<p>Thanks to @PTigerMomAlum & others… </p>
<p>I am quite sure that it will still work out well for my daughter. She is resilient and will simply await the final decision (Stanford) on the 1st… and then evaluate where she stands. We should receive the USC decision in today’s mail… and Vanderbilt announces tomorrow. We clearly are not expecting a miracle from Stanford. At present, she would need to choose among 4 FL colleges, and that would likely come down to selecting FSU or New College of FL over UMiami and UTampa. She clearly was not “shut out” completely because she did apply to an array of schools. The Ivies are always a difficult “In”… and so are NU and UChicago. I guess that we are most surprised by Duke and UVa. We are assuming those that are Wait-Lists will never amount to an offer. So, 9 No’s so far… Stanford will make it 10.</p>
<p>When I speak of ethnicity, I merely do so as a cautionary tale for future applicants… just as many others before warned us. Anyone can search online for “unhooked white female” and read the numerous news accounts from this year and the past few. It is simply the reality of things. When you also factor in being from a public HS in FL that does not have a very good track record in terms of successful admissions to many of these elite colleges, the writing on the wall does become even more clear.</p>
<p>Our advice would be to try your best to fall in love with a host of schools, representing a wide array of college selectivity ranges. My D’s 17 colleges ranged from 6% to 60%. So far… the lowest she has gotten into accepts 40%. USC would change that to 18%… Vanderbilt to 13%. But choose well… as her No’s have ranged from 7-26%.</p>
<p>Yes… research/plan well and shoot for the reach schools (especially EA/ED if feasible), but clearly add 4-8 matches to your 1-3 reaches and 2-4 safeties. And just keep in mind that you are also being seen as a member of a specific applicant pool type. Like it or not… the colleges will categorize you to an extent. Asians and Asian-Americans are currently harmed as a group to the greatest degree by this quota system approach… followed by white females and so on…</p>
<p>And if you lack a significant hook… legacy, athlete, geographic uniqueness, URM, etc., then you need to be prepared for that cruel reality that it is a #s game that does not favor you due to the sheer # of qualified applicants to each of these programs. My D’s rejection letters and wait-list letters also tell that tale well… we received 19K+_, 25K+, 30K+ or even 50K+ applicants this year. It is a challenge not only for the applicant to overcome such, but it is also a challenge for the AdComs themselves. They want to craft that well-rounded freshman class… and they want to have that 50/50 male/female ratio if they can… with students from every state… seeking every major, etc., etc. And they are pressured by the athletic programs, etc., etc. They have a difficult task indeed. I do not begrudge them… nor do we begrudge those admitted using whatever possible hook that may be available to them. God speed and use what you can :)</p>
<p>Good Luck to this year applicants at the school they will ultimately choose to attend. And good luck to future applicants. Select schools to apply to wisely… over-apply (i.e. be cautious) and apply to an array of schools (reach/match/safety)… and do not allow yourself to get shut-out, either in total or even among just the schools that truly inspire you 
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