<p>13all: weren’t you supposed to withdraw your RD applications when you were accepted to GW? Have a great time in DC!..</p>
<p>For those who felt that my daughter may have only been offered Spring 2014 admission because you suggested she may have put less effort into Elon’s application than the other five schools she applied to, let me explain. First of all, Lafalum84, yours was a reasonable assumption, but that wasn’t the case. My daughter’s ACT score was 32; she has a 3.9/4.0 unweighted GPA. She will have completed 10 APs by the end of her senior year. By the end of her junior year, she had completed 7 APs, all 5’s and 4’s on the AP tests. She’s in one of the top 100 public high schools in the U.S. (as ranked by U.S. News and World Report). From a holistic viewpoint, she did more than just achieve these numbers. She ran track and cross-country all four years of high school, and did a great deal of community service. She also put tremendous time and thought into Elon’s essay questions. </p>
<p>Why were we underwhelmed by Elon? The woman who did the initial half-hour presentation was enthusiastic and poised; she represented the school well. However, our student tour guide left much to be desired. He had almost no voice because, as he told us, he had done so much yelling at a concert the night before. He was also off-gassing major alcohol fumes as I stood by him during the tour. He stressed that he was on his fourth major in his three years at Elon, and he was very pleased, as he said, “that they’re okay with that here.” He was a nice guy, but he certainly didn’t give a good impression of the school. It’s indeed a reflection on the school that Elon chose someone like this to be one of their student representatives.</p>
<p>What else was underwhelming about Elon? How about one of their essay questions: “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?” Come on. Read the essay prompts at Brown, University of Michigan, University of Chicago. They have quality, thought-provoking questions. Some of Elon’s questions are just lame.</p>
<p>This is simply a matter of personal preference, but in the hour we walked around Elon before our tour, we saw about 20 students. We didn’t see ONE student who wasn’t wearing a sorority of fraternity shirt. If you’re not into Greek life, Elon may not be a good fit for you.</p>
<p>I’m not here to offend those interested in Elon or who have found it to be a great school. For those who haven’t had the chance to visit the school, however, please look at this school carefully. Definitely visit. We simply found Elon to be sub-par compared to the other colleges we considered.</p>
<p>For anyone reading this who hasn’t applied to Elon, please know that “If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be, and why?” is in a section on the application called “Think Fast” - four brief questions to be answered in no more than two sentences.</p>
<p>Elon’s actual essay questions are actually very appropriate to the university and the type of student it seeks. They do not allow “topic of your choice,” you must answer one of the following three questions:
</p>
<p>Choochoobella, no school is right for everyone and it sounds like Elon was not a good fit for your daughter. Her waitlist with those scores and grades does go to show that Elon continues to be a very unpredictable college in terms of admissions.</p>
<p>Choochabella, I hope you reported your student tour guide to the admissions office. I’m very certain this is not how they want Elon represented. Our tour guide was a very impressive young lady who was involved in campus life, engaging and knoweldgeable, as were the students on the student panel discussions we saw.</p>
<p>It’s all about finding the right fit, and I sincerely wish your daughter the best at her university of choice.</p>
<p>Why would you even have your daughter take the time and energy to apply to a school where you all had such a bad experience? What a waste of time and energy…jmo</p>
<p>Lafalum84: Everything you said is correct. I had forgotten the animal question was part of a “Think Fast” section of the application. I still thought it was lame.</p>
<p>Supruwoman: I didn’t report the tour guide. Hopefully, the drinking of the night before was a youthful indiscretion and he’s usually a better “face” for the university.</p>
<p>Rodney: A very fair question. We’re not from North Carolina, but years ago, I taught marketing at the graduate school of business at the University of North Carolina. My daughter loves the area. We visited Elon primarily based on a benevolent review of Elon in U.S. News and World Report.</p>
<p>All the best to everyone. I apologize if I’ve riled feathers. That was not my intention.</p>
<p>^^^ By the way, my post title, “Good Responses,” was in reference to the thoughtful responses to my post by Lafalum84, Supruwoman and Rodney. I realized the title of my post should have read “Good Responses to My Post.” Thank you. Choochoobella</p>
