Of course! She’ll definitely have solid options so the reach list is more fantastical. Though I really like the input on Fordham. She visited and liked it a lot. So maybe I’ll tell her about the appeal she might have to them so she knows to work hard on that supplemental. Emory would be more of a fantasy but she does have a great grandfather who went there that is well known and could craft a following in his footsteps essay. Though again, probably that story might help get someone like her accepted rather a 45k COA.
Targets: University of South Carolina Honors, UF, FSU, Furman, UMass Amherst, UGA, College of Charleston honors
Safeties: CU Boulder (in state), Oregon State (WUE tuition reduction applies)
I fed her profile into Claude and Gemini and they said her chance of a full tuition scholarship at Emory, Vandy, or Wash U would be around 3 to 5%. I don’t know how it came up with that, but if true, maybe worth spending a weekend writing a few essays.
This is going back quite a few years, but I think it still holds true today. My daughter had similar test scores and a 4.0 UW gpa (most rigorous). Very good, but not “over the top” ECs. Example: she interviewed for an award at a school that is not on your list. One of the students who also interviewed for this award was a pilot and a chef. He flew food to pantries and shelters all over the country. I see this as a “wow” EC (although admittedly he had the means and support to do it).
From your list: she was accepted to Emory and UNC (OOS) with no merit. UNC commented on her essays. Waitlisted to Vanderbilt.
It looks like (?) your daughter has affordable safeties. I would allow her to apply anywhere as long as the fees are affordable, she wants to put in the work, and she recognizes the need for merit.
This can work, but with that said, some students who are merit hunting do put in relatively more apps.
For the safeties, just confirming that it is extremely likely that she will be admitted and affordability is also assured. For the targets, if they have higher admit rates than the reaches, but still might not be affordable, to me that’s a reach.
You might teach her how to use the CDS to look up how many students without need receive merit and on average, how much. Then she can cross reference each of the school’s app requirements and she can finalize her short list.
ETA I just saw the post with the list of target/safety schools, do note that WUE at Oregon State is not assured, so that may be more of a target. Make sure to get that app in as soon as it opens.
I would take those % with a grain of salt. Your D has a great profile but the merit scholarships at top schools are crazy competitive. The val of my D’s school with a UW 4.0 and 36 ACT, and crazy amazing ECs was WL at Vandy.
I also think you are underestimating the amount of work for these essays. My D applied to only 8 schools - 2 safeties, 4 targets, 2 reaches and she had 19 unique essays to write. The big merit essays are going to be a lot of work!
Lastly, I don’t think UF is a target if you are out of state. ‘ I’d put them in the reach category
I’m not sure I would trust them on that question, but that’s also not necessarily bad logic. What I wouldn’t encourage is cutting other great schools where enough merit was a more realistic possibility, and in fact I would make sure she had enough time and energy to really write her best possible applications for those schools.
But if she can do that AND she also has extra time and energy, AND she has a healthy mindset about what could happen, then sure, take your shot, kid.
Fordham is such a cool school. Looking at her list of Targets and Safeties, I see a lot of publics, which I know makes sense for cost reasons. And probably the last thing she needs is more schools to consider.
But I do wonder if she has looked into other Jesuit colleges as well?
Like kinda random, but Marquette in Milwaukee has a quite robust merit program, coming off not a terrible COA to begin with. Loyola Chicago and Loyola Marymount might also get there I believe. Just a thought if she wants some more potential non-public options.
After looking at your list of targets and safeties again, I am wondering if your daughter should apply to a few more schools that might get you down to your desired cost.
Take a look at SUNY Geneseo, Binghamton, and Buffalo. OOS costs are a little lower to begin with, and they give OOS merit.
I am also wondering what your daughter might want to study?
Political Science or History most likely. Definitely not a STEM kid. Since she isn’t sure though, I like the idea of a flagship with broad and solid options and also an honors college to make it feel a bit smaller.
Good ideas. She moved from Upstate NY for 9th grade here in Colorado. I know she wants to go back East and I’ve suggested Binghamton a few times and she kind of shrugs. Maybe she wants to go back East but not all the way back? I love Geneseo! But I think she’d say it’s too remote.
SUNY Bing was the best offer my daughter received from an oos flagship, came in under Rutgers. Unfortunately she had to visit during COVID in the winter when campus was closed.
Some folks find the cities of Binghamton & Buffalo a bit run-down, depressed, & depressing. As OP’s daughter is likely to receive generous offers from multiple Southern schools with Honors Colleges, and since most of her reaches are Southern universities, I wonder whether Bing & Buffalo would be attractive options for OP’s daughter.
I agree that Binghamton looks depressed and run down, but it is an excellent school and some do not mind.
I don’t see Buffalo as being depressed and run down, although parts certainly can be.
I agree that the southern targets are likely more attractive. I mentioned Delaware above- that campus is very nice and I believe she will get some money.
I’m glad you have American on your list. While overall they are not known for being particularly generous I have heard of some sizable awards so would encourage trying. One thing to note is that American is big on yield protection and (at least at my kid’s high school) has a tendency to waitlist high stats kids - the way to get around this is to show lots of demonstrated interest. Get your daughter to sign up to emails and then open them, read them, click on links - they track this. Register for webinars and virtual tours (if you can physically tour obviously that’s also a plus).
Delaware has a beautiful walkable campus for a large public, plus a cool Main Street. ETA before COVID and TO merit was based mostly on test scores, they like test scores. The honors college is solid with high stat students and a very nice freshman dorm.