GUEST STUDENT OF THE WEEK: ski_racer, a high-achiever in high school, was rejected by some of the elite schools she applied to. This rejection was the best thing that happened to her as she got to choose her own path. Learn how she fell in love with her safety school, ASK HER ANYTHING!
Make sure to check out our August Checklist for HS Seniors. Consult these quick resources to get you started on the process this month.
As we work to adjust to the current reality, make sure to check out these dedicated COVID-19 resources: our directory of virtual campus tours, our directory of extended deadlines, as well as the list of schools going test optional this fall.
Which of these schools is not like the others?
This discussion has been closed.
Replies to: Which of these schools is not like the others?
I said:
- My goal in this conversation is to manipulate you into doing what I want you to do.
- We are still able to pay for college out of savings and cash flow, and there are no schools that have become unaffordable or are off the table because of the change in NPC results.
- Agnes Scott with guaranteed merit has become much cheaper by comparison, but we have no plans to require or even pressure you to choose the cheapest option.
- Competitive merit money exists at Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Bryn Mawr, and that money was unlikely to make a bit of difference compared to need based aid last year, but now that this year's numbers are in, we think merit money might result in a lower family cost.
- Wellesley does not offer any merit scholarships, and if you get merit money from any of the other three, Wellesley is likely to be significantly more expensive. If you raise your test scores significantly in order to increase your odds of merit, that's also likely to increase your odds of acceptance to Wellesley.
- If you raise your test scores significantly in order to increase your odds of merit, it's likely that Mount Holyoke would be enough of an admissions safety that you wouldn't need to use Agnes Scott as a safety.
- Competitive merit, like admissions, is unpredictable. It's possible you won't get any merit money regardless of what you do. That's okay.
- We are still able to pay for college out of savings and cash flow, and there are no schools that have become unaffordable or are off the table, regardless of whether you get any merit money.
She said:
- I should take the SAT and ACT seriously and study, then. Can you give me an idea of what scores I should aim for?
- I don't dislike Agnes Scott and plan to apply there even if my scores go up a lot.
- I really appreciate that you're talking to me like an adult, so I know what's going on and can be part of the decision making process.
- I really appreciate that you aren't taking Wellesley off the table, and that the decision won't be based solely on money. I really like Wellesley a lot from what I've read, and would like to do an overnight in the fall.
My guess, based on the 75th percentile numbers on the NPCs, is that 1500 / 34 are reasonable target numbers for "you have a decent chance to get some merit money from at least one of Mount Holyoke, Smith, or Bryn Mawr." I don't know that those are attainable, though; she's an unlucky guesser on multiple choice tests. And that's fine; the tax savings and bonus money will get transferred into the college savings pot, the projected increase in which has already been factored into the NPCs.
Also, I am really looking forward to 2022, the first year that will not be a financial aid base year.
So, add coed schools back to the list? What's your best case scenario there? Minimal additional applications, only schools I'll love as much as Mount Holyoke and Smith, I don't care if there are men in the dorms or even on campus, but I might change my mind and like to have some of them in class. Bryn Mawr and take more classes at Haverford? Oh, yeah, I forget you could take all your classes there if you wanted. That would work! Never mind.
Apparently some random comment I made caused her to doubt her next year's schedule. Your schedule is fine. You will be fine. Go talk to the teachers you'll have and ask them about handling the workload. Practice good sleep hygiene.
There's no good solution to the orchestra issue, which is really a personality issue with the orchestra teacher.
Fifteen more months, right?
So the requested schedule is:
Orchestra
AP Lit (recommended for anyone with a passing score on the AP Lang test; kid is expecting a 4 or better based on feedback from her teacher, who is an AP grader)
AP Calc BC (recommended for anyone with an A or B in Honors Pre-calc; AB is recommended for anyone with a C in Honors Pre-calc)
AP Physics C Mechanics (taught as a year-long class by kid's current physics teacher)
AP Chem
AP US Gov (taught as a year-long class by kid's 10th grade APUSH teacher)
Check that it's AP US gov and not AP gov (US+ comparative).
It's just US Gov. AP Comp Gov is a different full-year course. She picked US over Comp in part because she really likes the teacher, and is familiar with the workload that teacher expects in an AP class.
Only five applications (Wellesley / Smith / Mount Holyoke / Bryn Mawr / Agnes Scott), and the current versions of their apps are not particularly writing heavy. No outside scholarship / competitive scholarship apps. If she were applying to ten schools, or applying to more schools with multiple essays each, or chasing competitive merit, or weren't a strong writer, I'd worry more.
Fortunately for everyone's sanity, her school only does whole letter grades (no +/-), and kid is mostly indifferent to grades and class rank. Physics 1 really beat the perfectionism out of her. A B or two at midterm would not be the end of the world.
All of the schools are 100% affordable with no parent borrowing assuming a reasonably accurate NPC, and we have a straightforward situation: wages, cash in the bank, both legal parents married to each other. The only reason merit is even a consideration is that we're right at the tipping point where merit could possibly be a better answer than need-based aid, and it's administratively more convenient to get merit aid.
That said, I suspect she has a great shot. I'd take her! Also wanted to add that IME Bryn Mawr is the most generous with merit aid, followed by MoHo and IDK about Agnes Scott. Smith only has a handful, Wellesley none. I can give you specifics in DMs if you want.
*Not to suggest that women at co-eds aren't high-achieving!
@calmom She'll also apply EA1 to Agnes Scott, so can expect a decision 12/15. If for some reason she's rejected, there will be a little time to regroup. And I've been running the NPCs with the cash we expect to have in the bank after another 9-12 months of saving, and not planning for any decrease as we spend down. So I think there's as much margin for safety built in as we can reasonably get.
Agnes Scott has guaranteed merit for her current test scores and [current grades plus straight B's first semester senior year] GPA. Definitely the cheapest option by far, most convenient to get to, super-diverse student body, IMHO the best hand-holding for setting yourself up for after-college success. Lots of plusses there.
Wellesley is most expensive, but not by a huge amount, even with no merit at any of the other schools. And the reality is that we have the ability and willingness to pay, if it comes down to it.
My time in the area (many a weekend with a romantic interest and her friends hanging out and/or studying) always thought it was an awesome place with smart but approachable students. Do they still have horses?
And they do still have horses!
It’s been a while. Like Depeche Mode and The Cure were a thing, long.