At the mo, S will be applying to U New Mexico and Texas Tech, both NMF schools. Earlier in the spring he favored Tech, but he’s been turning hard toward University of New Mexico lately. It’s possible that he will be one and done at UNM.
D has Canadian citizenship as well as American, so she is looking on both sides of the border. Tuition is peanuts for Canadian citizens, even if they’ve never lived in Canada, which D hasn’t. So, that sets the standard: UBC, UToronto, or McGill, all world class universities very strong in her anticipated field of study, for under 5K USD/year (tuition. R&B and travel costs add more, of course). Admissions is easier to predict than at most top tier US colleges, so with D’s stats (34 ACT, 4.0 UW, 11APs) she has three low match/safety schools that D has visited and loves. She is leaning heavily towards UBC in Vancouver, but she’ll be spending two weeks at McGill this summer for a camp, so things could shift.
We all want her to have American options as well, but it’s hard to find the same kind of value, even though she’s a probable NMSF. She will apply to OU (state flagship) and ASU Barrett. USC is on the radar as well, especially if she could land one of their full tuition scholarships. She was born in SoCal and we still have lots of connections out there, so it’s familiar and comfortable for all of us.
She’s on the fence about applying to any reaches other than USC. Maybe UChicago and/or Hopkins, since they have Hail Mary merit, but she’s thinking the application work involved isn’t worth it, since she “will be going to UBC anyway.”
So, that was a long-winded of saying that my D will apply to:
UBC Vancouver
McGill
UToronto
OU
ASU Barrett
USC
And possibly some high reaches if she feels like it.
@3scoutsmom 1590 is insanely good. I wish my D '18 was a test taker but she definitely will be a 3x ACT. I feel for her bc she’s already under so much stress. My D14 was an ace at SAT one and done and lots of merit $$. Equally smart but different ability with tests. @daffodilpetunia my D loves Bryn Mawr it’s one of the schools recruiting her but i think we’ll be priced out. She may still apply. By far the most beautiful campus we’ve seen in visiting 20 plus coIleges! Plus their Russian program is top notch.
@ShrimpBurrito great options and with 34 she is set!!! My D14 has a friend at McGill…fantastic school. Love seeing all these college choices…such an accomplished group of kids!!
My D is likely national merit in Texas. She is primarily looking at schools that offer close to full ride, or schools that offer full tuition, but she might qualify for additional scholarships. The schools we have looked at, and where she will likely apply are:
University of Oklahoma
Baylor University
Ole Miss
University of Alabama
University of Kentucky (though there is talk that the NM scholarship may be reduced)
Florida State (if the OOS Benacquisto happens) - we haven’t looked at this campus, but she is interested in their highly competitive Motion Picture major - so there’s a lot of ifs on this one
If anyone visits OU, say hi to the Peanut Butter Shudder cheesecake for me!
S18 is a likely NMSF as well, but is not going to apply to any of the big schools for that. He is looking for a good engineering program that has great lab/maker space and a Formula or Baja SAE team. He is in a full IB diploma program and currently holds a 3.95 GPA (school doesn’t weight at all), with a 35 superscore ACT (34 not superscored). But, he will have to take the SAT next fall if he is confirmed a NMSF. He has been recruited by several D3 schools, but those are not good fits. He’s not good enough to be recruited at the schools he is looking at and is fine with that.
Narrowed down (so far) to:
Cal Poly SLO
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Stanford
MIT
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
University of Washington
Colorado School of Mines
Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech
My D has no idea about major/school. Sigh. She’s very likely NMSF, 1560/35, top 1%. Decent leadership roles but no spectacular ECs. Our HS is just fair academically, and as of right now, we have NO GCs. It’s going to be fun trying to get applications out!
