First-time we are applying to college. While we are mostly done with applying, and waiting to hear back - we wanted to know what is the etiquette after getting admit from the university. (we are US citizens employed outside US at the moment)
Should we send a thank you letter ? (not acceptance)
Can we negotiate the “terms” :-), especially if there is a scholarship or no scholarship ?
Any standard templates if there is a denial and we want to contest it ?
Should we go back to admissions office with some more information on what the student did it in their senior year (after admission, to solicit any aid of any kind)
Does it help to setup a time with the designated college admissions counsellor for the student ?
We are planning on researching on APs in the senior year based on the admit and what the university accepts
Dorm research (know more about the timelines etc)
Getting involved with local groups if any (since we are outside the country)
Anything else which we would need to pay attention to ?
Thanks in advance, this community has been great source of information
“We” are not applying to college - your kid is. And your kid, not you, should be driving the questions.
I’ll let others chime in, but will add most colleges don’t allow appeals - and private colleges almost universally won’t. Some publics may allow appeals but generally only if their was an egregious mistake in the application
Well, I’m financing a part of it, so I do have a stake in making sure that “we” do the right thing (and I really don’t have to justify my usage of pronouns). I get to choose the pronouns used, feel free to not engage if it doesn’t suit your preference. I really don’t advice on “who” gets to drive the questions, I usually refrain from making subjective observations about how kids and parents go about making decisions.
Besides the pedantic observation, I’m more interested in knowing other details.
And thanks for other information about appeals etc.
Regarding 1, I would say a thank you letter is not necessary. I haven’t heard of that being done.
For 2, I think 100% yes. You should negotiate where there’s a scholarship involved. I might also advocate for negotiating where need-based aid is involved. I think a lot of folks will say that colleges have their priorities and act accordingly. As the consumer, I think we should act in the same way with our own priorities. That means negotiating where applicable. For merit, that seems overall easier. For need-based aid, there are approaches that I’ve seen in other forums for taking this type of action.
I don’t have any other recommendations for the rest, sorry. Best of luck!
Depends on the school - if they offer need based aid only and you don’t qualify, then no. You will know from the NPC. If they offer need based aid but less than the NPC showed (and there will be a reason, perhaps your error), you can ask. Will they, unlikely but if you commit to attending if they meet a price, you can ask. If you want more aid, you can ask but many have tables so you know up front. If you have a price point in mind, then do a match me, provide your GPA, SAT, course rigor, ECs, etc. and give a major and price and people will tell you schools that will 100% work - because if your budget is $30K and you won’t qualify for need, then you can eliminate 80%+ of the schools in regards to - having an assured admit to hit your target price.
See each school’s appeal page but you are unlikely to have a valid reason to do so. That you were denied and disagree is not a valid reason. If your student was in the hospital for all of 11th grade, maybe. But this is why you apply to multiple schools and assure you have an affordable acceptance. So see what the school says to do, but honestly, don’t even bother.
After admission, no. Before admission, some schools have a place to update anything significant (win an olympic medal??) or your SAT. Some may ask you to upload first semester grades. Read their rules. But no - you shouldn’t - unless instructed to or they state a process up front.
If you have questions you can’t get answered on the website, sure. If it’s just to suck up, no. More impactful (for you, not the college) would be to ask for a meeting with a student ambassador or a professor in an area of interest - so you can learn more. Some schools have student ambassador webpages where you can reach out directly or you can reach to an academic department (or club) and ask if there’s a student you can contact or if a prof would be willing to meet with you virtually. You are doing this for your student’s edification, not admission gain.
You should take the APs that are next in your sequence, that your teachers recommend. For most schools, you don’t need any APs. This isn’t a game. If your student is ready, great - and if not - great. btw - your APs won’t be in your record in most cases by the time a decision is made - as most schools make it on three years worth of grades.
Yes, this will be on each school’s website. Some, you apply for (and pay a deposit) before you even get a decision - so if you place a housing deposit at 5 schools, it can be costly. But it’s good to learn about the process for each school you apply - but you don’t need to do it year’s in advance - unless you are using dorm selection as a reason for choosing a college. In truth, my kid picked his school for the dorm (not selection) but was assured a dorm in the Honors College dorm and didn’t even apply to his school until after all other apps were in - and he stumbled upon it. So I can’t imagine you need to worry about this now.
Local groups how? Clubs, ECs - yes? The Penn State alumni chapter in Amsterdam? Sure. But that’s for you. Summer job, clubs at school - for colleges that are more than stat based, sure. For many schools, ECs are irrelevant although it’s always good for a student’s growth.
