Update: D25 did get the 4k/yr from Iowa State as suspected. Brings tuition to about 18k/yr and room/board around 10k/yr. It appears students can’t see other scholarship opportunities through their one app (or whatever it is called) until you accept their offer.
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If he’s thinking about Occidental, maybe he’d be interested in Harvey Mudd (the more math/science college over in Claremont)? But the 3-2 program with Oxy & Caltech is a fine thing, as well.
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Have your student do an interview with Lafayette if you can get one. That is what made my child decide to ED there, though we had visited. But that will help him get a feel for it. He may be able to do an interview at a campus visit, or maybe on Zoom or something. But you might looks to see when those are available because they do stop offering them at some point. Mine interviewed locally when the rep was in town in October of senior year. But if that ship has sailed maybe online! Let me know if you visit, maybe I can help.
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Harvey Mudd would greatly appeal to him but there’s really no chance, admissions-wise. And by a similar token, I’d see Caltech as a bad fit based on what I know of the school (husband and sister and many friends went there) and what I know about him today. Even for straight A students with terrific study skills and have a deeper math and science background, it can be a tough place. I can’t imagine trying to transfer in after doing two years at a school that doesn’t have the same kind of intensity. I wish it weren’t so but trying to be a realist about what’s healthy and probable for him.
My daughter got an offer for a roster spot at the school she did an Official Visit at this past weekend! She has another OV this weekend and is really hoping to get an offer there too. Then it will be tough decisions since they are both great fits in different ways. Definitely hoping to have this “good problem” lol There are a few more schools she’s been in contact with, so who knows, but it’s feels like it might be down to these two…
I love hearing everyone’s updates!
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They also have cross-enrollment for classes on the undergrad level.
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Good news on our front. Another teacher was able to reach out to child’s recommender on parental leave and he submitted the letter over the weekend. Now, fingers crossed the counselor gets around to submitting the letters, school report and transcript in the near future!
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Check the school websites individually. Most colleges will let you self-report in Common App and then later, if you get in and want to attend, you would need you to send an official score report just to that one school. Others will only take official reports if you want your scores considered for admission.
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This. Don’t send scores where you don’t have to. It gets pricey very fast!
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So this is an interesting one, coming to C25’s college junk email account from Washington State. I don’t 100% disapprove of the overall message, but the way it was delivered surprised me. So, pasting in the text, which was accompanied by several images of students having fun and the logo of the university and so on:
Is it right for you?
Dear [redacted],
As you stand at the threshold of your future, we want to share an important message with you: college isn’t the only path to success.
We understand that everyone’s journey is unique, and traditional college may not be the perfect fit for everyone. At WSU, we celebrate diversity in paths and passions. Whether you’re drawn to academia, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, or another avenue, you have potential.
If you’re uncertain about whether college is the right fit for you, remember that WSU is more than a university; it’s a supportive community that values your unique talents and aspirations.
Keeping your options open is easy- NO TEST SCORES, NO ESSAY. Just a 20 minute application. You will never know if you don’t shoot your shot.
APPLY NOW
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Washington has a few different state college systems. UW is the “flagship” (like the UC system). WSU is closer to the CalState system. There’s also Western Washington University (and the similarly named Eastern Washington University) which are more regionally oriented, and not within either the UW or WSU systems.
All that said, yeah, it’s an odd sell “you don’t have to go to college, but maybe try us?”
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My D25 showed me the notification she got through the Common App about direct admissions. It was a whole list of colleges who will automatically accept her if she applies. Neither of us knew it was a thing. Most of the colleges have relatively high acceptance rates and are private colleges in our general geographic region. But there a some from much farther away. I guess this is how colleges are strategizing in the wake of the demographic cliff?
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You’re going to get some hate mail from Central Washington University. HAHA!
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One of the ways I guess. Niche also does direct admissions and some of the schools are really great, same kind of school, regional privates. S25 has offers with nice scholarships from Pacific Lutheran, Illinois Wesleyan, and U of Tulsa, all pretty nice places. Oh and one big one, University of Missouri I think? I wonder how effective it is?
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Oh that’s interesting! I wonder how they decide. I wouldn’t think PLU and Tulsa are looking for the same students. Speaking of odd combos, my D’s included The New School and Southern Methodist University. She’s away for a college visit right now, but when she’s back we’re going to take a look at the list together and see if she wants to apply to any.
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Interesting! My son is looking at The New School, but since he is applying for music and there’s an audition, he isn’t direct admit. I wasn’t aware that they had that for other majors. Where did you find that?
It just popped up in my daughter’s common app. I don’t know how it works. There must be some algorithm for matching students with colleges.
Here’s a link to info about it.
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I wonder what that algorithm is. S25 has none with decent stats and getting a bunch of direct admits through Niche.
No clue. She got direct admits to all the colleges in our home state and then a bunch of others that feel very random. I wonder if it’s a combo of grades, high school, intended major?
By “all the colleges in our home state”, I’m referring to the ones listed on the common app direct admit list, of which there are only a few.
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It kind of makes sense for S25. He’s interested in a smaller school with a business program=Tulsa and we live in Washington so PLU. It’s an interesting idea anyway and I think that for kids without a lot of guidance from parents or counselors, it might be a wonderful way for them to look at schools that aren’t just State U.
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