Don’t you think “early decision” and “wait list” are the “go to” yield management tool of college admission offices. Both require applicants to say, I’ll pay full price (as merit $ is gone, financial need $ may be too) and I’ll go if offered. The AO’s take a calculated # of risks in their RD acceptances—but have to rely on ED and Waitlist to get the correct yield rate to publish. Cynicism, but it’s been a long 6 months. And it’s a vicious cycle–the more selective things get, the more colleges kids apply to which makes it less predictable where they will land, which in turn . . and on it goes. . .
Does anyone know what time Wellesey sends the emails at ? Because their past email said “in the evening” and since I’m an international applicant I’m afraid I’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning before receiving it …
Stanford’s grad here. Last century was so much easier. Our S was born at Stanford, was connected to Stanford all these years. 4.0/4.6 GPA, all top scores, super ECs, internships, 2nd in the world in a martial sport. Stanford EA did not even blink, straight rejections. I guess we need to stop sending money to our schools.
"Many things have contributed to this situation, but a big one is a relatively new culture of academic competition and “excellence” (really, perfection) instilled in (really, forced on) many children of parents who have moved here from other countries and made great sacrifices for those children. "
Maybe there are more such cases now, but this has been the case since the early 20th century, but with different ethnic groups involved. See for example http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-04-21/the-dark-chain-of-events-to-your-kid-s-harvard-rejection
Probably this is not the forum to discuss either that history or its more recent manifestations.
@dadmonster Amen, as it were…
@2019papa That’s insane. Definitely stop sending them money.
@2019papa @Momcat1 And let me say this about my son’s Cornell rejection - ED: my husband is Cornell '85 and has been doing alumni interviews for 20+ years. My son went to Cornell last summer and so impressed the Debate & Rhetoric professor that he put in a good word at Admissions for my son and said that he wanted my him for the Cornell debate team. Oh, and 2300 SATs and 800s on subject tests, and a prize winner in a science and engineering fair, a leader in Harvard Model Congress, his synagogue youth group, plays hockey and baseball (though not NCAA level), etc. etc. . . . . .and flat out rejected in December.
Just terrible… Our school district is very highly rated in CA. Stanford has admitted only one student from another high school - Hispanics, permanently handicapped with GPA 3.6.
@brooklynilene Your son will shine wherever he goes. Crimeny, who DID they accept??!!!??
Jeez it’s tough out there. You guys are not helping my stress level.
(Kids are all in school at this hour, so it’s the nervous parents taking over the discussion board…)
@2019Papa definitely stop sending money and be sure to tell them why.
Who gets into these places now? Good question. My daughter also has impressive test scores, very respectable GPA, many extracurriculars with leadership positions, and she has been waitlisted from schools that I considered safe bets - Kenyon and Bates. She was also waitlisted at Bowdoin, which is more understandable. She did get into McGill, which she loves, and Macalester with a scholarship. Waiting on seven more, but the whole process has been so grueling and soul destroying. She outshines me in most respects academically, yet I got into 11 of the 12 top institutions to which I applied thirty years ago…
The thing is our talented kids are competing against other highly talented kids. Decisions come down to inexplicable criteria. Interesting article in today’s NYT about college branding and marketing, using George Wash University as the prime example. Also cites NYU and BU.
@DrMom68 Yes me too, got into 20 colleges…NEVER would have gotten into U of C now…
With the ease of applying- they apply to too many! My own chdren included. It skews the process.
There is also kind of a battle between the rational knowledge that our great kids can get really superior educations in many institutions and the aspiration for prestige and confirmation for which neither they or we are immune. In the long run, I’m very good with the idea that my d will be fine wherever she lands, but in the crush of this week, where her many divergent future paths are to be decided, it’s hard to maintain perspective.
I applied to college twice - the first time like everybody else does and then as a transfer student. The accidents and mishaps of my original admission process actually lead me to my academic passion and to my career, and the transfer got me to just the right place to achieve what I needed to achieve. So…breathe in, breathe out…
Fellow Parents - It is so disheartening to read about your children who are high achievers getting rejections. We are getting a taste of reality as well with rejection letters for our son who has excellent academics, test scores and internships; he is also a superior athlete with several ECs, but clearly none of that is good enough!
Hold onto the fact that if your kids are hardworking and accomplished, they won’t let an admissions decision define them. They have already mastered the tools to be successful and will continue to thrive wherever they go. Soon it won’t matter where they were rejected (as frustrating as it is right now) they will be focused on making their mark at the college where they enroll.
I would love for someone to start a new thread for us parents of rejected/waitlisted legacies to grumble! This particular thread has been great for all the admissions notification updates!
I just received this in an e-mail from my daughter’s high school counselor. It made me laugh and helped put this whole process into perspective. Enjoy!
http://www.theonion.com/articles/how-the-college-admissions-process-works,35625/