<p>AD, sorry about Rice. CONGRATS on Tulane! Re: applying to 18 schools…SO DID S1 (excluding Oxford). I guess brillian minds think alike ;). Isn’t it exciting just to follow all of them :). Honestly, I never thought S1’d apply to 18 schools before we started this, but as we get close to the deadline, we just didn’t want to take too much chance on finaid, so the net was cast wide. </p>
<p>Given your S’s stats, he should have many acceptances come April.</p>
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<p>I don’t know what to make of this either. A few years ago they were talking about the number of applicants (related to the population) dropping this year. I remember thinking 'good, less competition". </p>
<p>I was looking at Naviance this weekend and this year, most of the private schools my son has applied to have seen big increases in the number of applicants from our school. Chicago is a good example - 1 applicant in 5 years and suddenly 8 have applied this year (small class size 70 students). The class size is smaller than last years but looks like they have applied to a lot more schools. Also - for some reason, my son’s class is extremely talented and the school hasn’t seen stats like this in a decade. I’ve been amazed at where his classmates have been getting in - lots of top 20s so far and several top 10s (and that’s only ED/EA). I always thought he was near the top of the class, but evidently not. This is a private college prep school so academic achievements may not play out across the country but quite of few of his public school friends have been doing well in the college acceptance arena. Who knows? As I told son yesterday, it is what it is. </p>
<p>It does surprise me though, given the state of the economy. Especially, schools like Chicago and Duke, where there’s not a ton of merit aid. OTOH, a lot of state Us are reporting record number of applicants this year also. I suspect it’s going to be the lesser known but very expensive LACs that will see a drop in applications.</p>
<p>My opinion is that increased solicitation mail, increased media attention to college rankings, combined with easier and cheaper applications have been reducing the admissions percentages at the top schools for years. I don’t believe there are three times as many qualified applicant applying for Harvard as there were 25 years ago. After all, there is always a top percentile of kids whether it is 2010 or 1980. It’s just that the same top percentile is now applying to more schools, and some of the top percentile who wouldn’t have considered some of the top schools are applying there now. And some kids who probably haven’t got much of a chance are applying anyway.</p>
<p>Plus, advertisement about rankings is all over the internet, and in the news. When I applied to school I don’t think I really knew about half the top 50 schools and their relative merits. Nobody in my California school ever mentioned going to a place like Duke, Chicago or Georgetown. But over the years all kids in the top decile or quartile know about all the top schools and where they supposedly rank. And if they don’t their parents do.</p>
<p>PCP…TJ in Virginia is truly unique–our county sends only a few kids but every senior from our county was a NM semifinalist and most are finalists!? However, many say it is harder for a TJ senior to get into MIT or Harvard than a rich man into heaven because the entire senior class is qualified so they face double competition to get into their top schools…the regular rat race and then their own classmates. Another downside is that some (I stress the “some”) leave with an inflated ego and sense of entitlement as TJ graduates and really have adjustment problems at college. I also have known parents who won’t let their kids go there because they fear their already socially awkward kid will become completely neurotic about grades, test scores and awards. Most of the TJ kids come out with great attitudes and academic prep, but some make you really appreciate your kid on the couch, under 3.6 gpa, but with flashes of brilliance and humanity…congrats PCP!</p>
<p>Wow, AVHS Dad, those are some really good stats to be denied at Rice. Sorry, but I’m sure good things are in your son’s future. Tulane is awesome!</p>
<p>I am now having a 3.0 gpa,i am in my junior year,and i am an international student,and i want to apply to Harvard,mit,stanford,etc,etc,all i can do is to get all As next semester and the first semester senior year,but it seems not very useful,but it’s all i can do now,i have decent sat score,i think i am going to end up at transferring.</p>
<p>PCP: We sure did cast a wide net! After the denial at Rice, DW got really worried so we added a few safeties and matches. I was just checking the Tulane App status for missing items when I saw the acceptance. Quite a surprise as we weren’t expecting to know until April. </p>