<p>@Rodney… yes, I wrote them all handwritten letters that i withdrew my application, however Elon didnt receive it, but the acceptance was still rewarding, especially after a deferral!! Hard work pays off</p>
<p>To anyone who was waitlisted, i have officially withdrawn my application/declined the admission offer to Elon because of my EDII commitment to GWU. I hope this brings some of you future acceptances! :D</p>
<p>Best of luck to all!!!</p>
<p>@choochoobella</p>
<p>First, I always find in strange when parent are part of a conversation meant for student applicants. Especially since there are threads for parents needing to justify their D/S rejection or deferral or whatever. It just makes you sound like a helicopter parent- which will not be good for your D when she goes off to college. If she was really all that concerned about her deferral to Spring from Elon, she would be writing on this blog. It obviously does not bother her, and it sounds like she has many other good choices. Therefore, it seems like you are the one that is offend because she wasn’t accepted for Fall, you may be letting your pride get the best of you. As for her remaining school, it is not easy to get into school these days, as I am sure you know. Rates have dropped even from last year, and I am sure Elon weighed her appellation fairly- maybe they just saw between the line of her not being a good fit- and if this was the case they were spot on. The admission officers get lots of practice with all the apps they have to read. Another thing to understand, is that coming from a top HS in NC is very different from coming from a top HS in New York, where there is 100s of thousands of qualified applicants- just an example. </p>
<p>For me, I visited Michigan, and had the same bad experience with the guide as you did- and was underwhelmed. The difference is, I DIDN"T apply. With so many schools out there why apply to those that are at the bottom of your list. My guidance counselor will only allow our school’s applicants to apply to school where they would truly attend. </p>
<p>All that said, allow your D to enjoy her acceptances- it is her acceptance and not yours. If Elon was at the bottom and she already got into 2 other top choices- why write anything like you did. I can see telling someone to visit first, and share your experience, but to wrap that advice around her deferral seems bitter and childish. </p>
<p>If you have the need to vent- do it on another parent blog and let those students who are excited about Elon enjoy their acceptance- don’t make yourself feel better by making others feel worse. If this isn’t bothering your daughter then it should concern you one bit.</p>
<p>Choochoo, the thing is, I don’t think Elon had any pretensions of putting itself in the same category as University of Chicago or Brown, which is (as I am sure everyone knows), and Ivy League school. In my view, Elon knows exactly what it is --which is a school for kids who are intellectually curious, but who are also (and just as importantly) determined to be engaged in the real world while learning. My D applied to Elon and is going there in the fall because that is exactly who she is: an intelligent, academically able student (with straight A’s in APs and honors, too, to prove it) who also likes to be out in the world and community doing things, and wants a college that honors that part of her personality that doesn’t ONLY want to spend hours in the library. (And mind you, I work at a college where students are fiercely intellectual and spend HOURS studying, and I hold that in great esteem. I am not putting that down. But it’s just not my daughter.)</p>
<p>Thank you, MamaRose for your insight. I understand what you’re saying, and it sounds like your daughter will seek out a perfect blend of academics, experiential learning and community service at Elon. </p>
<p>@indepcc</p>
<p>Actually, there are more parents on this thread than there are students. If you look at the responses, most of us discussing here are parents. I don’t think we are relegated to, in your words, “threads for parents needing to justify their D/S rejection or deferral or whatever.” I read your comment to my daughter, and she said she’d like to respond to you on her own. You also misunderstood another of my comments. Your comment was “Another thing to understand, is that coming from a top HS in NC is very different from coming from a top HS in New York, where there is 100s of thousands of qualified applicants- just an example.” I said my daughter came from one of the top 100 public high schools in the United States; her high school was specifically ranked 34th out of the 10,000 plus high schools in the country. </p>
<p>My daughter’s application to Elon was based on the review we read of Elon in U.S. News and World report. The visit came after the application.</p>
<p>Indepcc, I looked up your name and found that you stated you were accepted to Elon with a presidential scholarship. I’m not here to knock that. Congratulations. </p>
