D24 got an email today from an admission dean at her ED school (small LAC) inviting her to apply for a competitive tuition scholarship awarded to students with her interests/major. After some discussion, we decided it would be cruel to send this invitation out to applicants who are slated for denial/deferral. But maybe this is just our wishful thinking that it’s a good sign?
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I would take that as a good sign! So exciting!!
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We wondered the same at W&L - when my daughter was asked to interview for the Weinstein.
I can’t definitively answer your question - no one can. But in this case, she did get an acceptance (to the school, not a scholarship).
You may already know - I mean, if you label this school a safety or match already…
Congrats to her on the opportunity regardless of what happens…but I’d lean toward it being a strong positive.
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Thanks for sharing your daughter’s experience. We are cautiously optimistic! I’d call the school a match (low reach? I don’t really know and might depend on their number of early apps, which seems to vary year to year) in ED round. Others from her school with similar stats have been admitted ED. In RD, it would be a reach since the RD acceptance rate is below 10%.
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D24 got acceptances from 2 more schools (small privates) and both with generous merit awards(20 to 25K/year) 
. Really proud of that her hard work and efforts are being rewarded.
So far its 4/4 although with her stats we would consider the schools where she got accepted as safeties/matches.
Expecting to hear from a few more schools this month although the merit/honors awards at these schools wont come before Feb/March.
Glad that we have choices that are financial reaches and also fit D24’s areas of interest.
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Yesterday was D24’s last Christmas concert (catholic school), and I handled it better than I thought I would. Didn’t even cry during her solo, but cried when I watched the video after. All of the “lasts” are coming up way too quickly. Where did the time go?
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Hi all, I started reading along a couple weeks ago, but first time posting.
S24 applied SCEA with decision on 14th. He has a large regular decision list ready to go, but planned to dwindle it considerably if a miracle happens haha. One issue, just got an email from his co-enrollment high school that any transcripts that need to be sent prior to 1/2 need to be done by Friday. Only his “home” high school transcript is on the common app. Is it okay to send even though he hasn’t officially applied yet? I guess I’d save the hundreds in application fees potentially if it’s an option.
Whatever u send early to a school is fine - they’ll set up a file for your student and the app and other things that come later (if they do) will catch up then.
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Perfect, thank you, I was hoping this would be the case. The high school sends confirmation emails transcripts are sent, but the system still makes me anxious hoping it gets where it needs to be. Appreciate help!
Yes like @tsbna44 said you can send in docs early. We sent transcripts, sat score and reco letters for RD apps along with EA apps which were due in Nov. We did not want to do the process twice.
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If you like contemporary sports analogies, this Georgia Tech comparison of the admissions process and Florida State’s exclusion from the college football playoffs is for you: The Committees and Decisions of College Admission… And College Football – Georgia Tech Admission Blog
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So we are a week and a half away from ED results. Following ED results is a very full weekend of EC activity and then semester finals. If ED is anything other than acceptance, I think a full discussion of the remainder of the list is in order (currently 3 RD schools, two EA including safety, plus some UCs). Is there any point in trying to have this discussion before ED release? Thinking out loud here, maybe more about my own mental schedule that following week (siblings back from school, sibling minor surgery, houseguest for xmas, etc.).
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We have had the conversation already. I don’t think he will do any more applications before his ED date (it is this Friday) but I think a plan without emotion is always good.
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How timely for everyone involved in the 2024 admission cycle 
The author is head of admissions at GA Tech and the article is well written for the average parent/student who is trying to understand the college admission process without spending through every post in the class of 20XX on CC 
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So our college counseling staff wanted RD lists to be “final” by 12/1. Part of that was so they could make sure they did their part. Part of that was so kids could be working on RD applications in early December, with help as needed from college counseling. But my understanding part of it was to make sure people were not overreacting, depressed, or otherwise in a suboptimal mental place when making these decisions.
So I think that is a good idea, and my kid was willing to do it. I also think it might have contributed to him having too many RD schools on his list, but probably better too many than too few and I assume they will not literally force him to apply if he decides in the end to cut some.
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As an alumnus of The University of Texas, I approve of this analogy.
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We had a very informal discussion - just to get her thinking about prioritizing which schools would stay on the RD list. Also discussed how many RD apps she would really have the bandwidth for.
This was the first weekend where she didn’t work on any college apps or have her sport and my kid was so happy to just spend time with friends and do her school work. She really needed the break.
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S24 applied to a few safeties and targets early as well as his SCEA with answers coming in December and late January. He has a long list for regular and now it is a weird feeling, I see the benefit of the rolling school as we sit here with no answers. He finished all his regulars, but will drop a bunch on the slim chance he got into SCEA. I did ask if he is denied SCEA would he want to change anything up in his approach and he says no. His college counselor agrees and says not necessary. She says in the end, we’ll look at it all and think this doesn’t make sense. Super comforting.
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We have a plan, including having RD apps done or nearly so by 12/13, “the day before.” Will the plan stick? TBD 
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As long as deadlines remain then it’s ok. And some schools you can apply late although merit may or may not be gone.
But what if he goes into a funk. That’s a risk too.
At many schools, early is better for admit and scholarship. But not all.