Anything else - sounds like he’s a Junior? Application deadlines, costs, auto merit. First thing you have to do though is set a budget - are you willing to pay $20K a year or $95K a year? Will you qualify for in-state tuition in any state?
Then you can play around with net price calculators? See if you’ll get aid - look at schools like Princeton, BU, UVA, Denison, etc.
Then I’d try to figure out - maybe online tours - what do I want in a college - small, medium, large. Urban, rural, suburban. Sun or Sun/snow? Is there a region in mind - maybe you need to northeast or mid atlantic for flights home? Greek life? Sports, Religion. Is there a specific major in mind?
There will be lots of tours on line.
You can also google the school name + niche and read reviews from students of their school. They’re limited in student interview quantity - but still insightful.
But bottom line - it all starts with budget - that’s item A, B, and C unless you are able and willing to spend $100K a year.
Agreed that your kid should drive this train, with you in the support position as needed. “We” are not applying to college. This is actually really important, no matter who is paying the bill.
That said,
No. For acceptances (other than ED), your kid will accept or decline by the deadline, and that is enough.
Need-based financial aid might be negotiable if (a) it’s much less than expected based on NPC, or (b) your kid is deciding between two schools, and the first choice school offered far less aid. Not all schools will negotiate, but it’s worth a shot. Merit aid is usually non-negotiable. (These negotiations are where you’d play a more active role alongside your kid.)
In most cases you cannot contest a denial (or you could try, but it would go nowhere). I suppose the only exception might be if the college received incorrect and disqualifying information about your kid and denied admission based on that, but I suspect these cases are vanishingly rare (there was a related query on this site this week, in which the counselor submitted a transcript that had flat-out incorrect information). In virtually all cases, of your kid is rejected, you will never know why, and it would be inappropriate to contest it.
Again, you usually can’t appeal merit aid (which is what this question is addressing – need based aid is decided independent of merit). However, in the RD cycle, if there is a notable update to the students record, they (not you) can contact their admissions officer with new information. This would be something along the lines of a significant award or honor, not a new EC added. It could be an updated transcript if fall grades will make a difference in the kid’s profile. There is rarely time during the ED/EA cycle to make these addendums, but if the timing works out, your kid can contact those admission officers, too.
In cases when this is possible, the student does this - not you. They wouldn’t call the admissions officer to set up an appointment, though it would be okay to email with questions (don’t overdo it). However, some regional admissions officers visit high schools, and it would definitely be appropriate for students to speak with them during those visits (which are usually informational sessions, not interviews). If the school offers interviews(which might be with students, alums, or admission officers), the student can schedule an interview. These are good ways to demonstrate interest for schools that track this sort of thing, or to get information. With a few exceptions, these interviews will not sway an applicant’s status.
Your student should consult with their teachers, their counselor, and you about courses and course levels. They should make these decisions based on what level would appropriately challenge them, not on what any specific school wants. They should challenge themselves but not drown themselves in work above their level. That will look different for different students and course availability.
You can research dorms all you want, but housing choices,assignments, and deadlines will vary by school, so just be aware of the possibilities so you can make the best choice when you select a school. For some big universities, it does make sense to put a housing deposit down before you decide to accept an admissions offer. Seems like a waste, but I’ve heard you can lose out in housing selection if you don’t do that (this is not the case at smaller schools).|
Not really sure what this would look like or what kinds of groups you’re thinking about, but this is probably another case when the kid, not you, should make this choice.
This is a bit concerning. Often, students apply to rolling admission colleges and/or colleges with early action where some notify of acceptances before the holidays. When is your kid’s first decision due to be released? Do you need/want suggestions on schools your kid might still apply to?
On another thread you said your student was applying EA with an Oct 15 deadline. Any school with that deadline has sent out admission decisions by now. Was your student deferred?
Some schools will ‘negotiate’ but I would encourage you not to enter in any discussions with a ‘negotiation’ mindset. That tends to not go over very well. Some, typically more selective schools, will match need based aid from other schools, some won’t. No downside to asking, should that be a situation you find yourself in. As for merit aid, many schools will increase their offers if asked, but typically an extra $1k to $5k, not $20K. Best to have a number in mind ‘we need to get to total COA of $50K and if you can do that I will commit to attend’. It’s ok for parents to be involved with financial aid conversations but the kid should be on the call too and ideally leading the conversation.
Based on another one of your threads it looks like you won’t qualify for need based aid and have a budget of $20K. There are few four year colleges that will get to that price even for top students. Posters could be most helpful if you share your list and confirm this is still the correct budget. Did your student apply to at least one college that is highly likely for admission and guaranteed to meet your budget?
