@DavidPuddy surfacing from lurking. 2019 parent here but I’m interested in the “thin file” too! Does your son have any SAT 2s to send? I always wonder what percentage of kids send SAT 2s to schools that just “consider” them and if they give more bulk to the app. Congrats on the 36. Amazing!
@DavidPuddy agree with the above. Send the 36, no need to send the SAT unless they are explicitly requesting it. And for what it’s worth, I’m doing the same. My daughter scored well on SAT but her ACT score shines. We’re only sending ACT. Congrats to your son on a fantastic score.
It obviously depends on the student and the family. As long as there’s one true safety on the list nobody actually needs to apply to more schools. And I mean a true safety that has the majors the student might like, is assured admission to both the school and the major of interest, is affordable and that the student would be happy to attend. Back in the day I applied to two schools but was really only interested in the safety. My H applied to just his safety. There’s no way I’m going to force my son to apply to more schools if he doesn’t want to, because I know he’s done his homework on this. If I thought he was just being lazy or hadn’t thought through the implications of just applying to one or wasn’t familiar enough with his chosen school it might be different but that’s not the case. One-and-done is a completely valid choice for many students.
Just to be contrary >:) I often read the phrase on CC, “The thicker the file, the thicker the kid.” The 36 says a lot!
Those nasty SAT2s. He took 3 of them. He will have to send 2 of them to a couple schools. I don’t think he will send any other than the ones required.
For whatever it’s worth, he did not do great on the subjects tests. He took all three back to back to back. One of them he tanked, to the point where I think he may have mis marked it …
@DavidPuddy, send one or both, I do not think it matters. Great scores all around.
With regard to subject tests and schools that “consider” them, if D scores well on the ones she just took, she will include them. If not, she will just send her ACT score.
While we’re on this subject:
The SAT subject test reporting seems tricky to me. D has taken some, with mixed results. Turns out that none of her schools require or recommend them. She tentatively has her two best scores self-reported on Common App, so they will be seen by Trinity, USC(cal), and Grinnell. Her scores are good but not stellar: 750 USH, 720 Bio M. Is this a good idea? Her AP scores are stronger, and she is self-reporting all of those.
Changing gears, many of you have probably read the following article. If not, spend a few moments to google “Confessions of an Application Reader” from 2013 in the NYT.
From the author, RUTH STARKMAN:
Subject Tests - D will be applying to schools that either require or recommend them. In her case, some of her reaches, targets and safeties are UC’s. And while certain majors require them, most of the UC’s and majors only recommend them. So, she/we were always planning to take and show two subject tests to all her college choices, since my impression is that all the top kids around these parts send them to their college choices just to remain competitive with the other applicants.
@ShrimpBurrito IMO, any score in the 700’s is fantastic. I’d be proud. In fact, I think anything 650+ works for most, but maybe not for HYPSM or other Top 10-15-ish schools, depending on the other parts of the application. These subject tests are tough, tough tests, especially Bio and USH. I know how hard my D studied for them and she’s a bright studious girl.
Coming out of the shadows here. I have posted a couple of questions on CC but none on this board. My D18 just went back to school this week and has changed her schedule 3 times. Hopefully it’s done now.
I am super anxious mom. I think D is already benefitting from my lurking here as I have been trying to back off and give her space based on other posts here.
She is No Where Near where I wanted her to be when summer ended but I am working on reminding myself this is really her thing, not mine.
I bit my tongue this morning when she told me she was happy that her list was close to being final (still has 20 schools on it). I’m like OMG we can’t spend any more time just making the list.
My latest worry is about missing deadlines for merit; we are chasing that big time. An earlier post commented congrats to someone for getting the app in early for merit consideration. Does it really work that way? Also D is taking SATs again in October. Can she apply EA to safety with current scores?
Sorry for the long post.
@AmyBeth68 I hear you on the stress! And I don’t mean to add more, but if you D doesn’t get to the infirmary today, push her to go tomorrow. My mom had a spider bite that got infected and she needed antibiotics to clear it up. Better safe than sorry.
Welcome @swtaffy904! With regard to this part - An earlier post commented congrats to someone for getting the app in early for merit consideration. Does it really work that way? - many schools have a deadline for apps if you want to be considered for merit aid. However, I am not aware of a school where applying well before that deadline ups your chances of receiving that aid. If someone knows something to the contrary, please post!
With regard to subject test timing and EA, I’d check with each school. Many (most?) will tell you whether tests taken by “x” date will be considered in EA decisions. Good luck!
of apps -- I would be comfortable with 1 or 2 apps if the timing works out -- if you can have your answer back before other apps would be due, then no problem. Submitting just 1 or 2 for a January deadline would make me nervous.
@ShrimpBurrito I forgot, is your D at a public or private HS? Like someone else had said, doesn’t the GC just write 1 LOR for the CA, so any CA schools count as 1? And for LORs for scholarships, can’t the GC still just use that 1 letter and slightly tweak it if need be?
Welcome @swtaffy904 .
Most of the push to get these applications in early is typically not a case of “earlier the better”, just a case of “before the early deadline for consideration”. I seem to recall a very rare case of some schools that have a defined pool of funding, and once it is gone it is gone, but the general notion is you get in to that pool by meeting the deadline published to be considered for merit aid.
@suzy100 - So true! My advice would be to encourage the kids to keep their options open - apply to more schools, rather than fewer, in the event that there are changes is priorities in March and April. Try not to close doors too early.
@AmyBeth68 I’m glad you knew that already - I was afraid I was giving you something else to stress over. 
I hope all is well soon!
@melvin123, D attends a public magnet school. It’s a fantastic place, really; 100% graduation rate last year and a National Blue Ribbon School. They send several kids to elite colleges every year, and there is a dedicated college admissions counselor available for students who are applying to those top schools. So, they are familiar with college admissions. It’s hard to argue with their track record, and I haven’t heard any complaining from parents of older kids at D’s school, so the formula they are using must work well enough. I still think they must have some flexibility behind the “No more than eight applications” decree.
@suzy100 and @DavidPuddy thank you for the clarification. I could make a living worrying so good to narrow down my topics.
D is so far away from hitting a submit button for anywhere. I think there are only three of her schools that offer EA so my goal is to get them done first.
Does anyone have any direct experience or knowledge of the Colorado School of Mines?