<p>YIPPPPEEE!!! My D just got her first acceptance letter…she is 1 for 1…waiting on 6 more. She got accepted to Mount Saint Mary College in NY…waiting on responses back from SUNY Cortland, Plattsburgh, Oneonta, Old Westbury, Keene State and High Point. Good luck to everyone out there.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!</p>
<p>Congrats Nick!</p>
<p>Slumom, at our HS, Fairfield is a little easier than Mrist and PC, both of which (as I think others have suggested earlier) have become increasingly selective in the past year or two . The difference is not vast–perhaps .2 GPA. Some feel Marist no longer being Catholic attracted more non-Catholic kids, and its IBM partnership expanded its tech allure.</p>
<p>PC’s basketball team is a much higher level than Fairfield’s which helps attract ESPN followers. Fairfield, unlike Villanova, Marquette, Siena and dothers, has not yet found the magic coach who can build a team which draws lots of applicants to reflect in the glory.</p>
<p>The recession may also change things this year.</p>
<p>Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Next Thanksgiving will be the big HS homecoming for so many of our kids!</p>
<p>Fairfield is also now “Test Optional”. We were wondering if that will have an impact on the number of applicants this year.</p>
<p>We liked Fairfield, but it seems REALLY expensive.</p>
<p>I’m wondering if our hs is an anomaly, because it sent 8 kids to Marist last year. Kind of bizarre, since we’re 3 hours from Poughkeepsie. One of the kids who went was a stellar student and leader, but some of the other kids who got in were not exactly known for their academic prowess. Not sure what the love affair was between Marist and our hs, but they admitted a WIDE range of our kids.</p>
<p>This whole “test optional” concept is confusing me. I am looking at an application and it says “do you wish us to consider your ACT score during the admissions process” There is no essay substitute - just a yes or no answer required. Would this be for kids with high GPA’s and class rank, but low scores?</p>
<p>kajon: wow, is this an “it depends” question…which school?</p>
<p>Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota</p>
<p>There is an essay required, but nothing additional if you don’t want your scores considered.</p>
<p>you may want to start another thread asking for someone who knows more about the admissions policy of that school…</p>
<p>I think if you looked at “Average Percentage of Need Met” the only Catholic schools that would meet a high percentage would be Georgetown, Boston College & Notre Dame, in other words the richest ones! I might throw in Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, too. But I have found that the smaller, lesser known Catholic schools do not meet a high percentage of need. Probably smaller endowments etc. Of course my view is based on the East Coast, I know nothing (Sargeant Schultz on “Hogan’s Heroes”) about Catholic colleges in the Midwest (except Notre Dame) or on the West Coast. </p>
<p>I got out of the kitchen so I am goofing off!</p>
<p>NastyNick - Congratulations to you and your daughter. Did she apply early action? You have something to celebrate tomorrow - enjoy!</p>
<p>Nasty Nick - congrats!!!</p>
<p>Lafalum- Marist wants to attract students that don’t live in NY and CT where it is very popular. So being 3 hours away may be a big help!!</p>
<p>Nasty Nick ~ Congratulations! I have a friend who went there, graduated with a business or accounting (can’t remember which) degree and is doing very well for himself.</p>
<p>Nasty Nicky something to be Thankful for today for sure! Congratulations!</p>
<p>You guys really are great parents. Congrats. to you and your kids, they should be happy to have you.</p>
<p>Congratulations Nastynick!! That’s great news.</p>
<p>I’ve only posted once or twice here but have read this thread start to finish, and I just wanted to pop in and add my west coast news–my 3.3 daughter has been accepted at Western Washington (a financial safety for my debt-averse child) and Linfield College so far. Both sent envelopes with “Welcome!” printed on the outside. She is already worrying about how to say “no thanks” to the schools she doesn’t choose. :-)</p>
<p>More good news digdig! I don’t know Linfield, but WW is a fine school. That’s a good problem for your daughter to worry about.</p>
<p>digdig that’s awesome! I LOVE Linfield. DD was accepted there last year and when it came down to it it was between Linfield and the school she ultimately chose. Western Washington is a school I am going to encourage my son to explore. So very pleased for you and your Daughter.</p>
<p>Digdig, Congrats!
And how nice of those schools to have “Welcome!” on the outside of envelopes, to save you the anxiety of waiting for your daughter to come home and open them while you wondered if it was jsut another routine brochure.</p>
<p>Thanks, everybody. Although it’s been a bit typhoon-y here lately, going to the mailbox has never been more fun. I would be happy to see her at either of those campuses–Bellingham and WWU seem like interesting, manageable places, and Linfield has been very personal in its attention. Jay Smith is an extraordinary admissions rep. The campus is spacious and close enough to Portland for that to be a source of weekend entertainment (but not right outside the dorm room door, if you know what I mean).</p>
<p>My D took some heat from friends for not reaching for top LACs and for wanting to stay on the west coast. She considered everything from Emerson to Eckerd but is very happy with her list of 7. Only one is not on the west coast. Once she understood merit aid she got very practical in a hurry. Regarding the earlier idea that our kids end up right where they need to be, I couldn’t agree more. This child of mine made a couple of interesting mistakes on her Common App that went to the first three schools, things that might have been the tipping point for very selective schools. I’m very comfortable with her final list and know they are places she’ll be able to thrive.</p>