<p>There is plenty of tension and worry associated with the college admission process–even for the parents who have already graduated from college–but I think this is also a good time to reflect on good news. I was really pleased to see some decisions announced this year among young people I know in real life that showed colleges willing to look at a young person’s passions and interests and not just judge everything by the numbers. That was reassuring. Here on CC, among people I DON’T know in person, there also seemed to be some interesting cases of low-income students (of whatever ethnicity) getting a chance to show that they can be successful students at highly selective colleges, with no financial worries. So I’m glad to see signs that admission officers really are human beings making human decisions. </p>
<p>What reassuring discoveries have you had about the college admission process this year? What would you say to calm down a parent who is worried about the process? What parental words of wisdom do you have for the high school students in class of 2008 who go through the process next year?</p>
<p>D1 is getting very close to making a final decision, but I get to go through this again next year with D2! </p>
<p>One assuring thing I’ve seen is after some initial disapointments (ED was a bloodbath for my D and her friends), most all of them ended up being accepted to really great schools, some with $$$. Many of these schools weren’t their first choices, but in reality may be the best fit for them.</p>
<p>I think many schools did look at the applications wholistically, but not all. Some did appear a bit random or strictly by the numbers. Next year more research will be done before an application is sent.</p>
<p>D2, having watched her sister go through this, seems to be already preparing for the process. It would be nice to not always be rushing at the last minute again next year.</p>
<p>If you pick the schools wisely and have a nice selection of reaches,a match or two, and a great safety then it will all work out. Find one of each you can really see yourself at and then spin the wheel. Don’t set your heart on only one or two reaches.</p>
<p>drizzit has it right. S has been going through the list of everyones acceptances at his school. Very few rejects. All got into first or second choice. Kids seemed to choose well at his school. Also learned that our counselors are pretty astute. And learned some colleges really do only raise their tuition by 4% in one year! Isn’t that reassuring?</p>
<p>Doing well at the college you end up at seems to be more valuable than simply graduating from a more prestigious school. I have seen many examples this year of students graduating from “no-name” colleges going on into prestigious graduate programs.</p>
<p>I learned to trust my gut. After looking at schools that gave good merit aid for students with my S’s stats, I had a feeling that my S would like Tulane, and convinced him to go to a regional reception. He was intrigued after that, and said he’d like to visit. Once we visited, he really started considering the school seriously, and was thrilled to get a good merit offer from them.</p>
<p>I was also reassured when my strategy for his college selection - selective affordable State school, and schools with good merit aid for his stats - worked. Since this was my first time, and didn’t discover this board until late in the game, I was really flying by the seat of my pants.</p>
<ol>
<li> The federal government is incompetent and has no really good control over information. Two experiences tell me this is true.</li>
</ol>
<p>I am doing a security clearance at the moment (that’s all I’ll say), and they needed to ask my family a few questions. They could not get my mom’s phone number, and instead had to ask me for it. Yes, the federal government could not find G. Schwartz. They had to ask me for her number.</p>
<p>It’s no wonder they can’t find. O. bin Laden…</p>
<p>But since I hate the idea of an overpowered government, this makes me happy.</p>
<p>The second reason I believe this is true is my conversations with FBI employees and hearing how restricted they actually are…but that’s a different story…</p>
<ol>
<li> Grad school grades are meaningless.</li>
</ol>
<p>Above a 3.0, grad school grades are just meaningless tokens. I’m happier taking the hardest coursework and getting B+s than trying to pad my GPA and not have as many hard skill sets to advertise on my resume.</p>
<p>Heck, tons of grad schools have ditched grades altogether.</p>
<p>This is the key, kids and parents. A common bit of advice here on cc is “fall in love with your safety”. I would add to that, “do NOT fall in love with your dream school”. The chances are very good your heart will be broken. Play it cool.</p>
<p>My second bit of advice plays off the first. Even if all your dreams are tied up in those “top-ranked” schools that do not believe in merit aid, if your family would benefit from merit money, take a look at schools that do offer it.They may be thrilled to find you amongst their applicants. My son got into one of his two favorite schools back in the EA round. Now, he has been offered a whopping merit scholarship to a very fine school he hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about before. His decision would be a heck of a lot easier if he had worked up more love for the second school, and less for the first.</p>
<p>Right, and below 3.0 you get pitched out on your ear (the lower limit was actually 3.25 at my grad school department), so like I said, grad school grades don’t matter unless they are lousy grades. Lousy grades will get you kicked out.</p>
<p>Yeah…but how many programs curve heavily enough that 99% of people never are in danger of getting thrown out? Heck, Duke’s poli sci department gives everyone a pass NO MATTER WHAT.</p>
<p>Sheesh. I like grad school though. Learning is actually kind of fun.</p>
<p>^^I don’t know. All I can speak for is my old school (UC Davis), and there they kicked grad students out if they got crummy grades. I saw it happen. Also they kicked you out if you flunked your orals twice. One flunk = Okay, try again. Two flunks = You’re history.</p>