<p>Daughter was rejected from school she applied ED to. Not deferred, just flat-out rejected. Her application was strong, interview fantastic, feedback from admissions people very positive (follow-up questions, etc.), and much confidence on the part of teachers, guidance counselor, tutors, etc., that she'd get in. My question: is it appropriate, or advisable, for either her guidance counselor, or me, to contact Admissions at said school to see if there are concrete reasons for rejection? I think it would be helpful info going forward on other applications, i.e., should we rethink schools she's applying to, etc. Brief background: D was 3.6 GPA first two years of HS; dipped to 3.2 junior year; first part of senior (and 2 AP courses), A's and some low B's. Lots of ECs, strong vocal and theatre background, etc. ED school was small, liberal arts, highly-regarded college in upstate NY (for some reason I feel uncomfortable naming it). Any thoughts on calling school post-rejection appreciated. Want to make it clear, we're not angry or appealing or mad at school, etc. Just want to shed some light on their reasons for decision, given that all signs seemed to be pointing to admission. Thanks.</p>
<p>If anyone calls, I think it should be the GC. But that might not be necessary. The GC may be able to give you some insight into the reasons for the rejection.</p>
<p>The dip in junior year is always a red flag and that may have been the problem. Agree with Marian to talk with GC to see if he/she is surprised in retrospect that your D did not get in. There is no point in your calling as you will get nothing. Even the GC may be told some standard line like there was nothing specific but it was a particularly competitive year and they just did not have room to admit all the qualified applicants.</p>
<p>No. It’s inappropriate. It’s time to use some common sense. How inundated would they be with rejected students calling? And what makes you think there are “reasons” for deferral that they carefully notate on the student’s application? They aren’t going to say “it was that B in Spanish class” or “she was only VP of her club, not president.” unless there is reason to suspect an actual error (eg wrong transcript sent), this is like asking the guy whom you wanted to date why he chose another girl and not you.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is inappropriate for a GC to call for information, but I very much doubt that s/he will hear anything but the usual platitudes, as described by YaleGradandDad.</p>
<p>Probably the best thing your D can do is get really good grades first semester, and reexamine her safety situation.</p>
<p>My vote is no. I could seeing talking to your GC about whether there’s something your dd should do to improve her app for the other schools. A 3.6 to a 3.2 junior year would, to me, be a likely reason.</p>
<p>Does she have plenty of matches and safeties?</p>
<p>I vote no also. Most schools prefer to see an upward trend in grades (especially so for their ED candidates who don’t have even first semester senior year grades to show)unless there is some circumstance the GC could have explained in their letter. Personally, I think it’s time to move on.</p>
<p>i vote no as well. Calling isn’t going to change anything</p>
<p>Advice you’ve been given is “spot on.” A drop in grades junior year often raises a “red flag” in an Admissions Office. It’s not appropriate for a parent to make such a call. If the GC has a relationship with the college’s area rep, that call could be made by the GC. A good GC should be able to look at your daughter’s application and provide a reasonable explanation for the denial.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, I understand what you’re saying. But she wasn’t deferred, just plain rejected. That’s why we’re wondering.</p>
<p>I would only have the GC call, even in that case, your GC would need to have good relationship with the school’s adcom to get the real truth. I also agree a big dip in junior is a red flag, if not THE red flag. I think what you need to do is to be able to explain the dip.</p>
<p>I agree with the “don’t call” posters. If your GC has a good relationship with the school, s/he might want to call. But it’s likely all you’ll discover is something like “We had an exceptionally talented pool of ED candidates this year and simply could not offer them all admission.”</p>
<p>One thing you didn’t state was whether your D’s scores put her within the mid-50% of students who matriculated at that school last year. Low scores within the applicant pool could have put your D’s application into the deny pile.</p>
<p>Her drop in GPA was substantial and, depending on the schools she applied to, her test scores may have also made her less than competitive. Those two components alone could have led to a flat-out rejection rather than a deferral. I’d be curious to see what school she got a rejection at before suggesting whether or not you have her GC contact the school.</p>
<p>Well I do remember hearing one case of a kid who called and they had been concerned about the “D” in Chemistry. Well he hadn’t gotten a “D”, and that was the first he realized the transcript had gone out with a major typo. In this case it sounds like the GPA is likely the issue, that said if the GC is willing to call, it won’t hurt.</p>
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<p>In my opinion, your GC would have MORE of a reason to call if the student was deferred. The GC might want to find out things that the student could present to strengthen their chances for admittance from a deferral. With an denial of acceptance, I can’t imagine what you would find out. All they are going to say is that your student’s profile did not meet the criteria for acceptance at their college.</p>
<p>This is GC area. The parent should not call, but perhaps the GC can get some input.</p>
<p>I know how disappointing and also worrisome this is. I hope she’s got her other applications in, and a good safety.</p>
<p>If it is bothering you enough, I’d say go ahead and make contact. The worst that can happen is they will not respond or give you a satisfying answer.</p>
<p>Adding: I don’t understand the passive approach most are advising. It sounds like your D put substantial effort into applying to this college that she appeared qualified for, so the least they can do is respond in some way.</p>
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<p>Is this your first child going through the admission process? Because what you are describing is very, very common among applicants at competitive colleges. You have to check all the boxes (gpa, rank, standardized test scores, ecs, letters of recommendation, etc.) and that still only gets the application a serious look.</p>
<p>Bay, They did respond, they denied admission. </p>
<p>Admissions officers at competitive colleges could spend all day, every day trying to explain to good applicants why they were not accepted. I think it’s unrealistic to expect them to do so. Which is why they have plenty of platitudes to offer parents or GC’s who call and what is that worth? It just wastes everyone’s time.</p>
<p>Be careful here because it’s a small world and admissions people know other admissions people at other colleges and this is not something you would want them to share. Disappointing though it is, I suggest you all just accept their decision and move on. Neither you nor your GC is going to get a legitimate or satisfying answer, there is nothing to gain here and potentially a lot to lose.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call. Junior year of high school is a critical year in most schools. The classes get significantly more difficult and it’s a good year to assess where kids really are academically. If you can’t let this go, certainly give your D’s GC a call and listen to what he/she has to say. It’s possible he/she might give the college a call, but be prepared if he/she won’t since it was a rejection and not a deferral.</p>