Parents of the HS class of 2010 - Original

LIMOMOF2 · February 13, 2009, 11:13am

missypie - thanks for that great tip - that’s one I haven’t heard before, so something else to consider. Good luck to your S. :)

Queen_s_Mom · February 13, 2009, 11:17am

Thanks, missipie. Any other tips will be greatly appreciated, coming from the voice of experience as it were.

pugmadkate · February 13, 2009, 12:30pm

Not a dumb question at all. Hopefully more people will weigh in with how they do it because my method is rather labor intensive.

<ol>
<li>Go to the forum here “College Search & Selection”</li>
<li>Click on “Links to the Common Data Sets Posted by Colleges”</li>
<li>Go to page 19 for the most up-to-date list.</li>
<li>Click on the college I want the information for. </li>
</ol>

Now you are on the colleges website at the Common Data Set page and I check for a few things. Here’s a link to BU’s website for an example of each of these, [Boston</a> University - Office of Enrollment Planning and Retention](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/oep/cds.html]Boston”>http://www.bu.edu/oep/cds.html)

-C7Relative importance of each of the following academic non academic factors in your first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admissions decisions.

-C9Percent and number of first-time, first-year (freshman) students enrolled in Fall 2008 who submitted national standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.

-C10. Percent of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school class rank within each of the following ranges:

-C11. Percent of all enrolled, degree-seeking first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school grade-point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale):

I compare my kids data against that information. He took a practice SAT and ACT so we would have some numbers to work with. I then place in the school in the catagory of “reach, match, or saftey.” Or, sometimes, “no go.”

If it stays on his list, then I look at the Data Set for more specific information. Then I look at the schools website. Sometimes I will change the place of the school on our list. And, of course, the brain bender is that I then must do that all over again for students who get merit aid. It’s basically, the way I do it, gathering info. until I feel like I understand the basic profile of the school or am driven to drink.

Of course, I’ve never helped a kid get into college before, so it remains to be seen how well I’ve done with my system.

DougBetsy · February 13, 2009, 12:48pm

Uh oh. Now I have to go evaluate Son’s list according to pugmadkate’s method.

Until now all we did was look at pretty pictures on the website. (JK) ;)

We plot Son’s (predicted) SAT and GPA against the schools’ averages. If he is below 25%, it’s a no. Below 50% = reach. Above 50% = match. Above 75% = safety.

I also consider admit rates, but less scientifically.

mathmom · February 13, 2009, 1:33pm

The problem is that my S2 is likely to be well above 25% on scores, but not on grades or ranks at a number of schools. I figure we just have to cast a slightly wider net. His grades have been improving - so that may work in his favor. He seems to have a pretty realistic outlook he thinks his friends (lower scores, slightly better grades) are overreaching. Dh thinks it’s fine to apply to superreaches, I think it’s a waste of money. Nothing is written in stone yet though.

He met with counselor and was told that if he’s interested in Vassar caliber schools an AP would be better than taking African and South American history. He loves the guy teaching AP Stats so it looks like this will be his schedule:

English (probably honors)
AP Euro
AP Calc BC
AP Stats
AP Physics C
Orchestra
Performing Arts program (more orchestra) alternating with health

mom2010grad · February 13, 2009, 1:35pm

pugmadkate (think I just finally figured out how to read your screen name - pug mad Kate) ~ Thank you very much for the information you provided about using the common data set for determining reach, match and safety schools. For those of us with their first kid just starting the college admissions process any information we can get is greatly appreciated.

CountingDown · February 13, 2009, 1:45pm

Mathmom, Ditto here. (I think we have the same kids!) Scores will not be the problem for S2. That’s why he’s casting a wide net in the middle, too. Because some of those are considered “back-ups” for kids with the scores and grades, it’s important that S2 demonstrates that he is really interested in attending and that they are not substitutes for HPYSM (which are not even on the list).

Besides looking at 25/75% SATs, we looked at his school’s Naviance data and found that the four likely acceptances on his list right now have an extremely good track record of admitting kids from his school, and that he sits on the far right of the curve in that group. Three of the four offer merit $$ opportunities, too.

