did this: I would also try not to get attached to any one school that you applied to RD. I just waited until all the decisions came back, before weighing the pros and cons of each one, and which one would be a better fit. It was just easier for me not to get attached, because the admissions process can be so fickle, you really will save yourself some heartbreak if things don't turn out well.
I would also apply to several different types of schools. I always thought I wanted a big school, for various reasons, and the idea of an LAC used to turn me off. But after getting deferred, I sent out apps to several smaller colleges, and next year I will be going to Dartmouth, a school I would have never dreamed I would go to. Yet I am, because my tastes changed a little over the year, and I decided I wanted a smaller environment. So keep your options open and give yourself a wide variety of choices.<br>
Try to maintain your confidence about your strengths, but also have some humility, and don't take it personally when a school you thought would accept you sends you a thin envelope. I think sometimes, the college looks at applicants and perhaps sees something you don't, that maybe this school isn't the best fit for you. Good luck to everyone entering this process next year, I am so glad it's over for me!</p>
<p>I would have spend my summers doing something more valuable and knowledgable than summer school. </p>
<p>I would have freaked out less filling out all those applications. </p>
<p>I wouldn't have let myself get as depressed as I did thinking I wasn't gonna get in anywhere. </p>
<p>I would have believed in myself and my accomplishments a little bit more.</p>
<p>I would have encouraged my son to "want" to go to a school he could get into and that we could afford. Having a reach as a first choice is a mistake.</p>
<ol>
<li> Don't look for the perfect college. You'll only end up confused and disappointed. I did this and spent the majority of my senior year searching for something that didn't exist. I worried alot about where to go and eventually decided on a school where I never thought I would end up, but I am really satisfied with my decision. Remember that, as with any situation in life, your college experience will be determined 10% by the circumstances and 90% by how you deal with it.</li>
<li> Apply to every college that you have even the slightest possibility of attending. As I said, I ended up choosing a school that I almost didn't even apply to. If you apply everywhere then you will keep all of your options open. You never know what might happen over senior year. Family changes, health problems, ect. could arise and have a significant impact on your college choice. Don't let your choices be limited--apply everywhere (not literally everywhere, but you know what I mean).</li>
<li> Apply as early as you can. I waited to fill out alot of my applications until the last minute. Not only was I in a frantic scramble to get applications in, but I missed out on scholarship opportunities by not getting them in early enough. This kind of goes hand in hand with my earlier point. By the time I decided to apply to certain schools, their scholarship deadlines had already passed. Work on applications over the summer. Get them in as early as you can. This could also be beneficial with housing and orientation sign-ups depending on where you go.</li>
<li> Finally, keep an open mind and visit everywhere. Some schools may surprise you in a good or even a bad way. If, like me, you don't have a clear vision of where you want to go, don't fall into the pressure around you to decide as soon as you can. You will get really tired of explaining to people when they ask where you are going to school that you haven't decided yet. You will also get really tired of all of the advice that you will receive. But just take your time and follow your heart.</li>
</ol>
<p>Try to avoid a small or new High School that does not have any clout (or any track record for it's graduates), especially if your child will be a member of one of the first few graduating classes. This is particularly an issue for those who are trying to attend uber-competitive colleges/universities.</p>
<p>I would have thought more seriously about ED I and would have done some more work in my overall application.... I regret that I took a gap year after my high school!</p>
<p>On one hand.. research the heck out of college and try to figure out what you're looking for BEFORE you fill out a million applications.</p>
<p>On the other hand, don't limit yourself too early. For example, I thought that I was in love with several small LACs, but changed my mind this spring and ended up at a mid-sized school!</p>
<p>Mr. B: Wellesley does EA? Keep the suggestions coming, this is such an informative thread!</p>
<p>Wellesley does ED1 and ED2 (ED1 in November, ED2 in January) AND early evaluation, but not EA. In early evaluation, they will review the app and offer a likely, might, or not likely letter in ?February (not sure). Check the website.</p>
<p>Wellesley's Early Evaluation is one of the most civilized admissions practices I've seen. The deadline is only two weeks before the RD application deadline and yet you get a very good read on your chances six weeks earlier than you would have otherwise.</p>
<p>My biggest piece of advice is don't focus too much on a school that you probably won't get into. I applied to Stanford EA and wrote the application essay five times. In the end I got rejected and hadn't spent as much time as I should have working on apps for schools that I probably would have gotten into if I had spent a little more time on their apps.
Keep in mind that just because one school rejects you that doesn't mean that all the schools of similar caliber will do the same, I was waitlisted, but ultimately chose not to stay on the waitlist, at Columbia with pretty much the same application that I sent to Stanford.
The advice I have for after the decisions come out is to choose the school you will attend and completely fall in love with it. This is something I did, and I'm so happy that I did. Once you know where you'll be going, get excited, if you're on CC get involved in the discussions, talk about your school to friends, get familiar with the website, all of this will only serve to get you more prepared and excited for the school you will be attending.
Lastly, listen to advice, but follow your heart. No one will be heartbroken if you don't follow the advice they give you, but you might end up heartbroken if you don't follow your own instinct.</p>
<p>Thanks, I meant and thought early evaluation but my fingers danced a different dance. </p>
<p>Here is some advice no one can take. Don't pick a favorite until after the acceptances come in.</p>
<p>i have a question about volunteer hours...do you have to send in a letter or certificate from every single place you said you volunteered at? How do you prove your volunteer hours?</p>
<p>For the most part colleges are looking for you to be honest about your hours (remember lying on your application can be cause of your admission being rescinded). One parent (I think in this thread wrote about how D kept a journal to keep track of the hours she spent volunteering).</p>
<p>Certain scholarships may request a way to contact your volunteer supervisor (or another person who can vouch for your hours). Most times though, you are just expected to be honest.</p>