Most schools won’t entertain an appeal of the admission decision, unless as others said there was some material error in the transcript.
Most schools have clear tables on their websites that show what AP test scores they will accept for credit. Your kid may or may not want to accept credits, especially if they have medical school aspirations.
Understanding all deadlines is critical. Some schools do have separate deadlines and deposits for housing.
Thanks @mwfan1921 for pointing out the other thread. I thought, maybe due to the AP question, the student was a Junior.
We don’t know stats but short of a high tier Ivy like Princeton and that may even be more than $20k - the student likely needs to look at a W Carolina and then if there’s a high GPA and 32 / 1420 test, an Alabama, Miss State, ole Miss, Central Michigan and there’s maybe more. Then they can apply anywhere but know they’ll have a home - stat dependent.
If hoping for a UC, the SEC flagships would be subs, but not as selective but they buy in top kids of course they are farther from Asia (travel) but would be cost assured - at least this year.
There are aggressive LACs - in PA like Susquehanna (one patent I believe recently reported $24k) but that’s rare and most inexpensive ones may start high 30s - buying kids in to get revenue.
I wonder if CA residency were possible (doesn’t sound like it), it wouldn’t work at $20k but some WUE could be $25-30k but would need CA residency I’d imagine. OP can find out.
Bottom line and they won’t be as diverse (especially Asian) but give us great stats, I’ll give you $20k or close at respectable schools - and you won’t need LORs.
But seeing your income and savings, it’s doubtful you can negotiate more - short of Princeton offered you this, will Dartmouth match ? There has been a recent trend of schools coming late with more merit to those not enrolled / I think the most I read was Baylor at $5k more but this his highly unlikely - just a handful and still won’t get you close.
$40k a lot more schools but $20k and assured, they exist but very limited - in what I’ve seen.
The regular deadline for AP registration has already passed. It is possible pay late fees and sign up by mid March, but your son may not have all his admissions decisions by then.
Was going to say this exactly. You need to already have decided on what exams to take. Also, someone said something about med school and choosing not to use AP credit. I don’t understand that suggestion - my son took AP credit for chemistry, physics, and math (and others) at MIT, and is now in a T5 medical school.
MIT doesn’t accept AP Chem or AP Physics C E&M credit anyway, although there are Advanced Standing Exam options available to gain credit. And as a student at MIT, he likely took advanced courses in those departments anyway.
The point made was that AP science credits aren’t accepted by many med schools as meeting prereqs, but if the student accepts the credits, they can meets the prereqs by taking advanced courses above the minimum.
I’m not sure if med school is in the interests of the OP’s kid; I’ve no desire to read through all of her past threads, so it might be a moot point in this case.
Should we send a thank you letter ? (not acceptance)no
Can we negotiate the “terms” :-), especially if there is a scholarship or no scholarship ? you can try, but some colleges just don’t do a reconsideration of financial aid…and especially for international students
Any standard templates if there is a denial and we want to contest it ?you can look on college websites and see. Nothin standard for all colleges
Should we go back to admissions office with some more information on what the student did it in their senior year (after admission, to solicit any aid of any kind)only if this is substantial or will increase auto merit aid
Does it help to setup a time with the designated college admissions counsellor for the student ?to do what??
We are planning on researching on APs in the senior year based on the admit and what the university accepts you have no need to submit AP scores until your student chooses a college. So if getting credit for these it’s important, then do check college policies
Dorm research (know more about the timelines etc)that should be on the college website in terms of timelines
Getting involved with local groups if any (since we are outside the country)if there is a local alumni group in your country, then yes, perhaps reaching out to them would be good. I’m not sure what you mean by “involved” but most of these are for alumni events…and your kid won’t be an alum. But the alums might be willing to talk to him
That’s not true. DS took both AP Physics C and got credit for 8.01 (also needed his BC Calc I think). His 5 on Chem let him take the 5.11 placement test so he got that credit too. Please stop spreading this falsehood. He didn’t take more in physics, but yes took chem and math obviously.
ETA: if you mean you can’t get 8.02 that is correct. Also, they seem to change this every year. When DS1 applied, they accepted Bio and CS as well. Humanities APs still all give credit.
It is true, and please go back and read what I wrote, and kindly compare to what you wrote before you point out the falsehoods you very incorrectly think I’m spreading.
Hint: 8.01 is mechanics; MIT gives no AP credit for 8.02, which is E&M, although an Advanced Standing Exam for 8.02 (and 8.01, 8.03 and 8.04) is available. The 5.11 exam is the ASE exam I mention in my post.