Son's situation causes problem for ivies!!

collegeshopping
Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:17:33 +0000

any other advice???



Yes. Don’t LOVE Harvard. Or any other school on your list for that matter. These schools turn down 4.0, 2400 SAT, 36 ACT, EVERY SINGLE DAY. They are a reach for even the most accomplished student. I would cut your list to 3-4 “reach” schools, 3 matches, and 2 safeties. Just because you cast a wide “reach” net, does not mean it will yield any better results.

The kid ranked number 6 in my daughter’s high school class (well known, large, HARD Texas Public) who had a perfect 4.0, 16 AP’s with 14 5’s and 2 4’s, 18 hours dual, amazing EC with huge leadership and awards on the national level, 2380 SAT, 36 ACT, went into college admissions with a similar list. She came out with all rejections except one wait list that never materialized and ended up enrolling at UT Austin, the only “safety” she bothered to apply too. Interestingly enough, she finds the course work there a huge challenge. It is one thing to balance dual enrollment and another to balance day to day college life.

So it really is just a caution. There are kids here every single year that just don’t know how they got bypassed by their beloved Ivy. Rejection happens much more than acceptance so have a back up plan that makes you not feel like you had to settle.

Also, the only thing the schools on your son’s list have in common are prestige. What are his educational goals and likes and dislike as far as a campus is concerned?