<p>That still doesn’t mean that my viewpoint is not valid. It is no less valid than your harsh perspective on Vanderbilt. In your words from another post, “What a snobby the place Vandy is. When I visited all I saw was sorority blonds walking around like they were too good to talk to anyone. All made up, and fake. Vandy is so unfair in their acceptance process, how they give preference to legacies (even more than the ivies) friends, family, and especially Southerners and athletes. The worst schools in the northeast can outdo Vandy any day, and time. What a joke for 60,000 a year! I know someone who got in from Tn on a football scholarship with a 24-26 ACT- and just see how many will get turned down with scores in the 30s!! Vandy is paying his way while he was benched for the season so he can spend an extra year playing football- no one else could afford to stay there for 5 years at 60,000 a year. What a joke- meanwhile what kind of education is that- majoring in football? So, for all of you who don’t get in- thank your lucky stars- it will be the best thing that happened to you.” Talk about a need to vent. Bitter much?</p>
<p>I didn’t apply to Vandy- so no bitterness there! I made the CC with a friend months ago, and she made a post when she got rejected to Vandy and her boyfriend got in. That day I was leaving to go out of town to a music audition, and didn’t see the post til now. And yes I called her about it and she said she was just angry, and shouldn’t have done it. She got in EA to her second choice school, so she never used the account since. Recently,I loggin in to the same account, as I have been awaiting my decisions. Lesson learned! </p>
<p>In any case, now to your negative responses. Unlike my friend who was rejected- you D was accepted- even it is for spring. Also, she doesn’t want to go there “it’s her bottom choice” so why complain and make those who are rejected feel worse? Third, she already got into great schools. U of M- is much high ranked, so again I don’t understand your bashing Elon. </p>
<p>Yes, I too go to a top 10 school but what does that really mean? Yes, we get more attention maybe to a point, but I know plenty of friends from unranked schools, with higher GPAs (no grade deflation) weighed GPAs, which my school doesn’t do, and with less competition. They get in to IVYs and top schools each year. </p>
<p>I did get into Elon, but don’t know yet if I will go, but I have visited and thought it was nice. Just not sure if I will get more money elsewhere. But I would never say it’s my bottom choice! How arrogant would that be to those who didn’t get in.? I met a guy 2 weeks ago whose dream school is Elon and he was rejected! He would love to come for the Spring! My friend was a stupid teenager who was jealous of her boyfriend going to a school she didn’t get into, but you’re an adult- shouldn’t you know better?</p>
<p>This is the last I will say to you, and as for your D, if she wanted to blog she would have done so already. She is in a great place, leave her out of it and let her enjoy her acceptances. And yes, there may be parents on this site, but most just ask questions about the school in the best interest of the child, not criticize the school that others are vying to get into. It is an “Elon” CC, if you want to discuss your D maybe the Brown blog would be a better place (and I don’t mean that to be sarcastically, it just may be more productive) I just don’t understand your reasons for being on the blog!</p>
<p>For those having to read this I apologize. From now on only positive posts. Congrats to those who got in, support and hope for those who didn’t (yet), and looking forward to more acceptances.</p>
<p>You know what, indepcc? This is my last post on this thread too because it has devolved into inanity between you and me. I’d have sent this note privately to you but I don’t have the minimum required 15 posts to do so. But please don’t expect me to believe your contrived story about your “friend” who made a CC account with you and said the negative comments. All the posts under “indepcc” on College Confidential are yours; they all feature the exact same errors including word omissions, odd spacing of dashes, and grammatical errors. You’ve made every post that’s under your name. Take responsibility for what you’ve said. You also left a very snarky comment for a student who was accepted to Vanderbilt. The student wrote:</p>
<p>02-11-2013, 05:48 PM #96
Classicalguitar1
New Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 4</p>
<p>I just got my acceptance letter!</p>
<p>I applied to Blair School of Music for Classical Guitar and I had an outstanding audition. I also aced the music theory exam.</p>
<p>I live in WI
ACT score of 29
SAT Subject Test Scores of 650, 640, and 630 in Literature, US History, and Bio E.
Weighted GPA 3.1 Unweighted GPA 3.0
Class Rank 107/187
Full IB workload
Varsity Lacrosse
A solid essay</p>
<p>I am so happy that I got in. I auditioned in person and I really loved downtown Nashville! It seems like such a great city and the people at Vanderbilt were very nice. </p>
<p>What was your “positive” response?
