<p>Erin’s Dad, I’ve never heard of any ED schools not allowing students to apply EA elsewhere. The restrictions all seem to come from the EA (REA, SCEA) side. Applying ED to Williams and, say, EA to U of Chicago should be fine as long as it’s understood that the student would turn down a U of C offer if the Williams ED application is successful.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove: you are correct re Rochester, according to my understanding. But it is also my understanding that meeting with one of their traveling adcoms would do the trick to start with, anyway. Based on the experience of my S and a couple of other kids I know, whoae stats were similar to those of the OP’s S, he would get into Rochester (and possibly even get about $7-10K worth of merit) without visiting campus, BUT if he wanted to be under consideration for their Renaissance scholar program the visit might tip the scales. (I am not certain whether one must have need to be considered for the RS, which would, one gathers, let the OP’s son out.)</p>
<p>Sally, in the post of mine from which you selectively quoted, I did have the temerity to disagree with your assessment of the reachiness of Whitman for this particular kid–why, one wonders, were you even commenting on it if doing so was an insult to the OP?–but I also recommended a suitable safety in the desired area. </p>
<p>I’m sure the OP is fully capable of assessing the suggestions given here and deciding whether to rethink an earlier assumption based on a different viewpoint or new information.</p>
<p>@intparent: "Michigan (gotta fly to Detroit or Lansing and shuttle/bus it, quite a hassle).
" The Detroit airport is much closer to Ann Arbor than it is to downtown Detroit! Probably a 15 minute drive or so, and a hub for Delta, so lots of flights.</p>
<p>OP: I haven’t read through the entire thread, so I don’t know if anyone has suggested Kalamazoo College.</p>
<p>It is a shame that WI schools are out of the running, because the science guys I met at both Beloit and Lawrence would fit that bill. Earlham would be a nice place to visit for an earnest, intellectual vibe. While not an LAC, would Case Western be considered? Lots of science geeks, but plenty of fun, quirky things happening. One of DS best friends from summer enrichment programs calls it geeks gone wild and has finally found friends that care about all the things he loves-from anime to Dr Who marathons to playing Red Rover on a warm day.</p>
<p>I’m going to support Sally here. jamdds asked for safety schools – the son already has five reach schools. Recommending schools like Middlebury, Wesleyan, Oberlin, Tufts – come on, these are not safety schools for anyone. (Anyone remember andi’s son, who thought Oberlin was a safety – and that was several years ago.)</p>
<p>Bard has gotten much more difficult to get into, although it is hard to believe this kid wouldn’t get in. The LACs that were formerly all-girl schools are worth a look, like Skidmore and Wheaton and Goucher. One thing to remember about a safety school is that it has many of the qualities of the top choices, but usually there’s some element of compromise. So maybe he does need to look at some larger schools, like UVM, as a safety. There are some good LACs in Pennsylvania – Muhlenberg, Dickinson, Gettysburg.</p>
<p>Best situation is to get in somewhere EA, and then that’s the safety school.</p>
<p>My favorite safety thread is this classic: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/881237-ivy-caliber-safeties-matches-condensed-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/881237-ivy-caliber-safeties-matches-condensed-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Recommending schools that are reach/match rather than safety: it’s part of the free service that is provided by CC posters 
to make sure that people have considered any and all schools that might fit the listed criteria. Midd, Wes, Oberlin, Tufts might all be of interest to the OP’s son even though they are certainly not safeties, but pointing them out is serving as a safety net, har har.</p>
<p>I think the OP has been given a great list of schools. The problem is that it’s really hard to suss out what is a “safety” for a high stat kid like the OP’s son. To argue about whether Oberlin or Vasser is a match or a safety reduces this to a variation of a “chance me” thread, ie., pretty worthless. If her son’s school has Naviance they should check the suggestions listed above. That would give them the best idea about acceptance at the various school, and it’s up to them to decide what level of risk they’re comfortable with. </p>
<p>If what they’re looking for is a guaranteed admission, then the suggestion of applying EA or to a rolling admission school is spot on. Colorado College is one that offers EA that might interest the OP.</p>
<p>It’s a long drive to Colorado Springs from Wisconsin :-)</p>
<p>@qialah: I have been “taught” after several years on CC that a true safety is one the kid is guaranteed to get into. Sometimes it’s a state school that offers admission to kids with certain stats; other times it’s a college where the student is far and away qualified beyond the rest of the applicant pool. I do know a number of families who suffered disappointment this past year when their “sure things” didn’t work out because they overestimated their child’s likelihood of acceptance–including one girl from a competitive high school in suburban Chicago who did not get into a single college. NOT ONE. This seems to be happening more and more–whether it’s because of more schools switching to the Common App or no-fee online applications or more families hedging their bets by casting a wider net, I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Speaking for myself, I certainly didn’t mind thread drift in the questions I posed. It did help me open my eyes to other possibilities to widen my search with my guys (even though both ended up in my range anyway - the range being east of the Mississippi). I think most people are able to read and ponder or read and disregard without too many issues. It IS important to state what is out of range when suggesting places (either distance or reach, etc). I think most have done that on this thread.</p>
<p>For us, true safeties meant rolling admissions. Alabama or Pitt (or elsewhere) could do that for the OP, but neither would be schools they’d love based upon what they are looking for. We used both - just in case - but my guys ended up being easily admitted elsewhere and were happy with their choices. Nonetheless, an early admittance does take the edge off the worry.</p>
<p>I seem to remember the young woman in suburban Chicago that didn’t get into any college, and her list was devoid of anything that even seemed like a match if I remember the article. I also don’t mind the geographic discussions, especially if it helps the next parent that is looking for a match for a science/geeky kid. I am not much of a lurker, but many are, so the next person may be grateful for the Whitman, Beloit posts.</p>
<p>Quirky,intellectual and Midwest absolutely Grinnell.</p>
<p>Per our school’s college counselor and our Naviance, Reed IS a safety for my kid (who is much like the OP’s kid). So… there is one… even if it is outside geographic range.</p>
<p>And… given the OP’s description of their kid, I find it funny that Swat was apparently not on their original list. Although it is a reach, the OP may find it useful to also think about additional reaches. My kid just added another reach to her list at what I consider to be a late date. And honestly, the OP’s list is quite short at this point (4 is a small number to apply to, even if they do add a couple of safety/matches based on this conversation).</p>
<p>4 is fine if you don’t need to shop for financial aid. My oldest only had 4. My middle had 5 but had one huge reach. My 3rd will have 6 but is dysexic and has high math and science and quite low Reading on his act and no one at his school is certain how he will be received.</p>
<p>I just hopped in to clarify transportation to Whitman, in case there are people here who like the school but have gotten some erroneous information about getting there. Yes, there are 2 flights from Seattle to Walla Walla per day, however, there is an airport in Pasco that gets MANY flights per day from all the major western cities and many of the smaller ones, provided by multiple carriers. Pasco is 45 minutes from Walla Walla and there is a regular bus route from the Pasco airport to within 4 blocks of the Whitman campus several times a day. At school breaks there are car loads of Whitman students being dropped off and picked up at the Pasco airport by friends with cars. Really, it’s not as hard as you imagine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification, bopampo. I was working off information I had received from a friend whose son is considering Whitman (also a bright, hard-working, musical student, though without the CS interest). She is from the PNW so I had no reason to question her point of view. In any case, even adding in Pasco as another airport option, the trip still requires a connecting flight (or two) from WI, there are fairly limited options (some arriving late at night), and it is very expensive, as are most tickets to the west coast from here.</p>