College List vs. GC

1012mom
Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:59:41 +0000

Although there are certainly GCs who are lazy, ill-informed, or more worried about their own track record than the students, I think most truly have the best interest of their students at heart.

The GCs at my DDs’ private prep also spend a lot of time talking about picking safeties. Their stated goal is to assure all kids have real choices at the end of the process. Their is a tendency for parents, and sometimes students, to be unrealistic about their chances at reach schools and engage in a bit of magical thinking. For example, if my chance is 20% and I apply to 5 20% schools I will definitely get into 1 of them. Does not work that way, the GCs know that, and have seen lots of kids end up with no real choices with this strategy.

The other issue is the fake safety. This is the school where the student will likely be admitted, but will not be happy to attend. It is easy to find reach schools that are exciting and interesting. It is tougher to find safety schools with which you can fall in love. GCs often see students that put little effort or thought into choosing their safety, and then are supremely dissapointed when that ends up their only choice. That is why they push really finding the right safety school(s), and putting more emphasis there, than on the dream school. Does not mean you don’t apply to the dream school(s), just that you are really sure you would be thrilled to go to the safety too.