<p>Does it really matter who is using the name? They just want help.</p>
<p>"Does it really matter who is using the name? They just want help."</p>
<p>I agree!</p>
<p>I have no problem given advice here to people, iincluding students, but I don't choose to waste my time with people who pretend to be people whom they aren't. I've wasted too much time on CC forums answering posts by people who ended up being trolls who were posting for sport, not out of genuine interest.</p>
<p>If a student wants to get advice from the parents' forum, fine to post here. They just shouldn't try to post as a parent. Similarly, if a student wonders what their chances would be if they manage to raise their scores, I'm glad to give advice -- if they simply ask that question instead of hiding behind a false "reality."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the OP's statements about being a parent don't wash with me. The original post sounded very much like a student trying to sound like an adult. All of the other chances posts, too, are written the same way.</p>
<p>Again, I have no problems with a newbie who didn't know how CC worked. I do have a problem, though, with people who seem to want answers without being truthful about their reasons for posting.</p>
<p>I also think that students who really wanted to know their own chances would have the good sense and ability to create their own screen names, not hide behind some adult's.</p>
<p>Texas127, it's your choice whether or not to believe me, I didn't just start posting, I was reading the information on the website for days beforehand to get a feel for the site, since my colleague mentioned it. As for my son's posts, I have searched the website to see what in fact you and northstarmom are referring to and I realized just how many my son and his friends had made. Again, I am sorry for any confusion. I have since talked to my son and he is now using another screen name. I realize your concerns, but I am certainly not a student and, though I understand, am slightly offended. With that said, thanks again to all who have placed valuable input. It is all greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>mrgules--you would be surprised what kind of posts kids write just to get up the dander of adults for sport. You'll have to forgive NSM for being cautious.</p>
<p>Ellemenope, I really can understand why everyone is so cautious (and I'm sure that some kids might even try this). However, numerous times I've had to defend my integrity. It's up to an individual's own judgement now. I will hold nothing against anyone if one doesn't decide to post or someone thinks I may be "hiding behind a false reality."</p>
<p>With that said, now that I've gotten many well thought out and truly concerned reviews from helpful individuals, I've begun scanning the pages looking to help other people solve their admissions problems. I hope I can become a beneficial member of this website.</p>
<p>mrgules, Other places to look into: Rochester, Hamilton, Skidmore. You can easily look at Hamilton and Colgate at the same time. I was also thinking it might be quite important to send CD of piano if he is really accomplished and talented in that area.</p>
<p>Good idea!</p>
<p>Our family actually visited Hamiliton on the way to visit my brother and his kids. However, my son said that it was a little tooooooo isolated for him. (don't know why he is infatuated with Williams then, because that is pretty isolated as well)</p>
<p>Have you considered the mid-west at all? I suppose Kenyon would be too isolated? Oberlin, Lawrence, Macalester, Carlton, Grinnell. Northwestern and U of Chicago?</p>
<p>We've talked about the University of Chicago and Grinnell, however he tends to shy away from these schools, I think he would prefer to stay on the east coast.</p>
<p>What is he interested in studying in college?</p>
<p>Ok, here goes. Your son's sense of college is about to take off, and is still malleable..as is yours. Stay open and make no blanket decisions re region or prestige only colleges. The faculty at schools not in the top 20 are often just as compelling as those in the most famous schools. Grad school placement stats are also great at schools less famous than those on your list. By all means prepare a couple or three Reach applications and have him put his heart in his essays, but help him see that a great undergrad experience can be had at many other institutions.
