Perhaps you can lay out the stats and ask for suggestions.
I understand it’s a mourning time - but at the same time, you need a plan…or new plan.
Several have posted that some schools are deferring based on workload, i.e. haven’t even reviewed the app. I imagine a school would share if that’s the case and maybe it is.
But if not - once you get them through the day, you might have mis judged or it might have just gotten tighter…but it would be wise to start again with your stats, desires, budget, and perhaps folks can feed you ideas.
Sorry to hear and best of luck.
PS - deferral does not = rejection…so that part is good.
I’m so sorry - that must be incredibly stressful. I echo the suggestion of having your child’s counselor reach out to the school if possible. One of S24’s friends with amazing statistics from a strong high school was deferred by the state school that was meant to be his safety. His counselor reached out. Apparently, the college had deferred the student because they thought he was too strong to ever attend, and they offered to change the decision if he was truly interested. This was a state school, and I didn’t think they played games like that. You just never know what the true story is.
Stats: 3.7 uw/4.1 w. 36 ACT composite (one sitting). Didn’t take the SAT. Theatre/Acting major, has acted in every official and unofficial production at school since Freshman year (several featured roles, but no leads). Fair-to-middling rigor (6 APs: World, Apush, Lang, Lit, Calc A/B, Gov, all other courses honors except 2 years each of French and Spanish, which aren’t offered at an honors level). Choir (section leader, board member). Part-time job, interesting out-of-school activities (swordfighting, writing D&D campaigns). No major awards. I assume their recommendations were good (one teacher offered to write one for them before C had to ask) and I thought their essays were good (but what do I know?)
I know my kid isn’t god’s gift to college, but they’re smart, interesting and very interested in the world around them, and they’ve done well enough in school. They want an LAC, but are fine with a public, and are looking mostly at the northeast and midwest (public schools in states passing education gag orders and most schools in states passing anti-trans bills are not an option).
I know many on here know about non audition programs. Don’t know the budget.
Kalamazoo - can’t tell if an audition is required is great. Lots of LACs in Pa - the Juniata, Ursinsus, Allegheny of the world. NY like Hobart, st Lawrence, SUNY Geneseo. Washington College in Delaware.
Just need to see who has theatre, doesn’t require auditions.
Lots of schools will want this student. The GPA a tad low if from public and many don’t give full credit to the test. Maybe that was the issue.
Or maybe it was lack of demonstrated interest ?
But this student, handling the process, could have lots of options.
Just have to figure out who does audition vs not. I thought you said - or maybe not - looking for a non audition school ??
Your kid sounds absolutely amazing. They sound smart, genuinely invested and passionate about cool, interesting activities, self-possessed, and confident. I love the sword fighting! Today is hard. But I truly believe they will land somewhere wonderful. We are here to support you
My kid isn’t high stats, but still a little deflating to get a waitlist from one school, and a deferral from her favorite. But, as my friend who works in enrollment told me (to tell her) “a deferral means they just need a little more reason to accept you.” D24 is a late bloomer academically, so hoping that her semester grades and a LOCI will help nudge them to a yes - but also reminding her (and me, frankly) that she will end up where she needs to be. Just would’ve been nice to have an YES before Christmas. (She has been accepted to another school, just not her fave.)
I’m edging toward giving more info than i probably should, but…
Rejected from Emerson and Depaul
Deferred Sarah Lawrence
Accepted Temple
Sort of accepted Ohio U (academic acceptance, still needs to audition for the BFA program, and we’re side-eying an educational gag order bill currently being considered in OH)
Awaiting (or imminently applying to) BU, Oberlin, Muhlenberg, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Vassar, Wesleyan and San Diego State.
S24 got his first college acceptance tonight from St. Olaf. He got a lot of merit money, so it is a tempting offer. It is nice to get some good news before Christmas, and he has been very cheerful all evening.
Sarah Lawrence absolutely yield protects so might have been that - I would show some interest, send a LOCI and hopefully she’ll see an acceptance in the spring. I’m sorry they’re playing games.
I have no personal experience with St. Olaf and at least 30% of my sentiment based on Golden Girls and Prairie Home Companion lore, but it really seems like the nicest college. This is neither here nor there, but in my head the fictional citizens of Lake Wobegon send their children there. (“. . .where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”)
Add D24 to the pile of people getting rejections today (portfolio based admission, very small program).
However, she is still riding high after finding out that she is a finalist for a full tuition scholarship at another college, so I think that made this rejection sting a little less.
