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<p>How about a little hope?</p>
<p>Your friend will have to learn the hard way–thin envelopes. Does he have a little secret he is not sharing (grandma is a Cherokee; dad is an alumn)?</p>
<p>His optimism may be irritating to you, but perhaps you have some fear that he may defy logic and be accepted? This is a time of wild emotions for you both. If you are really a good friend you will be supportive, yet offer him some realistic data, or make sure he has solid safeties.</p>
<p>There is always a chance!</p>
<p>I had a friend in a similar situation. Her DD had NO chance at Harvard, but that was her top choice. Her ACT was a 24, and her GPA was a 3.0. She had NO HOOK at all; her only ECs was volleyball. Her other choices were pricey privates (also unaffordable). I think her parents supported her idea of applying to Harvard because they knew she’d qualify for great aid if she was accepted. She did (very) reluctantly apply to a state school that would cost about $20k per year (also unaffordable for her family). The state school was her safety, but it wasn’t a financial safety.</p>
<p>She got mostly rejections. She was accepted at one unaffordable private and her safety. After she got her rejections/acceptances, her family kept referring to the state school as “a consolation prize” - using a very pathetic voice. She ended up with no “choices” - just the one so-called “consolation prize” and the very unaffordable private. Of course, she’s not happy that she’s now at the state school, and her parents are complaining because of cost.</p>
<p>I regret not politely suggesting that her DD broaden her apps.</p>
<p>How sad…</p>
<p>I’m so glad that I’m Canadian and my safety school is pretty great for a public (almost as good as UMich or UCLA) and that it’ll cost me about $4K a year to attend.</p>