GMTson1 also has viable birds in the hand. But since they’re not going to fly away anytime soon, we’re just waiting to see where those other birds in the bush are going.
I see nothing wrong with eliminating a school if it is a clearly less desirable option than another that is already available. That seems efficient. DD only has only her financial safety in her pocket so she really won’t able to do anything for a few weeks. She has a good list and there’s something exciting to her about all of them, but there are some schools that are more desired than others, naturally. If she has the options that we hope for, it will be a scramble.
I’m with GMT and would prefer to have all the options on the table before making decisions even though my own kid did not do this. >:( However, if an option clearly can be (safely) eliminated, then it is a courtesy to other applicants to remove oneself from the pool.
@SevenDad - My advice would be to let your daughter drive the process on whether to wait few more weeks until all options are known, or start an elimination process now, as hard as that is to do. I know having been through the process 2x. 
Other than maybe asking an open-ended “How do you you feel about the schools you have in hand?” I would hold off. She may get an acceptance that makes discussion of all other schools a moot point. Also, these next few weeks are one of the few points she’ll have (and you as a family as I assume she’s on break) to not need to discuss college stuff, which I’m sure will be a welcome break. By the end of the month, they’ll be much to talk about and there is bound to be way too much talk at school about who got in where, who didn’t, what schools classmates are visiting and deciding on, etc. etc. I’d vote for enjoying the next few weeks as a college free zone unless your daughter feels differently. Congrats on her current acceptances and good luck on remaining decisions!
Congrats to @Choatiemom’s son and @GMTplus7’s sons on their acceptances as well!
I’m confused. Aren’t the earlier early decisions binding? If you have applied early and got in, why are you waiting for regular decisions?
Not necessarily. For example, I applied Early Action to Harvard and Michigan; these are not binding. Some schools may not offer Early Action or Early Decision, but have earlier notification dates, so again, not binding.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but one reason to wait for all notifications to come in is to compare financial aid / merit award packages.
We’re hoping to compare (and maybe even negotiate) award packages.
We celebrated the (early action, non binding) acceptances, but are still waiting on the majority of decisions and so have put the whole thing on the back burner for another several weeks. DC seems super relieved first to know he is going to college, then to have a choice. Just letting it hang loose until April when a lot more information will be available.
@rhapsody17: You forget that there are a bunch of rolling admission schools out there…neither ED/EA nor RD.
Thanks for all the advice everyone…dos chicos, I really like your suggestion re: making spring break a “college discussion-free zone”. Will be very difficult to do, but a guy can try!
In case you missed this thread in the general forum:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1747223-for-asian-americans-a-changing-landscape-on-college-admissions-p1.html
Here’s a quote from the article linked to by the OP:
“It’s really hard for me to explain diversity to [Asian-American] parents whose only goal is getting their son into Harvard,” Lee says.
From this article:
http://www.stltoday.com/schools/for-asian-americans-a-changing-landscape-on-college-admissions/article_dbc4e9cc-f998-510d-afba-77be62c19933.html
I hope no one here was affected by the Sweet Brian announcement. I was thinking about some of the smaller girls’ schools or horse schools might have people who applied there especially!
Can’t help but think Sweet Briar is the canary in the coal mine. It had particular drawbacks–single sex, rural location–but I suspect there will be other venerable institutions to follow in the years to come.
So, D2’s spring break starts tomorrow after her last morning exam–but region is getting another anowstorm tonight thru tomorrow evening. Unclear when it will be safe enough driving to go and get her. (School says not to worry if necessary students can stay til Friday). Now if we really got some spring, that would be a real break!
Interesting that Sweet Briar opted for sudden death than a slow, drawn out one.
Sudsie…don’t know where your kid is, but New England not supposed to get the worst of this one.
Had a mild panic attack when I read Sudsie’s post. Heading out this afternoon to bring my oldest home for a spring break and did not account for snow. Thankfully SevenDad kept the panic attach short. Spoke to soxkid last night - he just cannot wait for final final to be over and to take his foot off the throttle for Senior Spring. He is in at one of his top choices via early action so he knows he will be going somewhere great. Still hoping for good results at the end of the month at a couple of RD schools. I remember my senior spring at BS, it was a pretty special time. I have couple of hours on the ride home to make sure he savors it while also working in a story about a classmate who had his acceptance to Colorado College rescinded.
School is in PA, we are in NJ. Up to 8 inches possible. Original plan was to send my 20yo this afternoon but he is not an experienced enough driver to drive in this. School is flexible and if necessary we get her tomorrow am–but I want her HOME!!
CK finished exams early (yesterday) but got a notice that his flight was cancelled just as he was getting into the car that was taking him to the airport around noon. He was re-scheduled to leave this morning instead, but I see “snow showers” on my weather app for Hartford. Can someone in that region tell me what’s happening out there? His flight still says “on time,” but that is meaningless and he’s not picking up this phone (nothing new). I am SOOO dying to have him home. This is torture. @Sudsie I feel your pain!
CM: Again, it’s seems as the worst of the weather is south and west of NYC. Here in NJ it’s State of Emergency, but I just drove to work on snows and AWD no problem. It’s the small flake kind of snow, though…so if the “snow like meal, snow a great deal” adage holds…we are in for a few more inches.
@redsoxfan18 - Inquiring minds want to know: Why did the classmate’s acceptance get rescinded?
My kids found that senior spring didn’t live up to their expectations. Much more work and commitments than expected and in the case of one child, a spring that never happened - constant cold and rain put a dampener on those anticipated chill seshes on the school lawn and docks with friends.