<p>Re declaring majors:</p>
<p>DS is in a common STEM major that attracts about 2% of his college class. I was surprised to read during the app process that the college actually has the Dept look over the apps of the kids interested in this major and solicits their input.</p>
<p>That’s really demoralising. Issues with the reco letters, or the college essay? My son is a National Merit Scholar and he got rejected from his top choice. I wondered if it is because his essay did not present a profile of a man ready to conquer the world. Rather, it was mature, and acknowledged failure, while stressing perseverance. Your son could transfer after a year?</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am interested in the May list of schools. Are you thinking of rolling admissions or something else?</p>
<p>The problem is that one does not know why one was waitlisted. Does anyone think it is because the major is undecided?</p>
<p>I hear U Alabama might be still accepting apps from national merit scholars. You could also apply to Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Huntsville, UT Dallas or University of Houston and get practically a free education as an NMC.</p>
<p>I think admissions are hard to game. The most interesting portrait of a student that can be painted is the best application. One school will like it when another won’t. My S was accepted at Williams and Brown, wait listed at Amherst and rejected at Dartmouth, and we’ll never know why. One school might have loved the very thing another school didn’t.</p>
<p>Many schools will not even technically register you on the wait list until you email or call and inform the school that it is your top choice. That gives you a much better chance of getting in off of the wait list.</p>
<p>I do agree with Athena1. My D was also a NMS. A perfect SAT, research, EC, Volunteering etc. does not take you very far. Got turned down at top choice. You start wondering what else is the college looking for? May be donation to the univ? I did hear about this.</p>
<p>Brown is more alternative and liberal. Dartmouth is the most conservative college. She should go where her politics are as she will be unhappy if she is conservative in one, and liberal in another.</p>
<p>I hear U Alabama might be still accepting apps from national merit scholars</p>
<p>Yes, Bama is still accepting apps from NMFs and is still awarding their huge merit to these students. However, this is likely the last week…so apply now…the app is super easy with NO essays and no LORs required. Then fax your NMF letter to scholarships…attn: Amber Capell. Then send the college choice form to NMCorp before May 1st. </p>
<p>Amber Capell * <a href=“mailto:amber.capell@ua.edu”>amber.capell@ua.edu</a>
Scholarships fax number 205- 348-9046</p>
<p>Bama has about 600 national scholars on campus. Last fall, 182 frosh were NMFs. This fall the number will likely be higher. Last fall over 50% of students were OOS. Rumor is that this fall’s class will be over 60% OOS. </p>
<p>*I do agree with Athena1. My D was also a NMS. A perfect SAT, research, EC, Volunteering etc. does not take you very far. Got turned down at top choice. You start wondering what else is the college looking for? *</p>
<p>Elite colleges are looking for kids like YOURS. But, there are just too many of them so sometimes it may be “eenie, meenie, minie, moe…” and great kids don’t get picked.</p>
<p>Colleges pick kids who market themselves like a brand, and a brand they want. It’s revolting, but it’s true.</p>
<p>If you ask what else they want, that’s what they want.</p>
<p>And different schools brand themselves different ways.</p>
<p>It’s not the stats per se, but the way the stats create a picture that appeals and rounds out their class.</p>
<p>That’s why professionals are successful at crafting applications. That said, I am very sorry for those hard working, high achieving kids whose results didn’t match those achievements. I hope they learn to love the school they end up at.</p>
<p>And I do understand the feeling that it’s not fair.</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>True…but sometimes it’s geography. The NE elites get a gazillion apps from NE, Calif and a few other states, so kids from those states have a harder time getting noticed and picked. The same app from a kid from North Dakota will get snapped up.</p>
<p>^ the Harvard freshman profile illustrates that point, although this year’s biggest geographic bump may have gone to applicants who hailed from a state considered “Central.” See [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Statistics](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/statistics.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/statistics.html)</p>
<p>Saying Dartmouth is conservative…</p>
<p>Not getting into your #1 choice seems now to be a real bummer. But D1 did not get into her top choice, but after spending time at her college and having interactions with kids from her #1 choice, she’s come to realize that she was better off having attended college where she did. And it wasn’t a “sour grapes” thing either…</p>
<p>I suspect that many of your students will feel the same way come December.</p>
<p>My alma mater is fairly highly ranked. I haven’t checked the stats in a few years, but last time I did, 15% of admitted students had listed “undecided” as their prospective major.It doesn’t hurt you in the least.</p>
<p>It DOES help if you list an underutilized major and document a genuine interest in it. But if you’re going to major in history or psychology, etc., listing your potential major will neither hurt or help you at my alma mater and at least one other top college.</p>
<p>Re: [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Statistics](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/statistics.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/statistics.html)</p>
<p>23.4% of Harvard freshmen listed “Bio Sciences” as intended major. That is 43% of all STEM majors.</p>
<p>And 1.1% undecided- 18 freshmen. Btw, just referring to undecided doesn’t mean they were completely vague or secretive.</p>
<p>I think the whole private counselor idea is crazy. Most high schools will have adequate counseling and that is not going to get your kid into college anyway. Your kid gets themselves into college. I agree that some need help with the whole application process, but that kid should not expect to get into Ivys or any other extremely selective schools, no matter what their grades or test scores. Those schools will presume the applicant can do it all by themselves!</p>
<p>therese12, stay on here and you will understand that most kids DON’T have adequate counseling through their high schools. My DS counselors are overwhelmed dealing teen pregnancies (18 this year that we know of down from 38 last year), depression, bullying, kids requiring mental health services, etc. For the ones that do have time they really don’t know schools outside of our area. If you have a lopsided student, or someone with a learning disability, they can be worth the money, even if not shooting for the ivy league. </p>
<p>It isn’t like the private counselor is writing the essay-its about packaging.</p>