Maybe he’ll take $$. Maybe he’ll take the program. Maybe he’ll follow his GF. Maybe he’ll choose the best meal plan. I can’t tell yet.

zoosermom · February 13, 2009, 1:59pm

I wish we had Naviance.

DougBetsy · February 13, 2009, 2:04pm

Same here.

ag54 · February 13, 2009, 2:22pm

Me three. We don’t even know what the breakdown of ranks are until October of senior year!!! SLOWWWWW!

mommusic · February 13, 2009, 2:23pm

Haha. A friend of mine whose D is a senior & doing intensive visiting/auditioning right now swears there are two kinds of schools…the ones where, during the tour, they place great emphasis on the meal plan, and all the others.

If they talk a lot about the meal plan, it’s not a place her D wants to go.

pugmadkate · February 13, 2009, 2:27pm

Yes, I am pug mad Kate! After raising and living with two well mannered big dogs, we figured a tiny pug would be a snap. Ha! The inner drive most dogs have to please their owners is completely lacking in pugs. However, their ability to get you to do their bidding and just feel happy to be near them is highly evolved.

Thank you also for being so kind about my “method.” I was nervous to check back fearing I mind find posts like, “Kate, Back away from the computer before you completely lose your mind.”

mathmom, I think that’s a very impressive Senior year schedule. S’s grades are good, his scores are excellent and his ec’s are weak (well, here in CCland, they are weak.) So I pay pretty close attention to the relative importance rating system and go with schools that match up to S’s profile. If ec’s are a priority, it’s just not the school for him. And so on (read: until my brain cries for mercy.)

pugmadkate · February 13, 2009, 2:29pm

I think that Naviance is a service that some schools offer but are scattergrams something that anyone can look at?

Because I need yet another variable to drive myself crazy with.

zoosermom · February 13, 2009, 2:32pm

NOW you should back away from the computer! Someone posted a list of school Naviance sites that don’t require a password. Do you want I should re-post that for you?

pugmadkate · February 13, 2009, 2:36pm

I’m afraid, zoosermom!

I guess I don’t understand how Naviance works. I thought it was information broken down specifically for one high school and it’s students. Is it designed for anyone to use? Are scattergrams part of it?

And doesn’t “scattergrams” sound like the title of a fun board game?

ag54 · February 13, 2009, 2:38pm

Yes, post it! It will give me something else to do to kill time at work until 5!

zoosermom · February 13, 2009, 2:42pm

ontheedge · February 13, 2009, 2:57pm

Zoosermon, thank you for posting the list.
I also don’t have access to Naviance . Last year, I used scattergrams from another HS.

jackief · February 13, 2009, 3:02pm

(I will be kind and not gratuitously add to the post count… THIS TIME… but will note I started writing this before zm posted the naviance lists)

look at the scattergrams Kate! it is calling to you Kate! Seriously, look at the list and it can be somewhat useful, but if you have no idea how these schools compare to yours it can lead you astray just like hanging out on cc can do.

mathmom- perhaps I am crazy but if S wanted to take the neat sounding history class instead of 2 math APs and all the other APs I would encourage it. But it sounds like he likes the stats teacher also luckily.

I have a new diversion. We got grade distributions from last year on the different school profile they handed out last night (I’ll call this one the improved profile). I am finding many interesting nuggets of info… No juniors got above A- in physics or honors physics last year. Mean seems to be a B from eyeballing it. Interesting! D had an A- first term and B+ mid way through 2nd term. Also interesting was the breakdown for AP Spanish lang last year. Vast majority of the class got a B- and only 44% got 3 or higher on the test. Don’t know if that is the teacher or the students but if I had a kid taking spanish, I would want to know that info!

Yes I have work to do an a meeting to prepare for tonight! Time is slipping away!

ag54 · February 13, 2009, 3:06pm

Ummmh, Okay… I think he’s in the wrong place ;)

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Parents of the HS class of 2010 - Original

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