Relatively same boat as @3kids2dogs. Schools haven’t changed just because tests are now optional. It’s the same school, same location, same majors, etc.
I think D’s list won’t really change because her score is ok, 32, and I am cautiously optimistic it will get better. The schools where a 32 is probably a disqualifying score, like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, are places she doesn’t want to go to, plus the rest of her app probably isn’t there anyway.
The one school that might change is that she will still probably apply to Brown, even if her score doesn’t improve. Otherwise it would get taken off the list, I don’t think it’s worth filling out the app with a 32.
I am guessing that her list will be longer though. Mostly because I think more kids who have “disqualifying” scores to her target schools will send in otherwise strong apps. I’m a bit of a worrier by nature, but I’m thinking we will see record low acceptance rates for 2021’s. Not just the trend of lower rates, but lows that won’t be replicated for several years at a minimum.
More specifically, I’m guessing schools without additional essays will get flooded next year. Because if you are already doing 10 essays, adding Colby sounds a lot more appealing than adding Stanford. I realize they schools aren’t really comparable, but neither are the application processes and time/money commitment. I won’t be surprised to see schools like Colby and Bates have admission percentages that are normally associated with Harvard and Stanford.
TO has not added to our list, but refined it in a way. D21 is a recruited athlete and is looking at both D1 and D3. Test scores are not nearly as important at the D1’s where the coaches get who they want. Her D3 academic reach went TO, even for athletes, but I feel very skeptical about that. She has one score she took for a “baseline”, which is not high enough, so of course she studied like mad for March SAT. While I think she can get the score she wants in August, the school is still a financial reach and Covid has affected our income. She will submit a pre-read this summer and we’ll see what happens. She is looking much more seriously at a D3 where she already has the stats. I think the exhaustion of chasing scores, etc is setting in because it may not change the outcome at all. She knows she could pick this school, bag the SAT, apply ED and be done. I just want her to be happy with her choice and not wonder “what if?”
I know we’re in a different situation than many here due to S21 being a homeschooler who didn’t take any DE classes and only 1 AP - that’s a major reason his school list is staying the same despite schools going TO. He still needs his score in order to validate his transcript. Additionally (similar to some things others have said), he’s best suited to the same schools even if he could get into others due to TO status (which, again, he likely couldn’t because of his homeschooling situation) - but even if he could, those reachier schools wouldn’t be the right match for him in terms of academics or overall fit (I know that’s different for some kids).
He knocked off his third online interview today (did 3 this week). I felt the first one was a bit of a bust (but he scheduled the first one to be a school he’s a little less excited about), the next one was better, and today’s was okay. This is not a kid who’s going to naturally crush the interview, and the online format makes it a little extra awkward (more opportunities to talk over each other by mistake due to lags and such), so I’m glad he’s getting at least somewhat comfortable with them - he has to do them at all of his schools due to being a homeschooler. He recently changed his thoughts on what to (potentially) study in college, and it has revved him up a bit about the process…not so much that he wants to get up before noon or get started on the personal statement, haha, but that’s okay for now. ?
S21’s college list hasn’t changed due to schools going TO, mostly because he doesn’t really have a list yet! Haha.
Does anyone want to throw out a few schools that might be a good fit for a kid wants a medium/large school with huge school spirit, maybe Greek life and probably on the east coast? He’s a strong student, probably top 10/400 in his class. Thinking of engineering or physics. He loves the idea of Vanderbilt or Duke, but I’m more interested in match and safety schools.
@flyawayx2 Are you in VA or know if kids from your school get into UVA? Not a safety but we know a few kids here from Illinois who love it!
@dadof4kids – I wonder if newly TO colleges will add more essays this year in order to reduce the number of applications to go through?
Or, they might just use GPA as a first screen instead of GPA and test score? (I know they say they read all the apps but at big schools, I don’t think that’s the case…)
Starting east coast, working way down south:
U Mass Amherst, Syracuse, UVM, Penn State, U Maryland, U Delaware, Virginia Tech, NC State, Clemson, U South Carolina. Depending how far south is appealing: U Georgia, U Florida, U Alabama, Ole Miss.
Our schools haven’t changed due to TO because neither kid really has a list yet. Our S isn’t sure whether to major in engineering or something else math related, and depending on that, he may be looking at different schools. They’re both doing virtual info sessions/tours to see what they like. And S will be taking an online materials engineering class this summer to see what that is.
@mamaedefamilia D’s “dream school” is Brown. I put it in quotes because she’s never even visited it. She feels like the pass/fail grade option (even if not used) means it’s not a pressure cooker school, and she likes its liberal and down to earth reputation, and the open curriculum. She feels like she’d “find people like her” there. On the other hand, she’s also a fan of liberal arts colleges and she thinks she likes Smith, thought about Barnard but doesn’t like that it seems the women mostly socialize at Columbia (she’s introverted), likes Oberlin but not where it is… And, she’s considering journalism (as well as IR, PoliSci, English, she’s not sure!), so wanted to see Northwestern. And, thinks It would be great to be in DC…I really wish we could have visited schools!
S21 hasn’t changed his list due to TO. He already had 3 reaches for everyone picked to apply and he isn’t adding more.
Ugh I didn’t think about that. I hope not.
Fewer and easier essays this year on Wake’s app. That app has always been known as a doozy with a lot of supplements. I had the 2020-2021 questions in a google doc for D21 and then they brought out the new ones. Wow. Took away the three hardest prompts. Replaced one of them with an easier version and deleted another two entirely. That’s seems like a deliberate way to get more kids to apply.
Lol, the essays made Wake an easy one to strike off the list.
DS looked at the essay prompts for U Chicago and quickly said he was not even a little interested in writing them so he would not apply.
@yearstogo S wants to apply just to do the essays. Those are his favorite prompts, but he has no interest in the school.
@havenoidea my D is in a Electrical Engineer online class (non credit) (it was) supposed to be a onsite Research apprenticeship at our local university but it has turned into a class, The uni sends via Amazon different items for projects, today was “The most complete Ultimate starter kit” for Arduino. This class is taught by PhD student, it is all summer long 4 days week 2 to 2.5 hours a day with a little bit of homework. D is getting a great introduction to Electrical engineering (her intended major) to see if this is really want she wants. 100% invaluable experience for her.
@homerdog a budget issue for us. Makes me sad with her high stats/1590 and she can’t apply to any of those schools.
@homerdog - are the WF essays the same on their own app and the Common App? Thanks!
@carlson2 right now you can only see the updated questions on the Wake Forest application. Common App isn’t updated until Aug 1.
TO isn’t changing D’s list because we don’t think it really helps her chance. She has a good score that works for her list. THe reaches she has shown interest in are still reaches without a score.