<p>MOSB, I’m so happy for you and your daughter - that she feels so passionately about a school that is a good fit and that that you feel comfortable with the finances and that she has made the right decision.</p>
<p>I just had a chat with D about one of her best friends who, to my consternation, only applied to reachy schools. She is a very bright girl (but not a superstar) who got incredibly bad advice from people who clearly had no idea of what the college admission field is like today. Let’s just say that she used Swarthmore as a safety. And was rejected - as she was at several other schools - just waiting for a couple of Ivies now. Fortunately, she got into one (that she really did not want to attend) at least in part because she is a legacy. It’s an excellent school, a first choice for many I’m sure, but she’s already talking about transferring. There are several schools I am confident would have been great fits for her, but she didn’t apply because she thought she could do better. Really too bad, but certainly could have been worse.</p>
<p>Regarding “good scholarships” vs. “best scholarships” we have a situation similar to mosb and others (congrats, by the way, to mosb - how exciting to land where you know you belng). D has a full tuition scholarship at a very good school, but I know it’s not the best fit for her on a number of fronts. It is a great place, but not as great a match as at least one of other options. I had told her that she needed a minimum amount of scholarship $$, but that I was not going to require her to accept the highest offer. She got a really excellent package from what I think will be her choice - it has just about all the attributes she is looking for and has my heart - but she is hesitating about the difference in cost between that and the almost full ride. I think she finally realizes that I meant what I said - her now “dream” school is very doable. Can’t announce it yet - but I think it will be official in a few days. Like all our D’s she has worked so incredibly hard and I am so glad that the love has been mutual.</p>
<p>Positive vibes for those still waiting for those final decisions!</p>
<p>Just found out that D was accepted into the honors program at one of her top two choices. It is going to be interesting to see how she factors that into her final decision. (Which she promises she will make before heading off to Costa Rica on 4/9)</p>
<p>Congratulations to MOSB’s D on becoming an Hillsdale Charger Class of '15</p>
<p>mosb - Thank you for telling your story! Your D has been through so much, worked so hard, and is such a great kid! Talk about fit being the most important thing in the end! You are an inspiration.</p>
<p>We didn’t get our last letter today, darn it. It’s not Amherst, but I think my D, too, is starting to feel like a school that waits too long might just lose her interest.</p>
<p>And - yay for holliesue’s D! </p>
<p>I love the stories of the decisions - so much humor, so much meaning. This is such an important process!</p>
<p>"Not true.
also, its not very probable a student will hold more than one Likely for Athletic recruiting (very rare)
if these are straight academic liklies, its possible - though also very rare to hold more than one…</p>
<p>A true Likely is a nod to being accepted before the official letter is sent. Its a letter generated by the Admissions offices after the Admissions committe approves of the admit.</p>
<p>It is used to get the student-college love relationship rolling before April 1 and when all the cards are on the table…and is of benefit to both student and college. "</p>
<p>Sorry but you are wrong. I am the person who friend’s son was rejected after receiving several likely letters (and he wasn’t an athlete.) His mother went to Smith and his father went to Princeton and they both are bright enough to know what a likely letter is. </p>
<p>This only happened two years ago.</p>
<p>He ended up as an Echols Scholar at UVA but was devastated by the rejections and his parents were furious - not that he didn’t get accepted but that it happened after being sent likely letters.</p>
<p>Oh, and there was no drastic change - not even any slight change.</p>
<p>Wow, that is awful emilybee. You hear the anecdotes but it is always so far removed (e.g. a friend’s friend’s neighbor’s son) that you wonder. Thanks for a closer look at this. It eludes me why a school would send a likely letter and then deny. Just eludes me.</p>
<p>Hi y’all!</p>
<p>Just another mom of College Class of 2014 and Beyond popping by to send very best wishes to everyone still waiting on answers and to those making their decisions! It was very much a roller coaster ride for us last year - especially the day my D received 3 rejections all on that one day. But a year later, after a bit of sailing on the SS Indecision trying to decide between her top 2 schools, she could not be happier with the school she chose and how her freshman year has gone. I am crossing my fingers and sending positive thoughts your way!!</p>
<p>Parent of HS 2008 and 2010 here – all the pieces will fall into place. Your kids will bloom, though not always at the speed/intensity we’d like, but they will find their paths. Hugs to all!</p>
<p>Kinderny, it eluded his parent’s also. Everyone who knew this kid was shocked. </p>
<p>But, as I said in my PM - I believe it is very rare-more of a one off but obviously it can and does happen. </p>
<p>But on to a more pleasant topic…</p>
<p>Good luck to all the kids tonight!! And whatever the outcome you should all be very proud of their achievements.</p>