<p>Mantori.Suzuki: All I can figure that held him back was class rank (about 15%) and his ECs. He interviewed well, wrote great essays and visited the school. Well, I like New Orleans better than Houston anyway!</p>
<p>AVHS Dad, D1 knows someone who attented Tulane Freshmen year and then successfully transferred to Rice Sophomore year.</p>
<p>Nope. Rice had their shot. They’re out of the picture now. Besides, no matter where he goes, I want him to spend his full undergrad at one school.</p>
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<p>Who in their right mind doesn’t? :)</p>
<p>Good and bad news to share. The good news - S1 had a great interview with a Harvard alum today. It was his best interview to date. The bad news - S1 just learned he received a B- on his college Calc 2 class, argh! To be fair to S1, this was the only bump (albeit a BIG bump) on the road caused by himself since he started the apps. It was smooth sailing for him until now. His high school finals are next week. I pray that he can end this term on a high note.</p>
<p>So, PCP, I gather your son is required to send his mid-year grades to Harvard?</p>
<p>I don’t think you should worry too much about the B-. I think it would take a lot more than that to derail an otherwise strong application. Put another way, if your son doesn’t get into Harvard (or wherever), an A instead of a B- is not likely to have made the difference. So try to relax. You’re under enough stress already. :)</p>
<p>Speaking of mid-year grades, I was surprised to find out that the transcripts my son’s school sent to Rice, Rochester, and Stanford in late December did not have mid-year grades; they are six-semester transcripts. Should I expect the schools to come back and request mid-year grades? Or will they do this only if they feel that the rest of his applications leaves doubts about whether he’s good enough?</p>
<p>I’m pleased to announce the my son, as of this morning, is now finally, truly, and completely done with college applications…I think. He just sent the last of the scholarship and honors program applications to his safeties (Ole Miss and Alabama). Now I’m hoping it will come down to a choice between (1) Ole Miss, Bama, or Pitt for free, or (2) Rice, Rochester, or Stanford for something other than free.</p>
<p>I have to admit that, knowing he already has tuition covered at three respectable schools, it’s really hard to get motivated to do the FAFSA. But soldier on we must, right?</p>
<p>^Application packets have a “Mid-Year” report that is due in late Jan/early Feb. That’s when we’ve attached the mid year grade report that showed first semester senior grades. Also, the GC has to fill out a portion of the report. Check the Common App for the mid year report paperwork</p>
<p>Mantori.suzuki: DS applided to Rochester also. Check the online status. Our mid semester grades come out in a couple of weeks so his Rochester status says it’s still missing:</p>
<p>Mid-Year Report Form
High schools typically send this to you in January or February. Submit this form as soon as your grades become available (no later than March 1).</p>
<p>I’d bet Rice & Stanford will want them too.</p>
<p>A big congrats on finishing off the apps, it’s a good feeling isn’t it? I’m trying to finish off our taxes (good old Turbotax!) so I can finish off the FAFSA. I’m sure we’ll get no need based aid, but we’ll go through the motions too.</p>
<p>PCP: I agree with mantori.suzuki about the B-, one or more C’s would be a real red flag.
Good luck!</p>
<p>AVHS Dad and ellemenope, thanks for the tips about mid-year reports. I’ll stay on top of that.</p>
<p>PCP-
I think an Intel SFS status would overcome one measley B. And crossing fingers for finalist status.</p>
<p>Plus it is Calc 2–which I think is the hardest calc class of the 3 in the series, because the complicated integrations are SOOO tricky.</p>
<p>If they are very interested, they may then ask for the second semester interim grades if an applicant is a borderline. So, it’s not over yet for keeping up one’s grades.</p>
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<p>Or 2nd year calc (bleh - MVC/Linear Alg/eignevalue/ODE) which I still don’t understand.</p>
<p>I was wondering a bizarre hypothetical. I know Harvard has some astronomical yield rate. Do you think they even consider that somebody might choose another school? For example, do you think they look at a kid with some national recognition in engineering or something, and say to themselves - “Yeah, this kid is great, but he probably also applied to MIT and he’ll go there if they admit him, so let’s reject him.”</p>