Many selective schools are actively managing their selectiveness & yield through the ED/REA/EA/RD cycles, with continuous marketing and other means. It would seem that the easiest way to create exploding applications numbers would be for an Ivy or similarly rejective school to announce that it will draw one positive acceptance letter in a lottery for all applicants… Since Harvard faced fewer applicants in their 2024 REA round, maybe they could consider this fully egalitarian initiative…lol
1 Like
Husband and daughter are coming back from Minneapolis today. I’ll post a report in “Colleges That Moved Up” after I get the breakdown from them, but here’s the quick result. UMN is extremely impressive (and fits my daughter’s criteria perfectly). UMN and UGA are the two current frontrunners. Macalester is lovely, but is too small for her. I’m glad she’s been so consistent about what she wants–it makes me think she won’t regret her final choice, whatever it ends up being.
21 Likes
Who are the other “large” schools in contention?
Sounds like two winners.
2 Likes
Her “lottery schools” are Emory and Boston U, both regular decision. She has a slight hook at one of them that I can’t reveal without doxxing her. 
We’re going with the thought that it’s going to be between UMN and UGA.
9 Likes
I’m sure you are right. Those are both great options academically, and if that is the style of college she wants, both are great examples of that too.
3 Likes
Hot take: schools should not ask kids to apply for scholarship program X/Y/Z, honors program such and such, special award blahblahblah after being accepted.
Use their application material to award these scholarships. And if the application doesn’t cover a particularly important question central to the scholarship or whatever, make it an optional question on the application itself and note that writing it will make you eligible for $ if accepted.
My droids thought they were done with applications 6 weeks ago.
Not so much as it turns out.
Yes I know this is a nice position to be in, but still.
12 Likes
Agreed but many simply just won’t apply. The entrance was their victory.
The schools get to set the rules. It’s better when they do in advance or as you say, not at all.
1 Like
I mean if it works out, the implied hourly wage will be pretty high . . . .
4 Likes
I’m all for “yes please give me money” but the process is just so painful in so many ways!
4 Likes
I agree. The Purdue format is fine… two additional questions for Honors college consideration. Take it or leave it. Wash U is the same. For Emory you just need to apply by the ED deadline (no requirement to select ED) and there is no extra supplement.
And now we find out that your daughter withdrew her ED2 application and commitment less than a week before the decision was released. This was an athletic recruiting slot that could have gone to someone else.
It turns out that the presumptions that people made had good reasons.
12 Likes
We are just opposite! In states like UNC & NCSU are too large for S24. W&M is even lukewarm. Everything indicates Macalester is our top choice. He wants smaller school in a real city. In his entire life, he has been living in college towns and he is over. The last lottery school left is WashU RD.
6 Likes
My feeling is Macalester may well have the best location of any college in the US!
3 Likes
On yet another round of tours with S24 and, for better or worse, he truly loves them all! No idea how he will choose. On one of many drives between campuses he said he is waiting for for some sort of divine signal that it is the “right” one. 
In good news, he also got accepted to South Carolina Honors College. We tour tomorrow. Hopefully light will shine down from the heavens and a choir will sing 
11 Likes
I get it, and my D23 ED for athletic D3 spot, but it’s not a guarantee. Another athlete had positive pre read and was then deferred. It’s complicated and it’s gamesmanship of part of the school. If it’s swimming, right? They probably have some flexibility since it’s not money and can offer more spots as long as qualified athlete. Swim teams are pretty big
1 Like
This is definitely doldrum season right?
6 Likes
Im looking for distractions to pass time… Its going to be a very long month.
4 Likes
I’m watching the TV show Bodies - highly recommend so far. Netflix.
3 Likes
DH and I have been planning an empty nest trip. Nice distraction from the winter doldrums.
I’ve also continued cleaning out the house. Swedish death cleaning FTW.
8 Likes
Sounds a lot more fun than my distraction - an 8 college spring break road trip with D25.
5 Likes