I was top 10% auto admit to the University of Texas. I did not even apply. Just filled in a scantron with my name and class rank. It was the only school I ever wanted to attend and had an amazing 4 years. Unfortunately, moved away to Virginia so too far for my kiddos to want to attend. Very sad, as I think they would have loved it as much as I did. Older kiddo almost ended up at UGA, so would have been a fun rivalry. She chose an ACC school so very little chance our schools will play. Oh well. Hook āem!
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I did not apply to colleges 
We had a local university that was as close to 100% acceptance as you could get. And I did not even sign up for that until a few weeks before school started.
I am not sure why school was never really prioritized at my house- both of my parents had Masters by the time I graduated- but never discussed plans with me. Both of them did school later in life- so I think they just did not know what a traditional path looked like 
I then got kicked out of school on scholastic suspension (I did really well in high school: top 10% / honors trackā¦ so that surprised many 
) and enlisted in the AirForce
So, if I could go back- I would probably do things very similar- but skip the getting kicked out of school part and just going straight into service. I did very well there and only got out after 9-11 after 6 years in because I just had my oldest and my husband was also military. Things changed way too much at that time and was not good for children with two active-duty military parents.
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My D26 really loved Elon, too, when we visited a year ago ā except for the location. It definitely felt too remote.
But itās funny how much has changed in a year. At that point, she was saying she wasnāt worried about major ā she could study anything as long as the social environment was a good fit. And Elon seemed to qualify ā strong study abroad opportunities and small marching band were important. And what she really liked was that it seemed like she could be involved in many different things without having to dedicate all her time to just one area.
We spent a long time looking at their academic offerings, however, and trying to find something that would match her interests. And there just wasnāt a great match.
Since then, however, weāve visited several schools that have almost exactly what sheās looking for academically ā and sheās changed her focus to looking for that first, and then looking at the social fit second. And sheās no longer looking at small and cozy and comfortable schools ā now she wants a little bigger and more fulfilling academically. She wants to be doing arts/technology that excites her.
Ideally it could be both, lol ā but apparently there are very few schools that qualify. Still, itās interesting to me how much her preferences have changed in one year. Last Thanksgiving, we really thought it would be between Furman and Elon ā but she ended up applying to neither.
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Once again, I certainly wish I had had more guidance in high school. Iām not sure UT was doing auto admit for the top 10% when I was applying, but if they were, I didnāt know it. It is the regret of my life that I didnāt apply there. S23 has been indoctrinated as a Longhorns fan by me from birth, but alas, did not have the grades to even think of trying to get in, not to mention being a very long way from home. Hook āem!!
I was class of 1995 at UT so not sure when they started auto admit, but definitely had it. I was in state. Fun counselor story. I was an immigrant kid (Ukraine) and my HS counselor hated me. Junior year during our mandatory meeting with the HS counselor regarding college, she told me that I had no chance of graduating in the top 10% of my class (even though I had great grades) and would never be admitted to UT. She then told me even I was admitted by some miracle, I would fail out anyway. She told me not to bother and just go to community college. I was so mad that I studied even harder, made it to top 8% of my HS class, got admitted to UT, graduated magna cum laude and have had an amazing career. I will never forget her face when she saw me wearing my top 10% ribbon and after they announced that I was attending UT. Just goes to show that some HS counselors are truly terrible people. She never said one uplifting or encouraging word, but definitely served as a great motivator. Lol. UT is a great school and opened so many doors for me. My spouse and I are lucky enough to attend home games and bowl games (if they make it) every year. I am sorry that you also did not receive helpful guidance. I think you would have loved it.
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This makes me so sad for you and so angry. It is scary how much influence (for good or bad) these counselors can have on a student. I have posted enough about our lousy guidance experience for D26 so I will spare you. I am so glad you rose above!!
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The CSS is a real pain in the butt. I have serious anxiety about whether we will get enough funding. I feel like I need to go run and look for more schools with merit.
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Oh my goodness. What a truly terrible human.
I know we should always take the high road ā but if this woman is still around, and if sheās still influencing students, I think you should pay her a visit and tell her whatās what!
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I am putting this post here as an application tip.
There is a new section this year in the Common App called Responsibilities and Circumstances:
If your student checks of any of these items, those items should ALSO be included in their 10 Activities. If they donāt put them in Activities, application readers have no context as to the details. For example, are they caring for a family member for 4 hours per week or 20? Have they been doing that for 1 year or 4 years? Do they have a leadership role at their paid job?
And on and on.
The vast majority of apps Iāve read so far this cycle that have used this R&C section have NOT included the activity in Activities. So, the reader has no/very little context of what is really involved on a day to day based and over time throughout HS. If the Activities section is maxed out, put the relevant details in Additional Info.
