<p>My daughter is invited to a scholarship weekend at College X. The weekend will include inteview(s) with the scholarship committee. The school is among her top choices (she applied to 8 schools) but it is not the number one choice. How should she answer the inevitable question “Tell us why College X is your top choice” ? This is a top LAC, they will ask that–won’t they?</p>
<p>I would suggest she answer it the same way she would if it were on paper, pointing out the most wonderful aspect(s) of this particular choice for HER. Maybe it’s the intimate setting or a particular sports department. I certainly wouldn’t state that is was not the first choice.</p>
<p>How would you recommend dealing with a point blank question about other applications?</p>
<p>Thanks Just a mom</p>
<p>Is she applying to her in-state uni? Son did apply to his in-state uni along with other schools so when asked he responded with that. He did not go into the entire list. And since we live in a state with a fab system it was expected. Worked fine with the LACs and ivies.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Readalot, schools know that potential students are applying to other schools, so there’s no element of surprise to them. If I were being asked I would edit the list to include similar schools, and maybe one reach, making mention of that school being my reach.</p>
<p>Example…“oh I’ve applied to middle-sized U, small & rural LAC, artsy LAC, and I also applied to big urban U as my reach.”</p>
<p>I would recommend she forget about the preliminary choice rankings for the time being, since how can any ranking be complete until the financial aspects are known? The options can be weighed only when all the information is in.</p>
<p>My d. answered this kind of question by saying, “It is certainly among my first choices.”</p>
<p>My d. answered this kind of question by saying, “It is certainly among my first choices.”</p>
<p>Thanks–good advice</p>
<p>My D has had similar questions asked of her at various places. To the “what other schools?” question, she has variously given them one or two other schools that were similar to the one who is asking. Or a general, “I have applied to several schools similar to this one. It wasn’t easy to find this combination (of majors, or whatever - to show that she really does know something specific about this school).”</p>
<p>In the course of conversation, she has also admitted various of the following: “They are all great schools. I have no safeties.” and “The final decision will probably be determined somewhat by cost.”</p>
<p>However, since she’s not received final decisions yet, we don’t know if those were good answers or not.</p>
<p>I also wouldn’t admit to having a “reach.” In most cases, that signifies the favorite. Besides, why admit you don’t think you might be good enough for something? Or tell a school you see them as “lower” academically?</p>
<p>I think my son would say he’s not picking a first choice until he knows where he’s admitted.</p>
<p>"I also wouldn’t admit to having a “reach.” </p>
<p>Good advice. Before an interview, my d always picked out two or three similar schools so she would be ready for this question. It helps, too, to know the school’s competition; if your d is also applying to those schools, she should list those since no school wants to lose good applicants to the competition. </p>
<p>The really difficult question was, “Would you attend if accepted?” (This was from a Div. III athletic coach who was trying to tailor her list to get maximum benefit.) D had to answer honestly, “I’d have to see where else I was accepted. College X is certainly among my first choices, so the odds would be high.” Or something like that. (She chose not to attend that college, BTW, although it did end up being one of her top options.)</p>
<p>An honest answer may be a refreshing change of pace.</p>
<p>Straightforward honesty is a good “habit” to develop IMHO. And it is a habit that does require development. There are many people who glibly lie to get what they want. To offer suggestions of how to shade the truth during an intervies is giving our children a wrong lesson.</p>
<p>And no I am not talking about how to aswer your wife’s question “How do you like this dress”. That kind of lie is more about being kind, not getting what we want. Er at least then and there. Later that evening, maybe not. ;-)</p>
<p>“To offer suggestions of how to shade the truth during an intervies is giving our children a wrong lesson.”</p>
<p>Although honesty is certainly a good thing, I am not sure I agree with above statement. I think it is wrong for the schools to ask this question, because they use this information to their advantage at the student’s expense.</p>
<p>Originaloog, perhaps the more honest answer for a student under interview pressure is: “I don’t know. I’ve never been through a college process before, so I’m taking all of this one step at a time.” That throws it right back onto the Scholarship Committee’s shoulders that they have to cope with the “terrible uncertainty” that if they offer it and the kid doesn’t atttend, they’ll have to go down one line on their waiting list.
Seems to me there’s a power imbalance, as is always the case in any interview where you “want” something the other has to offer. But the wife in the dress is at least an equal partner in the relationship.
Some people have written on this forum that they don’t feel these “yield” questions are fair questions when they come from alumni admissions representatives. Of course this is about scholarship money, so I don’t know if the two processes compare.
That said, unless the kids can ask these committees, “Answer me RIGHT NOW: If I apply to you now, will you accept me on April 1” and get a real answer, I think each side of the equation has to struggle to express themselves in terms like, “odds” or “chances of.” When the kids look over the college’s stats on SAT medians, etc. they are essentially trying to see a pattern about whether they might “likely” get accepted if they apply well, so they don’t waste their time and admission fee.
So I’m still struggling myself, and considering originaloog’s valuable ethical reminder here, in case we’re LUCKY enough to face such a committee before April 1.</p>
<p>All I can say is that our son was totally upfront and honest in his interviews and applications. The result? 100% acceptances and $376,000 in merit scholarship offers. It didnt seem to hurt him at all.</p>
<p>UNC had a scholarship day a week ago for top EA kids. At this point in the “game”, I assume your College X will be in the same position—they realize that the kids they’ve invited to their scholarship day are also applying (and strongly considering) Ivies, and other top colleges. UNC spent a lot of time acknowledging that most of the kids there will have lots of choices in schools, and they focused on why kids should pick UNC. (e.g. Honors program, study abroad, etc.) I also wondered how much the scholarship people would question my D on whether UNC was her first choice…the question never came up. (and all the side discussions between kids and between parents were comparing all the other schools that are under consideration).</p>