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He does like Univ of Michigan, but I am not a big fan (I try not to let him know my bias though). All the schools and it is very diffcult to find a good safety that both my wife and S can agree to.
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<p>Most likely, he won't be going to his safety, but in the unlikely event that he does have to go there, it should be a place that HE likes. He is the one who will ultimately to do the work of getting the most out of his college experience.</p>
<p>The cardinal rule of CC seems to be "Love thy safety." A student's safety should be some place where he envisions himself thriving. Doesn't mean the parents have to love the school, but the kid sure does.</p>
<p>So--if he likes Michigan, I'd say go for it....file an application there rolling ASAP, get that acceptance in the back pocket, and let him enjoy the psychological relief that comes with an early acceptance to a place he likes! It's almost for sure he'll get into some of the other places on his list, but the huge lift from getting in somewhere HE likes early is priceless!</p>
<p>Marite,
You are right, the school choice will be my son...He gave me a list of 12 schools and I told him to narrow it down to six or seven. These are six he came up with. Now we are just giving him our advice and despite the choice being his, we are still obligated to give him our opinion. My wife objections toward Stanford is her opinion and she wants to make sure he takes into account the location of his sister (valid or not my wife thinks that is a factor), and of course I think she is little sad that our youngest is leaving soon and that leaves a empty house (YES!!!!!). I personally, think if accepted he should attend Stanford. With my second choice being Harvard/UPENN. But you are right HIS Choice.</p>
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Audio--thanks for the article and I did read that post earlier and that is why I am a little nervious about his choices.
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<p>I think Andi's thread does bring us all back down to earth a little bit. That being said, I think your son has a great shot at all of the schools on his list. I think with his stats and ECs (not to mention the 20 hr/week job) he's exactly what the top schools are looking for. The URM status is just another plus among the many he already has.</p>
<p>Dear APS Dad...
I think your son does not need a Safety. He needs to look for merit money and where he will be happiest. He is in the top quartile almost everywhere and his AA status adds more glow. Duke and UVA out of state can be unpredictable but I still think he is in them due to his outstanding SATIIs and AP performance. He is a likely Echols at UVa in my opinion. Wake Forest is a spirited campus,,, not as diverse but outdoorsy and every teacher knows your name...different than a UVa with small discussions after classes that are quite large. I am also a big fan of the new mix of students at Vanderbilt and love Nashville..and they might offer big money. If he could propel himself into Stanford, I wouldn't stop him since visiting in college among sibs is going to be limited to shared vacations anyway. Maybe he deserves to go if they really decide they want him. He is a pretty hard working kid! </p>
<p>I am a big Attach to your Match school advocate, and my S is at Duke (not expected) but truly grieved over letting some other "possible lives" go at very different Match institutions where he had already envisioned a wonderful four years. Your son is basically a Match for all but the most selective and even then he has a great shot at those. It is time for him to feel out where his temperament is happiest and where he feels he can grow into his best self over four years, time to think things like Large class and TAs vs small classrooms, urban vs. suburban, big sports or the arts..etc, cultural and econ diversity mix, frats or not, weather etc. The schools he will get into are all wonderful institutions with great teachers and great outcomes...it is the peer groups and towns that vary and those things are hard to capture in words.<br>
But he needs to feel sincere about his list when he applies, otherwise the essays and interviews are a grind with many false notes, so don't apply to schools unless the love is there. I think six schools is max needed for a boy likely to get at least four or five or maybe all Yeses. All schools will know he is going to get many Yeses, so it is even going to be a bit harder for him to come across as a Likely to attend. Prepare for a busy April of Accepted Student weekends. By the time last April came around college list perceptions had shifted after class visitations and overnights and so had my son. Rather than ask if your son can get in (yeah, probably!)..ask if he would be happy there..that is the harder question to figure out. And love at least three of your schools a whole lot, not just one! My S did not apply to a school that he would not have been proud and happy to attend. Don't make your son rank the top five too much at this moment, instead, get in the car and on the planes and visit while the students are there. Your final decision unless you take a Yes for an EA Harvard, can then be based on six more months of contacts and thought and the very important factor Who gives the best offer.</p>
<p>I have an AA freshman son at Penn and am happy to answer questions. Like you, Stanford was my first choice (silently) for my son. But, the choice was his. He applied ED.</p>
<p>My son also applied and was admitted to UMich. As others has said, do it now. The later you apply (even if October), the longer you wait for a decision. As I recall, my son's UMich acceptance came AFTER his Penn acceptance - not exactly the ideal timeline.</p>
<p>Your son stands a good chance of being admittied EA/ED to wherever. Apply early as a means of securing his top choice above all else, not for admission strategy purposes - he's already plenty hooked. In my son's case, he was sure about Penn (as of end of Junior year when he declared his intentions). We visited many other schools, including Princeton, Harvard, Tufts, Wesleyan, Amherst, Swarthmore, Yale, Brown, GWU, Georgetown. </p>
<p>In the end, the final list included:
UPENN (ED), Stanford, Brown, GWU, Emory, Tufts, PSU, UMich</p>
<p>Does you son have a clear first choice - one that far surpasses all else?</p>