<p>Have a huge dilema and not sure how to react. Daughter was rejected from one of her top choices, waitlisted at four other top choices and accepted at the rest. A huge area of concern on her application is the guidance counselor recs, and the information the school sends as data for the school. The report states 75% of students go on to college, where in truth, less than 15% actually attends a four year institution. Also, school lists several AP courses in it’s ciriculum that are not offered. Not certain how any of this data can/should be used in writing those heart felt repsonses “why I should be taken off waitlist.” Also, Daughter2 will graduate in 2009 and face these same GC reports. If the school stated their true statistics, how few students ever even apply to Ivy Leagues, would it look more favorable in the eyes of the adcom?</p>
<p>Frankly I think that misreporting of the college stats works in your D’s favor. A school with a 15% college-attendance rate would be perceived as weaker than one with a 75% rate. </p>
<p>There’s a check-off box on most GC reports that asks the GC to rate the rigor of the curriculum; that pretty much addresses the # of APs your D took in the context of the school’s offerings. </p>
<p>If your daughter wants to express interest at moving off the wait list, I think a much better strategy would be to stress how well the college fits her and show detailed knowledge of the institution, its faculty, programs, etc.</p>
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<p>For the most part when a school quotes #s like this it means both 2 and 4 year schools (unless the numbers are broken out for 2 and 4 year colleges). </p>
<p>I agree with Marathonman that the way it is currently written does make your school appear academically stronger unless you are looking to show that your D did well in a low performing school, which if she got waitlisted is not going to do anything to get her off the waitlist. </p>
<p>As far as D # 2 unless your school also has a low graduation rate, serves a majority low income population and overall is low performing, changing the report to reflect that very few students apply to the ivies, is not going to benefit D #2 (since you have a wonderful state U that gives an education comprable to the elites for a fraction of the cost, it would be understandable why many students from your school did not apply to ivies).</p>
<p>What your D needs to do is convey to the school that if it is her first choice that she will definitely attend if admitted. In addition she should supply the school with any new information or achievements.</p>
<p>I agree with above posters except it’s bad if the school lists AP courses it’s not offering. I would address this with the HS for the sake of D#2 and other students. The school report should reflect reality.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters that you are focusing on details that are trivial and unlikely to have had any bearing on the decision to waitlist your daughter. This was a very competitive year, and the most likely explanation is that your daughter aimed higher than than her record would carry her.</p>
<p>I can see from your other posts that your daughter has been accepted at UVA, Emory, and all her safeties, but was rejected or waitlisted from 4 Ivies. If your daughter is coming from an academically weaker school with no history of sending kids to Ivies, that in itself may be part of the explanation why she didn’t make the grade – more negative info about the schools won’t help. The only thing that could help would be positive info about your daughter’s accomplishments that wasn’t known or included before… but even then its a long shot. </p>
<p>Your daughter has done very well this year in terms of college admissions and gotten accepted at some very difficult colleges. I thin that to get accepted to an Ivy from a public school with no track record, the student really requires exceptional abilities or talents that are demonstrated in ways that go beyond the school or school activities – such as having regional, state, or national recognition for an activity or a sport. It’s a high bar. </p>
<p>You should also know that colleges are generally need-aware when they go to their wait list, even if they were need-blind before. So chances are pretty slim for students needing financial aid. </p>
<p>When my daughter was waitlisted at colleges last year, I interpreted it as a message that the college really didn’t want her, but that her profile was too intriguing for them to reject outright – or more likely, there was disagreement among the ad com making the decision, and a concession was made to whoever was advocating her admission. But either way, I took it as a “no”. </p>
<p>Your daughter has excellent choices now and I think the best thing you could do would be to encourage her to focus on the colleges that have welcomed her.</p>
<p>I was a bit emotional when first writing this post yesterday. Marathonman’s words of wisdom gave me much to ponder. Didn’t appropriately express the situation well. </p>
<p>For what it’s worth, very difficult with no assistance from the school, to apply to any school, whether in state, out of state, or to an elite university. GC’s spend more time with discipline issues than acutally counseling those students that excel. The application process was a mystery with no guidance. Fortunately, we live in a state with excellent state schools. The logical side of me knows she has incredible opportunities.</p>
<p>momray…as a VA Mom from a school where only 50% graduate and AP instruction is dismal, I “know your pain” re zero guidance department. I also feel our guidance dept was a barrier that had to be overcome.</p>
<p>Let this go is my advice. Your daughter won the lottery with UVa and one of our great private colleges to choose between. Plenty of OOSers sad about getting denied entrance to UVa today and plenty of instaters too. Emory is also a truly fantastic alternative experience. Your girl must be a standout. I have lived in Atlanta four times. Extremely intoxicating to be there when you are young. And everyone knows Charlottesville is something special. </p>
<p>Chances at the Ivies were always slim and it is unlikely GC services or lack thereof altered much.</p>
<p>Thank you for everyone’s input. And faline, I have or am trying to let it go. Actually, she was waitlisted at Emory too. On the waitlist at Emory, Cornell, Columbia, and Yale. Certain Calmom is correct…waitlist is just a more polite form of rejection but in retrospect, considering her background and such, we will deem it an honor. Spring break will be touring our state and her accepted choices and that very difficult question…UVA or W&M.</p>
<p>Thank you for everyone’s opinion.</p>
<p>William and Mary is also a jewel institution. My son was there for a summer and the personal attention he got from highly published professors was simply amazing. Good luck making the decision between two honors colleges.</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter; it sounds like she has already accomplished a great deal, and has done so without the kind of support network at the school that some other kids enjoyed. She’s got some great choices, and you get her closer to home in the bargain!</p>