<p>Is she working with her guidance counselor on a college list? Realistically, Bates only accepted 29% of it's applicants in the past couple years and it would be good to have a safe back up she likes to avoid anxiety and disappointment. Did she look at Colby too? Conn. College?</p>
<p>Hi Millermilt,</p>
<p>Yes she does have some back ups. Just not as excited about any of them. Colby, Conn. College, Ithaca, and University of Rochester. She may also apply to Middlebury although that is also very hard to get into (well as is Colby). I think Conn. College is a bit easiter. UofR and Ithaca she shouldn't have a problem with but she really doesn't want to stay in NY.</p>
<p>Colby left a bad taste in my mouth (coach didn't show for a meeting, tour was terrible, no literature available, etc). We haven't seen Conn. College but she will apply anyway. Same for Middlebury. UofR she's seen too many times. Ithaca we visited and the coach seems interested just not as interested as the Bates coach. The Bates coach and Bates in general has done a great job of every so often sending something in the mail or emailing her. Nice campaign to keep them in her mind. I think she feels "wanted" there and that gives her a great feeling.</p>
<p>With 630 students in her senior grade the GC's try to be helpful but there are just too many students for the four of them to do a good job. Not a dig at them. They are just overwelmed!!</p>
<p>It sounds like you are doing a good job. My D just started at Bates, but she also really liked Conn. College. Good luck with Bates.</p>
<p>RM: I wouldn't say, with the exception of Ithaca, that any of these are real safeties. I don't mean to be discouraging, but college admissions being what they are, I would explore other less competitive schools. These are all very competitive schools whose admissions decisions are very unpredictable, unless indeed, she really is a recruited athlete.</p>
<p>I've been to Conn College so you can PM with questions if you'd like.</p>
<p>A friend has just sent a son off to Colby and he is thrilled with it, if that makes you feel any better.</p>
<p>and i'm the conn college "shill" around these parts, so feel free to ask any questions :)</p>
<p>The only reason UofR is is that they have said that they will take anyone in the county who successfully gets their IB diploma. Weird I know but we know several people who have taken advantage of this. That's why we consider UofR a safety -- unless she drops IB of course and well my husband works there -- tuition free and it's not in the top of her list -- guess we are lucky that it's in her list... Ithaca is a definite safety with her grades, etc. Plus they are pursuing her. She's just not that interested. Conn. College seems like if would be a fit it's probably a closer match based on grades, etc. but definitely not a given.</p>