Common app has direct admissions where the participating schools can see stats of students who have populated their common app. The school makes an offer of admission, but the student still has to submit their common app by the appropriate deadlines to get a formal offer.
5 Likes
Knock on wood, he might reconsider if things do not actually go the way he is apparently expecting.
You were at GMU with confederate flags? I truly can’t imagine that. GMU is in Fairfax County which, last election, voted for the Democratic presidential candidate 65% to 31%.
The accessibility sounds like a problem and would make this school not right for you, but for any future readers looking at this, please know that this is not a hotbed of the confederacy. It is very very different from that. It’s one of the higher cost of living and most educated suburbs in the country. If OP saw a confederate flag then there must have been one, but I’ve lived in this area for 50 years and never seen that up here.
I would encourage any future reader looking at this and considering GMU to research the Fairfax County area where it is located.
12 Likes
I am aware. I just wish they would actually consider who the student is, their personality, commitment, ECs, etc. The heavy focus on grades has always bothered me. Not sure if it was meant to be this way, but your tone came off as a little degrading to me… please do not talk to me like I’m stupid 
(I assume this was by accident, don’t worry. Just wanted to make you aware.)
I would hope so, but my family is historically very stubborn. I might try talking to him about it again soon. He also threatened to take away my math tutor a few times and give up on college all together and not pay for anything because I wasn’t doing as well as he wanted me to, so unfortunately if things don’t go the way he wants I’m more likely to be met with anger rather than any logical consideration of next steps. I think I’d just be on my own at that point.
2 Likes
This is really good to know. Perhaps it was people new to the area that were hanging them, I can’t be sure. Thank you for your input!
This is true - most of mine were through Niche, but I did get 20-30 direct admit offers through Common App as well. The ones I listed were just the ones I accepted. (Only one or two of the ones on that list were from Common App)
1 Like
Respectfully, the heavy focus on grades is usually the most important factor colleges consider. They need to be confident that you can succeed. After all, the primary goal is to educate. Grades are one of the best ways they can assess that. But obviously, there can be mitigating circumstances that affect grades.
Upward and downwards trends in grades tell the college something important. There is a question on the common app where students can explain how covid or other unusual events impacted a student in a way that was beyond their control. So yes, holistic admissions are real, but if grades are an issue not adequately accounted for in some way, it will negtively impact chances.
11 Likes
Looking at your stats and your schools, you seemed to apply to reaches (Bowdoin, NEU, Colby, UW) or safeties (Roger Williams, Fairbanks, Farmington). I don’t see too many targets. Also, the location, size, public v private, LAC v flagship state schools, vary so dramatically. Where do you want to live? What do you want to do or major in? Are you interested in large schools like UW, GM, NEU or small LACs like Bowdoin, Colby, UOP? You ask where you went wrong, but I believe that’s a knee jerk reaction. Don’t look at the past that cannot be replicated but look to your opportunities now in the near future. If you were my child, I’d ask that you evaluate yourself. What are your interests? What do you see yourself doing, majoring, industry you would want to work in. Then truly evaluate if that’s something you would have some skills or ability in. Moreover determine your personality so you can see where you’d like to live and what type of college you can see yourself attending. You would need to know financially what can you or your family afford. Ask your family, friends, teachers or mentors to better understand you. Then, once you know the type of realistic school and area and major you’d like to apply to, see if they are still accepting applications. Many mid level schools are still open for enrollment or are rolling. Hopefully those would be schools that interest you. But you must be realistic. Your GPA is good and test scores are great, but not good enough for top LACs or top private and state schools. Some other schools to consider in colder weather areas that you seem to want to apply to would be schools like Seattle U, University of Portland, Lewis and Clark, Willamette. Santa Clara or University of Oregon. Oregon State? What about schools like Wheaton MA, or Brandeis? Connecticut College or UConn? Trinity? Just throwing some options out there. I know less about the east coast schools but more on the west coast. These colleges seem to be more in line with your gpa and scores than the reaches you applied to.
If you decide to go CC, then I’d still recommend looking in yourself and knowing what you would like to do.