My (suggested) list for her:
UT-Austin
Trinity - San Antonio
Rice
USC
Wash U
Vandy
U Miami
Dad’s list: Whatever BigMac NMF school she picks 
or TAMU
She’s mentioned: Stanford, Caltech, MIT, UChicago
Lol @ollie113 those are three wildly different lists! It’s going to be a fun year?
@ShrimpBurrito College discussions have been very lively! Thank goodness S19 has already mapped out schools/major/finances, which is a nice list of safeties, because I don’t think I’ll be able to handle this twice.
We are doing 8 schools, all in Ohio, and most of them are none you have heard of.
A mix of public and private schools with good direct-entry BSN programs. Most if not all are matches/safeties (imo). They run the gamut from less than 3,000 undergrads to more than 25,000. We picked program first, so there’s a little of everything on the list.
@ollie113 I like your three lists.
My ragtag list includes a bunch of colleges where D can study neuroscience (in one way or another) and get the cost of attendance around $20K or less with merit given her above average stats; a few state publics, a few Alabama publics, a few Catholic schools
D’s list: Rowan, Stockton, whatever; studying science with low or no debt
H’s list: Rowan (i.e., the closer the better)
I didn’t realize until yesterday that H would really, really like D close to home. They have always been very close.
H’s feelings throw a new variable to consider into my search strategy.
@MACmiracle I know a bunch of kids at both Rowan and Stockton doing very well and very happy! Also will graduate with no debt…can’t beat that.
Roonie and ollie, Pitt might be a good choice too.
Ok y’all, I am feeling compelled to say that while “we” don’t mean to sound unwelcoming or non-inclusive, and I am certainly projecting my own insecurities on this, sometimes the body of a thread can read that way. So much so that I have, on more than 1 occasion, wanted to post something along the following lines of …
Welcome So & So Parent from those of us at the back of the room,
I am part of the “keeping it real” contingent. My DD will be scrambling for admission to Podunk University for the criminally unable to compete slackers in their class’s 11.7th % with mediocre SAT/ACT scores and GPAs (1170/25, after first sittings, 3.6 uwGPA/4.36 wGPA on a 4.0 scale) where we will be paying entirely out of pocket because there will be little to no merit $$$ for kids with her stats. :)) 
^:)^
I am happy to read about all of the wonderful things our students have accomplished. By all means let’s continue to celebrate their achievements and help each other navigate this often perplexing college admissions journey. But, I would ask that we remember that there are many many different levels of students and for those whose stats and accomplishments don’t put them at the head of the class, sometimes raising your hand from the back of the classroom is daunting.
@labegg I am assuming you mean Early Action when you say your daughter may apply to several Early Decision Schools. A student can only apply to 1 ED school and admission is binding.
@RoonilWazlib99 I am assuming that your child’s HS submit’s the LOR electronically, along with everything else but your child should check with their GC.
Schools we’re looking at: D is into LACs or similar, but she can only apply to those that could possibly offer enough merit to make them affordable, and she wants to stay in the west, her list also includes a few safeties that fall outside her parameters for size, I think we’ve got about 10-12 on the list, but that will get pared down over the summer. She hasn’t really involved herself much in list making. Once her “summer on the couch” begins, I plan to schedule a day to review all the schools in more depth and get her to really look at them and put some of her own stamp on the list.
[QUOTE=""]
:D< @labegg and everyone else lurking at the back of the class, the middle of the class, or even sneaking out of the class! I personally would welcome hearing from more diverse voices and experiences. I agree that it can be daunting to come out of the woodwork and join in, especially if you feel you don’t belong, but let me reassure you! If you are a parent of a HS class of 2018 student, you belong here! We want to hear from you! I think the lists of schools people are looking at shows some level of diversity (not everyone is NMF! D isn’t), we won’t all be applying to the same places, but we have a lot in common! Essays! Testing! Homework drama! Social drama! High School administration drama! This is going to be a big year, let’s get through it together!
[/QUOTE]
Well said @1822mom :x
Agree, @labegg! What is your daughter interested in studying in college?