indepcc
New Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 14</p>
<p>to guitar guy
You must be a really, really great guitar player- cause your stats are so low for Vandy- good luck! </p>
<p>Perhaps you should take a piece of advice from someone who responded to one of your posts:
lucky1313
New Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 8</p>
<p>Dear indepcc — I sincerely wish you good luck in the future, whatever that may hold for you. But, a word of advice from someone much, much older than you — Live and Let Live, Dude. Lay off the Hater-ade, it’s making you seem small. </p>
<p>Here’s my advice: Don’t lob bombs into rooms, then run, claiming you didn’t do it. Stand behind what you say or don’t say it at all.</p>
<p>I went back and read my friends post, and you let off the part where the guitar person also agreed that his stats were low and said thanks to her. Seems you also missed my point about not being negative about Elon, which was what this was about in the first place. Since you seem to have all the answers, and are a handwriting expert too, believe what you want. I know the truth, and for some reason you are making me look bad to make yourself look less foolish. You are the adult here, I’m just a stupid teenager! Good luck to your daughter as she heads to your old school, or wherever she ends up. I’m sure she can’t wait to go away to college. (and my apologies to those others here) FYI chocho- if you google cc, you find there are post just for parents.</p>
<p>@Choochoobella </p>
<p>You shouldn’t really post negative things on a thread where students are wanting to be encouraged or congratulated about their top schools. For the most part, the only people here are people who applied to the school, so saying anything but positive things is not very helpful, or nice. That being said, I agree with indepc, that if you D isn’t interested in Elon and she has already been accepted elsewhere what’s the point. Sometimes, it is better to let us speak, if we are upset about a deferral or rejection. If your D is ok with it, why were you posting. And, you have no idea how many times my friends have gotten my computer, or used each others’ accounts and share accounts. Usually people are careful with Facebook, but not so much with other accounts. I got rejected from Elon, and would love to be in your D spot, but I cannot waste time worrying about why.</p>
<p>indepcc: Just drop it, if you did post the Vanderbilt post, so what? If you didn’t then you don’t need to worry about it. Be happy you got in to Elon. I would take your acceptance if you decline in a minute.</p>
<p>@Choochoobella
As a parent, why would you in any way try to take away a kid’s accomplishment? Your daughter seems like an exceptional student, congratulations, you’ve done well…but I don’t understand why you would come on this thread and basically insinuate that Elon is your daughter’s safety school? It doesn’t make any sense, especially when Elon is a reach school for some kids. You should know that this thread is filled with students and parents who love this school and your belittling of it really doesn’t help. You could’ve gotten your advice across in other ways. I was admitted to Elon EA with a presidential scholarship and was invited to Fellows weekend. I still do not know if I will attend Elon, but I’m definintely considering it…which is why I would come to an Elon discussion page. I am very proud of my accomplishment and I don’t appreciate you trying to take it away. I was deferred from one of my safety schools, and just like you, I was shocked. With that being said, the last thing I would do is bash the school to my friends who I know really want to go there, nor would I go find the school’s discussion group and post about how it’s my “sub-par” safety school and how I got admitted “better” universities. I will find out the final decision of the school at the beginning of next month, but I honestly don’t care like your daughter didn’t care about Elon’s decision…but as an educator, I feel like should know better than to diminish another kid’s achievement.</p>
<p>I am not directing this at you, choochoo, as I honestly haven’t even read upthread enough to make an intelligent comment on the back and forth here involving you. But one thing I have observed is that some parents get very (for want of a better word) competitive about their kids’ college admissions outcomes, almost as if where their kids get into university is a reflection on the quality of their parenting, their family, etc. So when “their” child isn’t welcomed with open arms (and lots o’ scholarships!) to the university or college of that kid’s choice, mama and papa bears get upset, not understanding why their kid wasn’t accepted, and they usually point out someone else with lower scores who did get in (and whine about that) or they compensate emotionally by running down the college or university like in Aesop’s “Sour Grapes” fable. You know the one: the fox couldn’t reach the tempting, juicy grapes on the tree/bush, so “I didn’t want them anyway. I bet they were sour.” Fortunately, most parents don’t do this, because they realize that the “brand name” of their child’s college doesn’t matter very much, and what matters is whether their child’s choice of college is a good fit, and is a great place for their kid to spend four years before emerging as (we hope) a competent, confident young adult ready to tackle the work world. I sent my hearty congratulations out to all of the intelligent, energetic and engaged young people who have been accepted to Elon, and hope they join my intelligent, energetic, engaged and very nice 
daughter there in the fall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately this thread has really gotten off target. Congrats to all that have been accepted to Elon. For those that are waitlisted…hang in there. Do take charge and let them know you are still very interested…if you are not, congrats on your acceptance to whatever college you have decided to attend.</p>
<p>Jakester - nicely done!</p>