Your son is in the ballpark for his schools but you have to do a lot more research to unearth the hard facts and reality that his odds are actually nothing you can count on whatsoever. NJ sends many many worthy applicants to East coast colleges and is not a sought after state, although it is well represented at top ranked colleges. I think you should look outside the NE and Middle Atlantic states for either a match or a Reach option, too. Your list so far is made up of all Reach colleges which routinely create an "interesting diverse class of rugged individuals" not a class of high stats only. Schools with tons of applicants can afford to make what looks like quirky choices sometimes and can turn down perfect test scores and kids ranked first. </p>
<p>My son applied to three Reaches and four matches, although I am not saying that should be the plan for every family..in fact, I wish he had dropped one or two of his applications and only done 5-6 total. Because he really did like his Match colleges. He received one waitlist (which by the way he still was surprisingly teenage upset about considering the odds), and two surprise (unexpected) Reach admissions. One reason he probably was admitted to a Reach school was he was willing to move across the USA and leave his comfort zone...in other words, even though he was a white male without a very dramatic recent family story, he offered a very selective and popular school both geographic diversity and filled a slot that was probably needed in their cultural programming.<br>
My son's essays did a very good job at telling the adcoms what was particular about his life story, roots and sense of place and what he would be adding to campus. He also did at least brief classroom visits for all schools and did overnights at three colleges. This took a lot of logistical planning considering the fact that first semester grades are also a big factor senior year. One little tip..he knew someone at one college and stayed overnight there Labor Day so as not to miss high school and he did get a "feel" for the place after one night with the students. Overnights at colleges can be surprisingly elusive and rule bound..only a set season of weeks, only certain nights, never during exams or festivals, only if a student volunteer agrees etc..
If interviews were offered, he made sure to make deadlines and take that chance.
You need at least a couple Match colleges that your son would be pleased to attend. Although my S still surprised me by showing a lot of sadness at one waitlist...to be fair, he had attached to his match colleges and met professors and chatted up students at schools that were likely to be glad to have him and admit him. He had visualized himself as happy and challenged at his match colleges. If he had gotten zero Reach admissions, I am certain he would have also been happy at all of his "match and Matchy-reach" colleges. This takes working through an 18 year old's issues with being unrealistic and also an 18 year old's feeling "entitled" due to the fair statement that he/she has "earned" consideration from hard work and sweat equity and has produced stats in a schools top quartile. This takes working through a parent's naivete as well.<br>
Your S has a couple striking ECs that might make him appear to be a vibrant future member of the class of 2011 who has contributions to make in debate and music. this is great. Make sure to let his lights shine..not a time to be modest. When asked, write a Picture of how his talent is going to enhance life at College X.
Your S has made you proud. He has worked hard to extract the best out of the high school you sent him to attend. Good luck as you sort out where to apply. Attach to your Match is my mantra..and also give a couple Reach schools your total attention and a thoughtful application.</p>
<p>Acinva-right now he is still relatively undecided, though he is leaning towards economics after learning more on the subject.</p>
<p>Faline2-I thank you for your in-depth response on the issue. Being a teenager, he of course feels "compelled" to strive for the very "best" colleges. We certainly know that we need many more match schools to go along with these reaches, and your idea that we should attach to some matches is interesting. I thank you for your compliments, and I appreciate your suggestions.</p>
<p>Take a look at grad school outcomes when you evaluate a match school. Take a look at access to teachers as mentors. Take a hard look at grade inflation, grade deflation, class size and school spirit and culture. I attended an undergrad large LAC school that was very Southern (Furman) and still is not what you could call highly selective. Six of my 8 housemates got PhDs, two got masters degrees, two are tenured profs, and they ended up at Harvard Med, Univ of Chicago, Stanford, Yale Div and UVa and Vandy Law among many other state universities for grad school...and that is not mentioning the two published novelists and one journalist in a huge newspaper. My husband by the by is from central NJ and got a great start from this LAC. Access to professors can be so very life changing and should be weighted, and I think there are several LAC type schools where your son could have incredible preparation for a bigger urban school later. only way to feel it out is to visit. Perhaps you should be looking at Carlton, Univ of Richmond, Bucknell and Colby and Wake as well as the usual Lottery game Ivy suspects in the NE. takes a lot of planning to get out there but enjoy this season of life. my son is gone now and here I am cruising CC...while adjusting to the end of that chapter of life.</p>
<p>thank you very much</p>
<p>Those schools accept a very small percentage of their applicants. Far more students are denied admission to those schools than are accepted...FAR more. AND many of those students have qualifications that are like your son's. I agree with the above...it is far more likely that he will not get accepted than get accepted. BUT if he really wants to apply there, he should. You can't get accepted if you don't apply, and he is as "acceptable" as many others who apply. He should also, however, find some other schools (and there are plenty of those) where he has a more likely chance of acceptance. If he wins the lottery and gets accepted at one of those dream schools...terrific. If not, he'll have some other options.</p>