Happy to discuss further with anyone via PM.
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Holy cow- that counselor sounds terrible!! I am so glad you wound up at UT where you clearly belonged.
I was class of 1994 so yes, that was probably in place when I was applying and I was definitely in the top 10% of my class. I will say that I was a theatre major and a friend of mine that went to UT in that same program said it was difficult to get on the mainstage as an undergrad. The college I attended in South Austin was much smaller and gave me amazing performance opportunties. BUT looking back it makes me wistful to think I could be a āTexas Exā today. I did attend a few games during that time and one of my best memories was watching Ricky Williams play.
Sorry- I miss Texas more than I can say so forgive my descent into nostalgia!
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Only had time to do a drive through of UT-Dallas yesterday. D26 and I did not care for it. Felt like a Silicon Valley office parkā¦bland, boring, meh. Not much soul. No āvibe.ā Told D26 she could choose to not apply and she said, ānah, I still want to keep my options open. I could change my mind.ā
Youād definitely need a car if you went to college there. Ate at a locally owned and operated Mediterranean restaurant near the campus. Food was goodā¦they are Halal certified. Owners were super nice people.
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Did UTulsa tour today. Weather pretty awesome here today. Campus is beautiful. Saw dorm rooms in 2 separate dorms on the tour. The all-female dorm rooms in Lottie Jane Hall were really big and have a sink in the room.
Large-ish campus but not enormous like ASU. One of my coworkers is from the Tulsa atea and she is one of the most down to earth genuine peopleā¦a lot of the people here are like that. Friendly, down to earth, nice.
Met w/a cybersecurity professor also, whoās head of their Cyber Corps program. D26 really liked him. Very approachable, open, made time in his very busy schedule to meet w/D26. Prof said their program is really technical. Both of my kids said he gave off big āhelpful dad vibes,ā which they thought was a big plus. Prof said a lot of their classes use projects and the projects are all team based. This was another big plus for D26ā¦she likes the collaborative nature of her high school. Tulsa felt similar.
Prof asked her about her classes so she rattled off the AP courses sheās taken. He told her that he wants all of the cyber students to continue on to at least a masterās (which they have there). Based on some of the stuff he talked about, sounds like the department has good opportunities for students to land fed govāt internships, which D26 really liked hearing about.
We are going to explore some Route 66 stuff later today and tomorrow before we head back to Austin College tomorrow morning.
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Alright so off topic a little but why am I so incredibly anxious about this whole process? Sheās just about ready to submit her ED1 app to Colby. I donāt think sheāll get in and sheāll ED2 to smith if she doesnāt. I think sheāll get in there maybe? REGARDLESS why am I so anxious? I guess I know why but I canāt be the only one? I want her to be happy. I stress over her decisions more than she does. I stress that sheās choosing Colby for all the wrong reasons. I stress that sheāll hate it after sheās there. And sheās just CHILL about it all. I think Iām hiding it from her pretty well. Iāll be so glad when this process is done and sheās in.
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I think a lot of us are stressing over this!! I had lunch with one of C26ās classmateās mom today and weāre both stressing for sure.
I panicked when I had to sign off on the parent ED1 acknowledgement. I know itās D26ās top choice. Still felt uneasy. I think itās the finality of it all.
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Iām the opposite. I wish C26ās top choice had an ED option. It was such a blessing with D19 to be done with the whole process by mid-December.
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In our house I know itās going to be a nail biter until the bitter end! 
The UCs notify so late in the processā¦ and D does not want to visit any more colleges before she has all the info from her admission decisions in handā¦ and on top of that, she is notorious in our house for having trouble making decisions and second guessing herself foreverā¦ 
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If this isnāt helpful, then please ignore and I apologize. Weāre full zen in our household over this college process. Iām VERY skeptical about fancy colleges and am reasonably convinced D26 will get into her good public options and probably a few privates with some merit aid. Her safety is not only good, but itās good for what she wants to study. She can be happy there. D is not overly worried about anything, at least outwardly. Iāve had this conversation a bunch with her that sheās already super blessed by birth and skill and doesnāt have much to really worry about. A family that cares for her and supports her is always there. Sheās smart and canāt make a decision about college that would ruin her life. Sheāll make the best decision she can and move forward.
This said, I appreciate the stress involved. D26 helps by not being worried. She doesnāt want to apply ED anywhere because she wants the options she gets. Sheās reluctant to add schools to her list because sheās not convinced sheād want to go to a random school she doesnāt really care about. Sheās happy with her relatively straightforward choices. Weāll see what happens when push comes to shove, but Iām hopeful she can maintain that attitude of āque serĆ”, serĆ”ā.
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Iām right there with you! Been feeling anxious these past few weeks!
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