<p>Balletgirl, one thing this thread has absolutely right is that those kids with high grades, high test scores and taking rigorous classes are almost certainly going to get into a selective school. All ivies? All the most selective, most desired schools? Maybe not. But most likely an excellent schools with like kids their peer. The problem is that even a 99% chance means that a decent number will not get into schools of their choice. Not a tragedy, but I can tell you that in my particular situation a 90-99% chance strikes fear in the heart of a parent when that is the chance of being alive in so many years–a statistic over which many felt I should be overjoyed when there were (and are) so many with lesser chances. Clearly, to compare that with college acceptance is using a sledgehammer to chase a gnat, however, I just want to point out that a 99% rate when there are 6000-7000 individuals in the pool means that 60-70 of those fully accepting to be in that wonderful 99% are not.</p>
<p>And you are absolutely right about all of these great choices available. However, for those of us who do not have the resources to pay for those schools with those high sticker prices and with kids who have more mixed resumes so that sizeable merit awards are unlikely, the choices are more limited. Many of those wonderful school you listed–I commend your choice, it looks like our list for our son, pretty much REQUIRE visits for admissions. And much show of interest. Expensive to do so. We just returned from a visit from one of those schools in hopes of a $15K scholarship that our son is in line for. The price tag for the visit was $1500, and that is taking indirect flights (hours of travel) and staying at a fleabag. To do this for a number of schools adds up quickly, and if the sticker price of the school is $45K plus with travel, that $15K really doesn’t come to much. The state university honors program that our son likes has an OOS price tage of close to $35K just this year. The alternatives are not as plenty for those who want some of these riches without the money in hand. And we are talking about a family who is fortunate enough NOT to be eligible for aid. </p>
<p>For top students, it is not as important to visit or interview at the most selective schools, it seems. HPY does not seem to care at all as I have known a number of kids (with counselors and parents in the know) who did not bother, having visited perhaps in earlier years and saved their attention for the smaller schools that count every contact point. Large state U’s in general do not care about contact, interviews or visits either.</p>
<p>I don’t know who you know in terms of parents, but I can tell you that even living in an area where college panic is at its worst, most parents I know really want the best fit, and happiest situation for their kids. It’s when they think they will not get this, that they are concerned. Not all parents are fixated on prestige. However, most parents do have to consider other kids’ and family members’ needs as well, and the cost of some of these excellent schools has become an issue. They do have to wonder if a degree from Goucher at its sticker price is worth the financial sacrifice, whereas they won’t flinch as much at the price of THe very most well known schools-HPYS. There is a value to product recognition. And the 30K+ pricetag of OOS public colleges is causing hesitation as it well should.</p>