<p>A good friend of mine is applying to every single Ivy, plus other elite schools (Stanford, UChicago, etc.) and two safeties (which she doesn’t really care for). The majority of her list do not have undergraduate business schools (which is what she wants to do in college). When I told her this, she just shrugged and told me she was applying anyway. How can I tell her she’s making a huge huge mistake? She’s only applying to these schools for their big names. My friend is a good student and has good test scores, but she’s certainly not a 4.0, 2400 student, and I’m fearful for her.</p>
<p>I’d be more worried about the lack of safeties. Safeties are meant to be schools that you’re 99% going to get into and wouldn’t mind attending. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t tell her that she’s making a huge mistake. Instead, I’d probably suggest that she take a look at a broader range of schools that might not be as prestigious, but fit her criteria and academic profile better.</p>
<p>Maybe if we knew more about this girl ie test scores, interests and so on, we could make some suggestions.</p>
<p>I have told her that she should look at other schools, but she doesn’t listen to me.
She has a 3.8, 2150-ish. She’s also Asian.</p>
<p>You’re mixing up accounts…</p>
<p>Also, it’s her life. Tell her your opinion, express how strongly you feel and that you’re worried, and leave it at that.</p>
<p>Direct her to the decision threads of HYPSM and the other schools she’s looking at.</p>
<p>@ChasingRabbits whoops I did…I’ll go delete that. I made a second account because I have a feeling she lurks on this site, and I wanted to ask advice anonymously. My main account is very similar to my first name, so I think she would figure it out.</p>
<p>And now I can’t delete it, lalala. Oh well.</p>
<p>^Report post if you’re really worried.</p>
<p>As 2150ish Asian her chances are severely depleted, link to her some decisions threads on this forum to knock some sense into her.</p>
<p>I have a feeling she’s going to get rejected from every Ivy as well as those “elite” schools.</p>
<p>She sounds like someone who is ultra-focused on top schools; I’ve seen this before in families, where it’s the state school or an Ivy-level, no middle ground. Since you cannot change her, create a diversion. Encourage her to applying rolling or EA at 2-3 schools, such as a safety and U of Chicago, which is already on her list. If she gets the big “NO” from Chicago, it may persuade her to rethink her applications. But, really, it’s not your problem. She will get in somewhere, and it may be that her safety offers more than you know.</p>
<p>A potentially more practical approach: Talk to your friend enthusiastically about your own safeties—how you chose them and why you’ll be happy to go to one of them if there’s bad news come April.</p>
<p>OP, it seems that you do have a list of (business) schools where your friend should apply to. May I know where would you like your friend to apply?</p>
<p>Don’t dissuade her. Applying never hurt anyone. It also won’t hurt her to end up at one of her safeties.</p>
<p>How is a 3.8/2150ish applying to the Ivies, Chicago, Stanford and a couple of safeties a “huge huge mistake”?</p>
<p>If she doesn’t get into any of her elite list then she will have learned a valuable lesson about better research. If she does get into one of the schools without a business program, then she’ll just have to study Econ - another lesson in the repercussions of incomplete research. Either way she’ll get a valuable if unintended education; but I don’t see how this is a “huge huge mistake” or really even your problem to begin with.</p>
<p>^ While an economics degree would make you get into management, finance, mktg, accountancy, etc jobs, the course syllabus of economics is still different from that of business administration.</p>
<p>@vinceh She’s my friend, and I’m trying to help her. It isn’t my problem, but at the same time I feel like it’s my responsibility as a friend to help her. I feel she’s making a mistake because I know of a person who did basically the same thing and ended up being really upset and angry that they didn’t do research on colleges, and ended up hating the school they went to. I don’t want my friend to be unhappy in college.</p>
<p>@midwesterner That’s exactly what’s her problem. She’s convinced if she doesn’t go to an Ivy she won’t get into a good grad school. She also believes she’ll have a six-figure income just from graduating from an Ivy.</p>
<p>Well, as you make your bed, so you must lie on it. You’re being a good friend, and your pal is being a tiny bit irrational. There’s is nothing wrong with applying to top schools, but correct me if I’m wrong, it seems your friend is applying for name only. Maybe if she took the list of top schools and narrowed it down then that would also allow her to apply to some honors colleges or top state schools or more middle of the road schools. If she wants to make her college list a little top heavy that’s fine, but make sure that she would be happy attending any one of those schools. Names don’t equate happiness.</p>
<p>@Tinfoyl She is applying just because of the names, basically. And thanks for your advice :)</p>
<p>Besides the Ivys, what other “elite schools” is she considering? Some are more realistic than others. While she may have pretty good scores/GPA, your friend needs to know that a lot more goes into these colleges than those two measurements. Tell your friend that most top schools could fill their classes up five times over with people who apply with those statistics. Names aside, some schools are more likely than not to accept her depending on other factors such as essays or extracurriculars or volunteer work or yada yada yada. </p>
<p>We all like to be idealistic because often imagining what could be is better than what really is. A touch of realism, while more negative, is necessary.</p>