Parents of the HS Class of 2024 (Part 1)

The tour guide stated this but it was confirmed by my niece who attends Amherst and is friends with the athletes.

Our oldest so learning as we go here too. My child is very pragmatic and wouldn’t let himself pick a dream school, so he consciously tried to find many he’d be thrilled about. My youngest will be opposite and unable. His decision to apply regular wasn’t a factor of not loving the school or trying to play hard to get. Wouldn’t make sense, all the kids are so very qualified and wouldn’t be a gamble worth taking as statistically odds are basically zilch.

The email did make it sound like some merit comes outside of this event, so there is still hope! I understand the disappointment, he’s felt it on other things. This process is hard and emotionally draining. This is why I worry about posting here, don’t talk about college with anyone in real life, and never want to cause anyone extra stress in an already stressful process.

Adding, it’s my understanding all applicants before end date were considered regardless of decision status.

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I’m actually surprised how much variation there is between schools when it comes to announcing admitted student days. Some seem to have the dates on their calendar months in advance, and others still have not announced them. And I’m looking at SLACs that are otherwise all quite similar in how they handle their admissions process. I wonder if this tells us anything about the school. Is a school that announces their admitted student days late simply not as organized? Or could there be a strategic element (e.g., these days are less important for ED students who have already committed, so the school doesn’t want these students to grab all of the hotel rooms in town before the RD students even get a chance)?

Last year, we toured Rice during our HS’s spring break. It happened to be on admitted student’s day so we have an idea of what to expect.

If it falls on that week again, we would probably go. Since our D24 is an ED student, we’re not evaluating our options. We’re interested in just attending for fun and not using it to compare or evaluate our choices.

I told my D24, maybe we should suggest to the university, they should have a panel of '24 kids who were accepted ED to articulate why they chose Rice.

I thought it would be interesting for perspective students to gain insight from their peers rather than existing students and staff. It may convince those on the fence to choose Rice over some other school.

By a family vote of 3-2 (our dog always votes with me), they decided it was a bad idea.

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Our counselors all served on a University at one point and they cautioned us that early merit just does not typically get offered to ED applicants. I have scoured this blog and others and cannot find an ED candidate at the more selective schools being offered early merit. So seems to be of a merit offering across many of these schools of potential students. But they may notify accepted students later or maybe a smaller merit without the interview. We were warned but of course I hoped that they truly looked at the student and not that they were locked in. But at the end of the day S24 is going to end up where he wanted to be and that’s really miles ahead of others so we did the right thing

Gotcha, I wouldn’t know, mine has had all of 3 minutes with his college counselor. Again, why I’m here. Oye! I’ll be curious now if he has any indication of that. I’d certainly be willing to update so all can be aware for future planning.

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That would be great! I appreciate the thoughtfulness. And who knows
committed students may hear something soon as well! S24 is a finalist of merit scholarships independent from WF based on his academics so hopefully he ends up with a little bit of something

I agree. UC super competitive, but Many students in other states with high taxes have great scores and feel like their flagship isn’t good enough, so they have to pay OOS or private schools
. Just like a cali resident who doesn’t get in.

Also, the super high scoring, high GPA students you describe - who didn’t get into UC system- could get merit at many T100, even T50 schools.

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I looked up when last year’s revisit days were and made an educated guess.

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D24 has been invited as a finalist to interview for two full rides. We had dismissed one of these schools after getting the acceptance and initial merit because it was still too expensive but this puts it back on the radar. The other school looks promising as well (and is just slightly out of range so hoping that she’ll be offered more merit even if she doesn’t get full ride). However, I feel that my daughter now feels a lot of pressure to succeed and will feel like a failure if she doesn’t get a full ride (she is ABSOLUTELY NOT a failure in any way). I don’t know how to take the pressure off of her (honestly, none of her choices are within the affordable range right now but three of the choices are within $5-$6k of being affordable (with student loans). 2 are big question marks as we have no idea how much merit she’ll get (but know she’s getting something). The in-state public is a great choice from affordability but she might not be able to major in what she was planning to, and that makes it a sub-optimal choice for her. I really wish we didn’t have to wait until late March/early April to see the full financial aid packages. Stupid FAFSA!

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If you get consideration for a full ride anywhere - and I mean ANYWHERE - you are a stud - whether you ultimately win or not.

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There’s another thread. The student is off the charts. Got rejected at Ga Tech. When I say off the charts I truly mean it.

Tons of studs getting turned down at Ga Tech and UGA and they have an extra hurdle of SAT/ACT.

But guess what - they have Kennesaw, Georgia Southern, Valdosta, North Georgia etc just like there is UCM, UCR, Chico etc.

I really don’t think CA is that bad. If there’s truly that many brilliant kids, maybe the state is grade inflating. That’s unfair to the kids and I don’t think so. But there are tons of avenues to success. What’s wrong with Bakersfield or San Marcos ?

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I called our LAC ED school about the admitted student’s day (after I scored the hot ticket hotel room) - and was told it is not really marketed for ED students but for RD kids who haven’t made a decision. She said if we really wanted to we could attend but I went on and cancelled the $500 hotel and rerouted spring break flights.
I was a bit disappointed, as my sole purpose was to eyeball potential classmates.

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Yea, you are the easy money :). Now they gotta convince the rest !!

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S24 is definitely going to admitted students day even though he has been admitted ED and we will be joining him. The school has a pretty organized two days arranged and it is within driving distance. It looks like they have plenty for kids who have already committed and I agree with @shmom41 that he will be able to scope out other kids and decisions about dorms, etc.

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I would find that disappointing as well. I get it from the school’s perspective but ED applicants should have the opportunity to make a “celebratory” visit as well, and have the chance to meet future classmates. Some schools used to organize special visit days for students who were admitted ED (before RD decisions came out) but those seem to have disappeared.

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There is a summer orientation event, so maybe that is what some schools are doing now instead of the spring day. Interestingly, for the summer event, it is presumed parents attend, and there is a DAY of activities for them. Students spend the night on campus. Airport and hotel shuttles are provided by the school for the families. I’m good with a cocktail party and an hour info session but I do not want to spend an entire day with people who I will never see again.

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Checking out the first year dorm options is one big reason we are going, meeting other students is another. I think there will be plenty to do and see for ED and RD admitted, as well as parents.

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So DS had his last HS swim meet at home this weekend. He had some great swims and can’t wait for New Englands. When I met him after the meet, his 6’2” 180 lbs frame collapsed on me sobbing. Didn’t expect that.

My D18 got invite for Udel Distinguished Scholars weekend. D21 got invite for presidential scholars weekend at Miami of Ohio. Both of those had the opportunity for a full ride. Neither one got them but it was a great honor to be chosen as one of the top 100 or so accepted students.

It was also a great opportunity to have job type interviews and they both got some additional scholarship money just by attending.

Any of these types of opportunities are a great recognition of your outstanding HS career. Good luck.

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