<p>I might also add that the randomness of acceptances from colleges adds to the reason for many applications.</p>
<p>Dickinson, a great school with a great reputation awarded my daughter a $20,000 merit scholarship, and acceptance into the honors program. The 75th percentile of enrolled students at Dickinson is 1380.</p>
<p>Villanova, also a great school whose admitted student 75th percentile is 1390 placed her on the waiting list.</p>
<p>Both schools accept 48% of those students that apply. Cost of attendance is about the same. They both take a holistic approach to admitting students.
Everybody I know tells me they are shocked that Villanova placed her on the WL, but I was not. I heard too many similar stories on this web site. (thanks CC)</p>
<p>The point is applying gives you the most options and as a result save any other reason, that is reason enough.</p>
<p>And because of options, and continued research that takes place after the Nov. HS deadlines for submitting your request to send transcripts she will probably enroll at Clemson!<br>
(Unless of course we get more options from ND Duke UPenn Princeton W&M UVA or Dartmouth over the next few days!)</p>
<p>Isn’t that problematic if a top student from a top HS applies to 15+ schools that takes a spot from the next guy in that HS? Not a problem for her or him, may be a problem for others. What do you think?</p>
<p>Jaddua: Your teenagers are brilliant time managers and travel planners. Why waste all that time trying to find that “perfect match” when one only has between an 8% and 20% chance of admission? Better to apply to 15+, wait to see the acceptances and then spend your valuable time and money visiting only the schools that accepted you.</p>
<p>Because what’s the point of getting into a school if you would likely not even be happy there? It’s better to apply to only schools you like and have a much easier time deciding once you’re accepted.</p>
<p>Not to mention, applications do represent a non-negligible time commitment. So many people spend all of December saying “no, I can’t hang out, I have to work on college apps”.</p>
<p>I think it’s a competitive process and I’m not sure how anyone could accurately judge how their particular actions may or may not affect others considering the subjectivity of adcoms. Each applicant is on his or her own, and I don’t think it’s possible from that side of the table to manipulate any of the outcomes. In other words, I don’t think anyone should apply to schools in which they have no interest, but I also don’t think they should be overly concerned about how their applications might affect other students. </p>
<p>That said, I do think it is always an appropriate courtesy to let schools know as soon as possible once the applicant has determined they are no longer interested or will not attend. Doing so may help someone get off the WL earlier.</p>
<p>JfL, I’m reading your D’s list of schools and can’t figure out any pattern whatsoever. Large/small, public/private, north/south, LAC/nat’l research university. Maybe that was your plan, but it’s amazing to me that you’re letting the schools determine where you go instead of fine tuning it yourself. Okay, you might not agree, because they have to accept you first, but didn’t you establish any criteria at all while putting the list together.</p>
<p>I agree with your “randomness of acceptances” statement. It does seem that she should have gotten into Villanova. But on closer look, maybe your D’s profile didn’t “fit” as neatly as you anticipated. Sure, her “general” stats seem to fit (SATs, rank, ECs, etc.) but maybe she sent the message that some of her 19 were not going to happen. Or, more specifically, V. was looking for something in particular (beyond stats) and your D. didn’t emphasize it. Would she have gotten into V. if it was her #1 choice? Maybe she would have. I’m guessing yes.</p>
<p>Well, I see the pattern. Its the schools that impressed her enough to apply to. My earlier post described the process somewhat. And you are somewhat right, because when starting to develop a list when she is a sophomore presents a challenge in itself. IMO there is very little time between sophomore year and start of senior year to put a list together that looks for certain things not the least of which is merit aid. In addition as you see more and more schools you can start to compare not only the schools but your preferences as well. Selecting a college is a process that is sometimes a little messy. Changes in the type and location are sometimes inevitable. While the college deadlines calls for Dec, the real deadline for us was early Nov as dictated by the HS policy. So all the while from end of 10th grade to end of 11th grade (about a year) kids are also trying to think what works. Big vs small, location, LAC vs University etc… and so by early Nov all these questions are not answered. But guess what?
We applied and we have options. So as the process continued what became important were a few things. Merit aid, honors program, school spirit, beautiful campus, selectivity, referrals, location(distance) academic reputation and choice of major. So with the exception of the Ivy reaches and the locals all of the schools on her list fit the bill.
As for your point if Villanova was her first choice would it have made a difference? We will never know b/c of the randomness. (Which I think sums up my point) but probably not because quite honestly, we would have considered Villanova only with merit aid. IMO and hers its just not worth $80,000 more after 4 years. and so not only did we receive no aid we were WL’ed. Another point I’ll make is I don’t think you have a first choice until all the acceptances come back w/the amount of aid you will receive, unless of course money is no object. @the next big thing:
so say you. But you know what, the great thing is we have options still. And the colleges dont seem to mind. If it were a problem then Commonapp could address it in a second by lowering the limit of schools you can apply to. It is run by the colleges and they are happy with 20 being the limit.
All in all I would not have advised my child to do it any different. I believe that the hunt for merit aid changes the game and you never know who is going to give what until you apply.</p>
<p>I agree entirely with Flvadad and also it becomes a zero sum game. If a student is not admitted from an applicant pool because there are too many of them it opens a chance the other way around as well. Unless one school is unfairly targeted. But if it applies to all the schools then some chances are lost while others are gained. </p>
<p>Again, having said that our decision will be made by mid April and notifications will be sent accordingly. What happens after that we do not control.</p>