Lafalum84

I think there's been a thread like this before, but I'd like to start a list of short-but-sweet and invaluable pieces of knowledge gleaned from too-much-time spent on CC. Here's my top five:

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

More?

violadad

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

bela

What does "data point" mean? In this context (or any).

ellemenope

A hook is something that could swing an admissions decision significantly toward "admit." Think quarterback for a college that just graduated its star. If your activity is not a hook, it's a data point-- it will be taken together with all other parts of the application in deciding whether to admit or deny.

Never heard of the term "data point" used as a CC term, but I think it's a good one. Many parents and kids who do not know the competitive landscape are fooled into thinking that some activity or accomplishment of the kid will lead to automatic admission. Perhaps they are thinking something like 2400 SATs or valedictorian status...But for super-selective schools, these accomplishments are just another fact to throw into the hopper.

Rachacha

Great list!

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

mathmom

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

my-3-sons

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

9) A discussion of finances in the beginning will save many tears in the end.

hayden

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

9) A discussion of finances in the beginning will save many tears in the end.

10) Remember it's your child who's going to college - not us! The college should be a fit for them and their interests, not a trophy to brag about at the office.

HImom

11) The CHILD/STUDENT really needs to own the process. It is about HIM/HER making choices with a full understanding of the options (including financial). As parents we guide and support. (Similar to 10 above.)

alh

Most may not agree with me but I would add:

There may be more than one *right choice* and everyone is usually happy by Thanksgiving freshman year.

jazzymom

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

9) A discussion of finances in the beginning will save many tears in the end.
my-3-sons is offline

10) Conduct the college search "from the bottom up." Give full attention, research and visiting, to the safeties and matches from the beginning to find less selective colleges your student WANTS to attend. Then add on the reaches, which naturally are easy to fall in love with.

pugmadkate

Jazzymom, I was just going to add something Thumper1 said,"It's easy to pick reaches...hard to pick safeties." So I second your addition.

menloparkmom

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

9) A discussion of finances in the beginning will save many tears in the end.
my-3-sons is offline

10) Conduct the college search "from the bottom up." Give full attention, research and visiting, to the safeties and matches from the beginning to find less selective colleges your student WANTS to attend. Then add on the reaches, which naturally are easy to fall in love with.

11) Plan ahead and have all required admissions tests [ACT, SAT, subject tests] completed by the end of Jr year if at all possible. Sr year is stressful enough without having the added pressure of having to take tests that could have been taken earlier.

12) If a student is taking an AP course- APUSH, APLIT for example, have them take the corresponding SAT subject test in May or June.

over30

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

9) A discussion of finances in the beginning will save many tears in the end.
my-3-sons is offline

10) Conduct the college search "from the bottom up." Give full attention, research and visiting, to the safeties and matches from the beginning to find less selective colleges your student WANTS to attend. Then add on the reaches, which naturally are easy to fall in love with.

11) Plan ahead and have all required admissions tests [ACT, SAT, subject tests] completed by the end of Jr year if at all possible. Sr year is stressful enough without having the added pressure of having to take tests that could have been taken earlier.

12) If a student is taking an AP course- APUSH, APLIT for example, have them take the corresponding SAT subject test in May or June.

13) Get to know your guidance counselor early in high school.

menloparkmom

1) Love the kid on the couch, not the kid you wish you had. (Ah, the wisdom of Blossom!)

2) A match is not a guarantee.

3) It's not a safety unless you like it, you can afford it, and your stats are above the 75th percentile.

4) Ivies and schools with under 20% admissions are reaches for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

5) The best EC to help you get into college is whichever one you are passionate about.

6a) Music is rarely a hook anywhere. It is a data point.
6b) Conservatory level music ability is not a hook at the Ivies. It is a data point.

7) Fit is more important than rank (it is NOT just about the decal)

8) An early acceptance (rolling admissions, priority applicaiton or EA) is the best kind of safety.

9) A discussion of finances in the beginning will save many tears in the end.
my-3-sons is offline

10) Conduct the college search "from the bottom up." Give full attention, research and visiting, to the safeties and matches from the beginning to find less selective colleges your student WANTS to attend. Then add on the reaches, which naturally are easy to fall in love with.

11) Plan ahead and have all required admissions tests [ACT, SAT, subject tests] completed by the end of Jr year if at all possible. Sr year is stressful enough without having the added pressure of having to take tests that could have been taken earlier.

12) If a student is taking an AP course- APUSH, APLIT for example, have them take the corresponding SAT subject test in May or June.

13) There is no such thing as merit $$ at the Ivy's. Don't mix up merit $ and Financial aid- they are not the same!

14) Look out for early application deadlines required for merit scholarship consideration.

15) Beware of thinking your child walks on water and will SURELY get into HYPS...etc
If you need a primer on what can happen to even the most qualified student, check out this thread-
We're picking up the pieces, but what went wrong?