<p>Congrats to SB on her decision and hurrah to Hollie’s D on getting into the honors program! And +++++ she makes up her mind soon.</p>
<p>Did you all see Waiting for Superman? Do you remember the scenes where the kids were waiting for their numbers to be called for the magnet lotteries?? That is feeling ALL TOO familiar right now…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The silver lining is that this is the profile of a person who will do very well in college and very well in the working world. There were a couple of guys in my law school class who were so smart that they got great grades with almost no effort (and little class attendance.) I always wondered what would become of them in a law firm, that made its money by billing hours.</p>
<p>Have you seen this?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1114650-admission-statistics-class-2015-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1114650-admission-statistics-class-2015-a.html</a></p>
<p>Break out the wine now, friends! It’s going to be a long night!</p>
<p>MOSB: Congratulations to your daughter on Hilldale! It sounds like a wonderful fit for her. </p>
<p>Holliesue: Congratulations to your daughter on the honors acceptance. I hope she makes her decision soon. It sounds like she has too many good choices.</p>
<p>It’s been interesting following all the drama while my daughter’s decision has been set for months. I’ve done a bit of second guessing, wondering if we should have waited to see what kind of merit scholarships she could have gotten. When a parent on another thread mentioned that our state flagship is a dream school for some OOS kids, I wondered if she should have considered it more seriously. But then I read MOSB’s post, and I knew that my daughter was lucky to find her best fit early in the process. She picked the school out of the Fiske guide, and loved it through a rainy December visit, and a two week summer program. She’s watched her friends make their choices, and she has no regrets. </p>
<p>For those of you trying to decide between different financial options, I know that money is a big factor in the decision. If your kid can’t decide between choices, I’d always go with the closer, less expensive option. But when one school really sings to your child I hope that you can work it out.</p>
<p>rom828, it makes me feel a bit sick to read that. I mean, in a real lottery, anyone can buy a ticket and no one really “deserves” to win; you “earn” your right to win by spending a minute of your time and paying a few bucks for a ticket. </p>
<p>But it is so tough to think about the kids who are and will be disappointed in the college lottery, because the vast majority of them really do deserve a “win.” Countless hours of studying and other hard work -they have earned a great school.</p>
<p>Well D just called with her final admittance news (we have given up on ever hearing from SUNY Oneonta which has repeatedly asked for info they already have or info that is not applicable to D). Her opening line, “Well apparently you and Dad are rich and you never told me!” Hampshire College said yes (hurray) but is expecting almost twice the family contribution than the other privates (boo, hiss). D’s response- “I have already done alternative education so I’m good”- (her way of saying no thanks). Nice to get the admit though- made her feel good.
Hope lottery participants hear good news. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Missypie - I agree. What I hope is that none of the ten of thousands+ kids will define themselves by this decision. It is not the end-all-be-all. The numbers are just staggering!</p>
<p>Kinderny - it nice that Hampshire wanted your D though. </p>
<p>Re Oneonta - a friend of mine daughter is still waiting to hear from Oneonta and Oswego! What is up with those schools? </p>
<p>Is your daughter in a lab school? I ask because we have one at Bethlehem and kids clamor to get in (it’s by lottery.)</p>
<p>OneGirlsMom - didn’t realize, please post when that admit arrives in the mailbox!</p>
<p>missypie - thanks for that in post 12452 (whew!), you can’t know how much that reminder is comforting. I take the rejections WAY harder than my D, and she even remarked (in a discussion about great school w/more money vs. pretty good school w/great scholarship) that “I will succeed and do well wherever I go to college.” Hmmm, methinks she has a much better grasp on this whole situation than me. Maybe I’m so invested because I didn’t really like my college at all and I want it to be the opposite for her.</p>
<p>I too am very happy for MSOB, kinderny and holliesue’s Ds recent news, as well as the many others. It is very nice to be wanted.</p>
<p>mosb: I am so, so happy for songbird. Thank you for sharing the ups and downs you and she experienced as she went through the audition process.
I am awed by the number of fabulous admissions that have been received by your kids in these past few days. Regardless of tonight’s outcomes, they should all be incredibly proud of themselves. It is no small thing to work hard for years, test and retest, engage in more activities than we ever did as youngsters, and then put their stories forward for evaluation. Congratulations to them for their efforts and to all of us for raising kids who are willing to take risks.
Good luck. I’ll check in later. Know that I am crossing my fingers, legs, toes and everything else with the hope that tonight brings good news.</p>