Is he aiming too high?

momrath
Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:34:40 +0000

jsmom, I’d agree with the prevailing advice: proceed with caution. HYPSM are reaches for everyone. No one can say definitively that they will choose your son or someone else’s son, but the chance of acceptance for a “less than perfect” applicant (most likely about 90% of the applicant pool) is just fair. So, yes, apply, apply early if it suits him and fuggetaboutit.

Then the real work of building a reasonable and exciting list begins. Do some visiting if you haven’t already and see what atmosphere attracts. I’d suggest that your son take a look at Williams: also selective, but with excellent math and excellent music, with plenty of performance opportunities for non-majors as well. The combination of academics/music (or any of the arts)/sports is very appealing to Wiliams.

Generally speaking, small LACs value extracurriculars more than big schools because they need active multi-faceted kids who will contribute to the campus community in more than one area. They all have orchestras and bands that need musicians.

You haven’t mentioned your financial situation. With the financial meltdown, 2009 is uncharted territory. A lot of the guidelines of past years are going to be thrown out the window as families and colleges have a hard time raising cash. I think that kids who pay their own way will get a surreptitious boost and kids who need need based aid will enter a highly selective pool. Merit money – very, very competitive. And loans, who knows? I know this contradicts what we know about needblind policies and statements like “we guarantee to cover the expenses…” but that was last year. This year is something else.

I’d also mention that he should take care in choosing his recommenders. Any hint of “smart slacker” would be deadly at any of these high achieving schools. Find a teacher from a class where he actually did the homework. :)