So, in short, don’t worry about what could have I done. Now look to what can I do with the options I currently have and what options can I currently make and explore? Look in yourself to know what you want to do and where you want to go, realistically. Have not just reached or random safeties but have solid targets that you want to attend or would like to attend.
Good luck!
1 Like
Yes, I definitely agree that they are important! I guess I just feel like colleges don’t take into account those supplemental sections where they ask if you’ve been impacted by covid or anything, or if you have accommodations, or like literally anything about you. It feels like they just ignore that part despite asking for it. Of course, this almost definitely isn’t true in reality, but it is a thought I have and it is very frustrating.
I think I have myself down pretty well, honestly. Size and location do not matter to me, public v private doesn’t matter, etc. I know 100% as of right now I want to major in marine bio/science (depending on what the school offers), but I’m willing to settle for biology or environmental science. My special interest is marine biology and I want to focus on that, with some conservation stuff sprinkled in. I want to eventually be a field scientist / independent researcher and run studies and publish findings and whatnot. I need a strong community with queer and disability supports, some kind of health service, an accessible campus, and a place where I can be myself and have everything I need to thrive (whether it is put in place by the school or I am given the space to create it myself).
1 Like
Yes, sorry, may have gotten into too much detail there, just didn’t want to seem like I was making excuses when I said we were stubborn. Force of habit.
If they ask for it, they take it into account.
You can’t compare your chances to another student with similar grades for the very reason you have been discussing: holistic admission. You don’t know what others’ life circumstances are. You don’t know what any of their teachers said about them (teacher recs are very important at most of your reaches.). It’s probably the #1 misperception by students that their chances should be the same as another student with the same grades and course rigor. Holistic admissions is why a lot of colleges in the US don’t just admit by GPA and test scores.
4 Likes
Just submitted to Ithaca, Bates, Marist, and U Rhode Island.
16 Likes
Yeah, you’re right, I’m sorry. I am acting quite irrationally. It feels like they just do not take my struggles into account at all. If I worked harder to be a better student and to make my grades match my intelligence, I would be in significantly more mental and physical pain than I already am. I’ve been in perpetual autistic burnout since middle school and my health gets worse every day. I wish they would acknowledge that. It makes me really upset that I watch students who use AI for all of their work or copy off of each other’s tests get into schools that I wanted to get into when I’ve been doing it all myself and pushing myself incredibly hard for my whole life. It’s just frustrating.
1 Like
I understand. But you are putting in the work and that will benefit you for your entire life.
I can’t even imagine the hurdles you have had to deal with your entire life. IMO that’s why a good fit college is even more important for you than a typical student who might not have challenges at the level you’ve had.
Glad to hear this!
Good luck, we are all rooting for you.
7 Likes
And this is what should be important - not my friends go there and the reputation stinks.
You have a lot of needs or desires.
Which campus can fulfill it or come closest? Maybe it’s not even one you’ve looked at yet.
Prestige, rank, or pedigree should be the least important of your concerns given your needs and desires. You likely need private medical btw - school healthcare gets overwhelmed quite easily, especially first semester,
3 Likes
Perhaps, I definitely need to keep searching.
I’ll likely be staying on my current insurance under my parents as long as my school will allow it (I’m sure they will). I just need to make sure they have a pharmacy either on campus or within walking/bus distance (I don’t drive) and some kind of health facility, even if it’s just a tiny office where they do routine check-ups, in case of emergency.
My point wasn’t about insurance - but about the health facility - I’m saying you often can’t get in or for days/weeks - so you likely need a private doctor, so you might look into that.
Most places have close pharmacies - but yep, check for that too.
Good luck
PS - take a look at Salisbury - maybe it will work for you (not sure) - but it’s in Maryland, like St. Mary’s.
1 Like
I was just going to heart this, but I thought maybe I should respond directly instead. I really appreciate all of this, and all everyone else has said as well. I was definitely in a little bit of a spiral when I first made this post, but taking some time and reflecting on your words and advice has definitely helped me. I’m going to continue my college search and hopefully find some place I can be happy at.
9 Likes