We are still early in the process and have several more schools to tour, however, so far D has a clear first choice. The problem is that this small LAC really pushes ED hard and that is not possible for us. D is more than qualified, bordering on over qualified. I don’t want the school to think she is using them as a safety. We have done all the typical things – visit, interview, thank you letter. Is there some other way to let a school know that they are not a back up, but a true top choice?
ED is not possible because we will want to compare financial offers from different schools. Also, the net price calculator will not tell whether D will be accepted to the honors program or receive other competitive scholarships that are offered at the school.
While the school is a top choice, those other factors will still be a consideration.
True, if you are hoping (or needing for affordability) that the school will further entice her with merit scholarships, ED does not seem like a good idea.
Are there any specific but less common reasons your daughter truly likes that college? If so, might be a good idea if she describes those in the “why this college” question on the application. Not a generality that everyone would know, but something tied to the reasons she prefers that college over others.
One tip: if merit money is important, it is NOT a good idea to say that a college is a first or top choice in an application. Colleges like to direct merit money where it will get the most bang for the buck, so not a good idea financially to offer a large scholarship to a student who would attend anyway without the money, or with less money.
Does their application have a “Why College X?” essay? As @calmom said, be sure she knocks that out of the park. She should be specific and enthusiastic. Not “I like small class sizes”, but “I like that the college offers X major with the X subspecialty.” Discuss majors/minors, facilities, any profs she met or classes she sat in on, any ECs specific to the college, etc. And let her enthusiasm show in the essay. The “Why X” essay isn’t a time to be creative or play it cool. A genuine, well researched essay that shows why the school is a fit for her and she is a fit for the school can go a long way. But I do agree that saying it is her number one choice could hurt you in the merit hunt.
Of course, as I’m sure you know by now from reading the threads out here, part of your job is to help her find multiple schools she could be happy with if accepted. Don’t let her get set on one school – one way or another, that often leads to heartbreak.
If you tell us the school, we might be able to suggest similar schools to look at so she has more than one school that she loves.
Also – her favorite school now might not be her favorite by next May. My D2 took a class senior year of HS that changed her ideas about her major (and she is now a PhD student in that new direction she took). Size and distance from home preferences can also change. Finally, there is a lot to be said for collecting all the acceptances, reviewing the FA/merit offers, and then attending accepted student visits at the top 2-3 choices. 24 hours on campus is very revealing, and can definitely change your mind. My D2 went into her top 3 accepted visits with a pretty specific preference order. It totally flipped after the visit – the 3rd place school won out, and was a great fit for her for 4 years.
@intparent Thanks for the great suggestions. We actually have a very nice list of “likelies.” (thanks, in no small part to the great people of this forum.) I’m not worried about her not having any acceptances. I think I have just spent too much time here lately reading posts from kids with incredible stats being waitlisted and rejected from schools that seemed nearly certain. I’ve gotten a little spooked. I understand that nothing is a sure thing, but I just want to make sure the school knows they are not simply a “safety.” After that, whatever happens happens.
By the way, what you described is what happened to D1. She visted her safety several times and ended up choosing it over what she originally thought was her dream school. I am a huge fan of safeties!
Actually, for the “why college X” essay it’s even better if the student can talk about what she can contribute or bring to the college-- along with the detail of what that college offers. For example-- in another thread, the OP mentioned her daughter was interested in theater and science. So talking about the opportunities that college offers for theater participation and undergraduate research – with specifics – can be a way to telegraph to the school both that the student is seriously interested, and that the ways in which the student will contribute if she is accepted.
Take an advertisement out on that school newspaper. Say: “If I am accepted, I shall attend even if I am accepted at Harvard.” Signed XX. If the school you are applying is Harvard, substitute Stanford with Harvard.
Do something like this if you think you have no chance to be admitted there.
@websensation Sort of like those adds that production companies take out in trade papers urging the academy members to consider their actors for Oscars. I remember one urging consideration of William Shatner. I don’t think he won.
But it sounds like you really won’t (can’t) go if the FA is not enough. I don’t think it would be wrong to tell the school they are your first choice but that you can’t ED because of the financial considerations. Honesty goes a long way.
Know the school, what it offers and what you offer them. In other words, know your match, not just your own desires. That’s not always, “You have X major,” when lots of schools do. Nor other generic answers.
But not all colleges specifically ask “Why Us?” Some couch it in other sorts of questions and many will look at how you fill in the rest of the application and supp. If they like and look for X and Y attributes, but you present yourself as Z, oops.