MSU is unfortunately not on the yola nmf page, but a parent breaks it down on this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18636932#Comment_18636932
@Mom2aphysicsgeek and @nw2this Someone sent me a pm once about stacking MSU scholarships. Definitely don’t rule it out. There are lots of ways to get to an affordable COA.
Very helpful! Thanks @nw2this!
If by MSU, we are talking Michigan State, scholarships are definitely stackable. One of the reasons my daughter visited. Isn’t totally clear how competitive some of them are though. Can get close to $0 COA (if not totally there plus a little in some cases).
@itsgettingreal17 Congratulations, that is terrific! I’m jealous, my D17 is going to have a real end-of-summer scramble on her hands and I’ll probably be her focus point when she vents.
@paveyourpath Thank you, that was very helpful. What school was the AO from? I’ve also heard that they want to see “specialty work” in the area that you want to study. The examples they use are always engineering and bio sci. but what if you are interested in business or psych? How many classes are offered in those areas at an average high school?
@saillakeerie We met someone on our trip that did the helicopter trip and they walked up some places with water in Zion. I did see that area it looked beautiful in pictures, but my friend lives in Arizona so we did that. The person who did it said the three day trip was just as expensive as there one day trip with a helicopter.
Thanks @JenJenJenJen D was actually in a writing mood today and finished one more in addition to her personal statement and they are all edited and ready to go.
She’s way behind on summer homework though. She has 3 books to read plus writing assignments to do with only 3 weeks before school starts. She has a lot to do!
I noticed this article about the decline of students taking the SAT II tests: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2016/07/sat_subject_tests_see_steep_decline_in_participation.html
Well Rounded: AO said it’s a common misinterpretation that selective colleges are looking for the well rounded kid. They are looking to put together a well rounded class and that is done by finding the right individuals. His example was a math geek who is interested in only doing math competitions is what he would say is not well rounded but is as much a contender as the kid that is doing many different things.
Sometimes it is easier to be well rounded than be brilliant at specific areas, e.g. international math Olympiad Team, Intel or Simons finalists, piano champion, debate champion, Michelle Kwan, etc. I am sure all the specialty kids will be admitted, but how can mere mortals get to selective colleges, if you don’t have a specialty or hook? By being a well rounded candidate, so that at least you can get to your safety and match schools.
I was also curious about what school the AO was from, since I think the strength of preference for spiked vs. well-rounded differs by school.
@Ynotgo, thanks for the article about declining of SAT II takers.
DD really dislike those exams!
@fun1234 My wife and son took a helicopter tour of the Canyon while my daughter and I rode the mules. My daughter never would have gotten in the helicopter. I definitely would have.
That is so true. Also, it takes many years of focusing in one area to discover interest or talent. Without first being well-rounded and trying out different activities, it is hard to find that special spike.
SAT subject tests declined in our house. S15 took 4. D17 won’t take any.
@lkg4answers @nw2this AO at Duke. (He has worked at two other highly selective colleges and said that his advice is applicable to any of the highly selective schools. He did not mention which schools) AO at Georgetown had said the same thing about looking for what she called “pointy” kids.
@SincererLove This AO said it’s all going to come down to the essay. 32K applications last year and 10% were accepted. He personally reviewed 1500 apps. He urged the kids to spend the time on the essay because that’s the only thing that is used to advocate for a kid during the admissions discussion. If you need to get support of other AOs, they have to find your essays compelling. He said the essays are the most viewed part of the app because once the first reviewer determines grades and standardized test scores show promise for succeeding and you have good LOR, once they recommend acceptance the rest of the admissions board will only read essays and maybe LOR.
To your point about how mere mortals get to selective colleges, our tour guide demonstrated that he is your mere mortal. He said he was a good student in high school but he was not on the ball about getting things done and even looking for colleges. He said in the fall of his senior year, he went online and put his stats into college board search to begin his search. He said he didn’t get to spend a lot of time on his essays because he waited so long to start his search and just didn’t have enough time. He said money was a huge factor for him and that he is extremely grateful for the generous package that he was offered. When we talked after the tour he said he is from a middle class family in NY and affording a selective school was out of reach, went to a public high school where the kids all got good grades and had strong sports teams. He doesn’t play any sports but enjoyed the competitiveness of sports. He had no hooks, was not Val/Sal, not the captain of any team and had no leadership EC. He had no idea what he wanted to major in when he got to college and took his first Comp Sci class freshman year and liked it. He’s a Comp Sci major and a biology minor. He was a friendly kid who is just curious about the world and if I had to guess I would say what the admissions committee found compelling is he was a blank canvas.
Lastly, should add the AO apologies to the class of 2017 for what is the year of more changes and uncertainty in testing and applications (Common vs Coalition). He emphasized that the essays will be what really tells about who they are. He’s suggestion was he doesn’t care what you write about as long as you are yourself.
@ paveyourpath An AO that acknowledged the changes for 2017! Yay! Let’s hope all adcom offices have the same attitude.
Oops. That posted before I typed thank you for you post.
Just back from visiting a couple schools. One message I heard first hand delivered very matter of factly by an Ivy Admissions Director during the information session was that they knew the ACT writing scores were wacko low this year and not to worry a whit!
Okay, then #:-S
@mommdc You are too kind!
Western Washington University report coming when I have time to write it up. Short version - the whole family loved it! What a beautiful setting. Student guides were articulate and down to earth.
@mamaedefamilia Ha! We might have had the same tour guides! I’m glad your family felt the same way as mine. I’m looking forward to hearing your report!