Okay, but wouldn’t that be another example of success shotgunning? (Even though he sounded to be a much more competitive applicant.)
No, not most of the kids I am seeing that do this. They are in love with the idea of the top-name school. That’s why they apply only to the higher ones.
The only reason they have safeties is that they are no slouch and some lower level school somewhere has called them up and said “Look, all you have to do is apply and you’ll get in with a lot of financial aid.”
Well, unless a gap year or CC with guaranteed transfer (or Harvard Extension School) is their backup plan, they run the risk of becoming very disapppointed. Actually, they’d be running that risk regardless.
While it’s not a terrible strategy if you have the right mindset, these kids seem to be running the risk of heartbreak.
I really hope my son doesn’t end up feeling this way! Out of 14 schools we applied to, most of them were safeties and reaches, and he should get into nearly all of those. I don’t really expect him to get into the 4 super-reaches (Stanford, Harvard, Princeton or Dartmouth), and hopefully he won’t feel too bad about getting rejected from them, since most people do. I think if you talk realistically with the student about this and make sure that they are also applying to a number of schools they will probably be accepted at, it would be ok. But yeah, applying to 20 super selective schools and getting 19 rejection letters would be awful for anyone.
Some of us have looked for a job in an industry undergoing massive layoffs in the middle of a recession. Getting 1 offer from 20 apps was cause to break out the champagne.
Older generations of my family have had numerous infants/toddlers of their own blood die in their arms.
It’s a matter of perspective.
True on perspective. After the NYC public high school admissions process, the college admissions process seems so lovely. There are so many decent, safe schools, with odds greater than 1 in 10!
@lookingforward, the kid you’re referring to got into two ivies…Columbia and brown, and opted for the latter. He just got a book about the SATs and college admissions published with an equally brilliant co-author.
RenMom, someone said he transferred, any idea? Saw the book, didn;t read it. I think what he shows, IRL, is that it’s difficult to predict, based on a few assets. The app and supp are challenges.
@RenaissanceMom What’s the name of Silverturtle’s book? I’ve only seen his CC guide.
the latest I heard was that he was at Columbia, although he had started at Brown. But this is just rumor…
I am truly amazed he did not get into more schools. I really doubt his essays were poor or meh based on what I had read of his postings here. I think sometimes they get it wrong and I think those who denied him got it wrong.