<p>momofthehill- I’m a little confused why you are concerned with the 7% F&M yield as an admissions datum, to me it would have the opposite effect so I’m wondering I could be thinking of it wrong…</p>
<p>To me, that would be a good sign for RD from an admissions chances POV. Even though they accept 70% ED, for the remainder, they have to put out so many acceptances because only 7% actually end up coming. I’m not doing the numbers now, but over ten (fifteen?) times as many offers as they still have spaces left. I don’t remember what the acceptance rate is from that thread or the CDS, to me that would be a more useful thing to consider.</p>
<p>We’ve had a few from our school attend, it is the type of school which is attractive to many of our students. None had applied ED and 58% were accepted. However, from the other thread it sounds like this has been a radical recent change at F&M so historical data may not show an accurate picture. Our numbers have been a steady handful each year. Avg GPA (remember tokenadult has commented on the tough grading at my school) is B-/B and Avg SATs 1216/1600, 1758/2400, fyi.</p>
<p>jackief–Yes, the 7% yield would be great if its because most of the RD applicants are using F&M as a safety school and decided to enroll elsewhere. Perhaps I’m being overly pessimistic, but I’m concerned that, perhaps, that low yield may be may be because the (merit) FA may not be sufficient by the time they get around to RD decisions. In the F&M forum, on one of the threads entitled “Common Data Set” one parent posted the following:</p>
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<p>Of course, I hope that’s not the case, but if it’s true, I would think that might explain at least some of that low RD yield.</p>
<p>yes momofthehill, that is a good point on the FA, thanks for clarifying. I also got the inkling from the >50% thread that many at F&M were full pay, but I didn’t follow up on that in the data.</p>
<p>and the underlying linked threads - great cautionary reads as we put together our lists of Reach, Match and Safeties.</p>
<p>In talking about this with my daughter as we try to build her list, we are increasingly thinking that these three buckets really don’t do the job - that there needs to be an additional bucket beyond reach - call it over reach? Anyone else seeing this or are we just overthinking it…</p>
<p>Continuing what scualum said above, we joke around here about the mantra “Love Thy Safety”, but it can really help your student get through when the news is not all good.</p>
<p>Just checking in to say that S passed his driver’s test. He’s very happy…and now we have to add him to our insurance. I don’t even want to think about how much extra that’s going to be! It was a big bump when we added D (once she went away to college it went way down, thankfully), but I know that teenage boys are even more expensive.</p>
<p>And a hearty thumbs up to looking at the thread scualum linked to. As for the ‘overreach’ - sure, if you don’t mind paying the application fees, it can’t hurt to throw in a couple of schools that seem unlikely on paper but that the student would really love to attend, as long as they understand what a longshot they are. Some people separate schools into safety, low match, high match, low reach, and high reach.</p>
<p>Just got the mail and the following postcard came in my name</p>
<p>Your outstanding academic achievement has qualified you for membership in The National Society of High School Scholars. CONGRATULATIONS!</p>
<p>… you have been nominated for membership… recognizes academic excellence- a level of achievement that places you among a select few… It is that commitment that paves the way for membership… Nomination confirms your superior academic status. You will receive your invitation in the next ten day…</p>
<p>I CAN’T WAIT!! Maybe I’ll send it in and see what happens. Yeah, my name is on a couple colleges mailing lists, mostly from one of those roadshows we went to last year where I think I signed up not using D’s name.</p>
<p>jackie, you will also now be interested, of course, in our “Build a Hut in Kazakhstan” summer program. It’s a mere $28,000 (not including airfare and lunches) for 4 weeks, and you will be gaining valuable leadership experience as you learn to thatch a roof, tamp down a dirt floor, and deal with large and potentially lethal insects. All of this will enhance your college application tremendously, and Harvard will be falling all over themselves to admit you and your wonderful scholarly self.</p>
<p>scualum: Yeah, we are probably going to see a lot of threads like that in the coming week. </p>
<p>Ever since they are old enough to crawl we tell our children to aim high, never give up, we tell them they can do anything, and to always think positive. And then they start making a college list and we tell them that they are reaching too high, that we need them to be more realistic and that we need them to find some safeties.</p>
<p>booklady: That’s great that your son got his license; one less thing to be concerned with over the next year. D still has to get around to getting her permit, but she’s so busy after school and the permit exam keeps getting put off. H and I are insisting that she needs to have her license before starting college, at the latest.</p>
<p>jackief–Way to go, scholar!:D</p>
<p>scualum–Thanks for the link, it’s an important reality check. Having gone through the process with my older daughter, back in '07, and recalling the admissions outcomes on CC last year, I was quite taken with how much of a gamble the admissions process is. I’m encouraging D to choose her safety schools very thoughtfully.</p>
<p>I think the out of sight reach schools are what the kids call “uber reach.”</p>
<p>jackief:</p>
<p>Awesome on the scholar biz. Way to show the way for your kids. LOL!</p>
<p>Our family is not one to wait until the last minute on things, especially when others are involved. DH was looking into various competitive summer lab options for DS and came across a good looking one at UCLA. Well, his contact person wasn’t exactly on the ball, and when he got back with details, we found out the application deadline is March 31, and we found out March 26!!! To make it worse, the program of course requires a teacher reference (math or science, since it’s an engineering program.)</p>
<p>Thanks GOODNESS I’d already worked with the GC on the transcript clean up, since the program also wants one of these (unofficial will do, thankfully.)</p>
<p>My DH was not able to make contact with the UCLA program coordinator to see if we could get an extension for at least the teacher reference. Fortunately, my volunteer work for the school district and my S’s relationship with his Calc teacher came through in spades.</p>
<p>S went to Calc teacher on Friday to explain the situation. Calc teacher will come through in the clutch (he’s a UCLA alum so he’d love to have our S so influenced ) I recently received a voice mail from him, saying S can pick up the letter Monday, a day before it’s due.</p>
<p>Phew! Meanwhile, S is at a math competition at USC today and has two hours of math tutoring on Sunday … PLUS the one page essay for this summer program he must write, etc. etc.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, I hope your son knows he is now a shoe-in to Harvard LOL. My D knows the score about the summer programs that come in the fancy envelopes, unfortunately, many of her friends do not and do one week “leadership camps” which will "look good on their college applications. I will hang out with ML’s son and all the other scholars while jym’s D gets the AARP discounts! :)</p>
<p>In principle and in practice, NSHSS values and seeks diversity throughout the organization. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, economic status or class. NSHSS believes that future success and harmony depends on our collective ability to embrace the unique perspectives and talents of our students, and highly values diversity."</p>
<p>Good to know they can’t discriminate based on age… :)</p>
<p>Okay, this is the funniest thing yet on this thread. Let’s hope we have something equally as amusing this time next year, while some of our kids will be biting their fingernails in anticipation.</p>
<p>I think one of the colleges that sends out fancy email acceptances with music should play the music to the sound “Anticipation” in the background.</p>
Maybe I’ll send it in and see what happens. Yeah, my name is on a couple colleges mailing lists, mostly from one of those roadshows we went to last year where I think I signed up not using D’s name.</p>
) I recently received a voice mail from him, saying S can pick up the letter Monday, a day before it’s due.</p>