@Happytimes2001 - I think I get what you’re saying. The idea that there are colleges/programs with a “special orders don’t upset us” flexibility versus being restricted to colleges/programs that are more designed as “order off the menu, with no substitutions”.
My mind is getting a little muddled at this time of evening, but I think I get your gist: Modify as you discover what you like and what works for you. (For me this rang true indeed. I started as a Legal Studies Major and then switched to Psychology when I realized I needed less “black and white” and more “grey” in my writing/reading and undergrad class discussions.)
@collegemom3717 - I’m rereading and taking notes from all these posts and had a question:
We won’t be applying for FA. Would that make any difference in UNC OOS admissions? I’m assuming not, but figured I’d inquire. (We will be full pay I’m assuming everywhere besides state of FL public schools - where we anticipate having Bright Future’s in addition to our FL Prepaid.)
Our son definitely wants to go OOS and UNC would be great in many ways but the 18% OOS. But I respect the state for doing so.
We did not qualify for FA so I don’t really have any info on that. UNC does look closely at essays and none are optional even if noted as optional on application. You already dislike Duke so great start hehe.
Major does matter and not a lot of people apply PWAD. That interest would make a great supplemental essay. Shows your interest as well as interest in ROTC. Only NC State and UNC have all branches of ROTC.
My daughter has many friends from OOS. Only way to know for sure is to apply and I would do EA, it is non binding.
Note how much attention that various colleges pay to “level of applicant’s interest” (see section C7 of the college’s common data set). “Overqualified” applicants should be especially careful here, since colleges that use “level of applicant’s interest” may want to avoid being “safeties” behind other colleges.
Also, in terms of essays: I’m actually pleased when a college requires or offers one/some to answer. To me that speaks to how the college knows what they are looking for, etc. and I like knowing that they are maximizing a good fit. Wouldn’t want S to attend a school that only cared about numbers. And, extending that further, I like schools that recommend or prefer interviews, too for the same reason.
But be careful in that notions of “good fit” differ between applicants and colleges. And if the college (or one of its divisions or majors) has a surplus of “good fit” applicants, it will not be able to admit all of them.
@ucbalumnus - I jotted down the info you shared about Section C7. Will definitely keep track of what we need/want to do to find out more about these schools.
In this process, I’m finding that having an abundance of info (or knowing where it’s easily accessible) helps anticipate best fit.
Will definitely have to be mindful of looking overqualified if there is a school he eventually applies to that they might think he’s using as a safety. (But to be honest, and I value your f/b on this b/c i’m new to this process - I don’t think any of the schools referenced in this thread are safeties for him? UNC, GW, GT, St. A’s, KCL College of War, Durham, Edinburgh, Trinity College of Dublin, Wake Forest). You may have been speaking more generally though, not necessarily to any of the above schools which I think are all reaches for him.
Good point. Makes sense. I’m okay with him losing out a spot and not getting accepted b/c of surplus of good fit applicants. It would be disappointing in some respects, but i know logically that there are a zillion extremely qualified and good fit applicants.
Now if he got zero acceptances, then Houston, we’d have a problem. (And, not just with flooding!) Bad Friday humor. Brain is getting fried by this part of the week.
Was specifically thinking of American University, which was mentioned upthread, and where your student’s stats look somewhat “overqualified” in comparison to its enrolled frosh. “Level of applicant’s interest” is “very important” there. Presumably, they do not want to be a “safety” behind Georgetown University and George Washington University.
@ucbalumnus - Got it. Makes sense. Although it also makes me break out into a tiny sweat anticipating all the decisions that await him/us in the next year, including how to narrow down list at some point. But we will do so.
Question: Does my S being Hispanic (we adopted him as a newborn- we are very blessed!) make any difference to admissions if applying for example, to St. A’s, KLC, or an other schools in UK (or in US, like UNC or GT)?
Thank you! Had hoped it might matter but assumed it didn’t. Thank you again for the heads up on HAT. Turns out we have a testing location in our city which was good news.
I had my S look at a couple of previous questions and he seemed to see them as reasonable questions and I think he might even like taking it? (He likes writing a great deal and in fact today, he said his English teacher used his paper as an example for a recently submitted assignment.)
And I picked up a handful of travel books on Dublin and London and England today just to get a bigger picture, too.
@123Mom123, for your entertainment, here are the 16 ‘ethnicity’ categories for the NHS (your sone will get to pick one if he becomes a full-time student in the UK) : White British, White Irish, Other White, White & Black African, Black African, Other Black, White and Asian, Chinese, Other Asian, Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, White and Black Caribbean, Black Caribbean, Other Mixed, and Any Other Ethnic Group!
Bad Friday humor. Brain is getting fried by this part of the week.