College Admissions Questions (3 Viewers)

[Fear The Turtle]

As with seemingly everything involved in this process, every school seems to act differently.

That being said, being safe is certainly better than being sorry.  It is always best to think that some one some where will get offended so anything even off color, just don't post/retweet/ etc for the next few months.   

No school is going to have the time or resources to do any sort of real deep look into social media even if they do look imo so just keep any recent stuff clean.

Thanks.  How about the following of the various schools and their admissions sites?  Is your daughter publicly following any or all?

 

[Fear The Turtle]

My daughter is a F at Williams and I can assure you leaving it would not  be a plus not a negative .

You're confusing me with the double "nots."  I'm assuming you mean it would be a plus.  Maybe at Williams but probably not at some of the schools where my kid is applying.  

 

[HellToupee]

You're confusing me with the double "nots."  I'm assuming you mean it would be a plus.  Maybe at Williams but probably not at some of the schools where my kid is applying.  

unless you're kid is doing something illegal or tawdry I wouldn't think twice

 

[NewlyRetired]

Thanks.  How about the following of the various schools and their admissions sites?  Is your daughter publicly following any or all?

my daughter has no social media accounts outside of instagram to post her art work.  So to answer your question she is not following any college.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Daughter was accepted at the Honors College at the Univ of MD.  

 

[Fishboy]

Must be the day for good news. Daughter got the letter in the mail today upping her Scholarship to $12,000/yr at Louisville. 

 

[Courtjester]

Congrats guys!!

 As I posted earlier my daughter had pretty much decided that she was attending UNC at Greeley. Today she's touring their honors program at that campus. 

 Now for the frustrating stuff we got their awards letter and it's 23,000 a year to go there so pretty reasonable.  They gave her  a $6000 a year scholarship and basically said the remaining 17k should be split 3k--my daughter takes loans and the remaing 14k is on me. 

 Her second safe school came back with just a $1.200 a year scholarship and it cost 23,000 to go there also and guess what? The 21,000+ remaining is on us. They have a 80% acceptance rate 

She is feeling really down and put on her Instagram this week she wasn't going to go to college at all because she doesnt want to put us in a big hole. 

I just am starting to wonder if I screwed up the Fafsa or something because we don't make this kind of money to have an extra 23k a year go to college 

 Edit:  sorry to be Debbie downer but we're gonna make this happen if I have to sell a kidney. She has worked way too hard and we owe it to her. 

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Congrats guys!!

 As I posted earlier my daughter had pretty much decided that she was attending UNC at Greeley. Today she's touring their honors program at that campus. 

 Now for the frustrating stuff we got their awards letter and it's 23,000 a year to go there so pretty reasonable.  They gave her  a $6000 a year scholarship and basically said the remaining 17k should be split 3k--my daughter takes loans and the remaing 14k is on me. 

 Her second safe school came back with a $1200 a year scholarship and it cost 23,000 to go there also and guess what? The 21,000+ remaining is on us. 

She is feeling really down and put on her Instagram this week she wasn't going to go to college at all. I  can understand her frustration because the qualifications to get into these schools was basically a 3.8 GPA.  She's really questioning why she is trying so hard in high school (she has a 4.57 now).  I think she really believed she was going to get into a great school and they were going to offer her a great scholarships to go there. It doesn't help that My wife's mom calls and makes her feel like crap for not getting a full ride somewhere. 

I just am starting to wonder if I screwed up the Fafsa or something 

Just can't imagine what's going through your mother-in-law's tiny head.  Unbelievable. 

Isn't the honors program at Greeley harder to get into than Greeley itself?  Couldn't you push that as the "reward" for trying so hard in high school? 

Regarding the finances, I don't think you can blame yourself for a FAFSA error, right?  I mean the questions are pretty straightforward I think.  What were you hoping would be your outlay?  To me, $14,000 is not a deal breaker.  Easy for me to say, of course...  Whatever became of the Coke scholarship?

 

[Courtjester]

Just can't imagine what's going through your mother-in-law's tiny head.  Unbelievable. 

Isn't the honors program at Greeley harder to get into than Greeley itself?  Couldn't you push that as the "reward" for trying so hard in high school? 

Regarding the finances, I don't think you can blame yourself for a FAFSA error, right?  I mean the questions are pretty straightforward I think.  What were you hoping would be your outlay?  To me, $14,000 is not a deal breaker.  Easy for me to say, of course...  Whatever became of the Coke scholarship?

Sorry I edited it down my initial post  as you can tell because I didn't want to appear to be such a whiner.  Apparently they have additional scholarships available for honor students so I'm anxiously awaiting my daughter coming home tonight and talking to me about it 

 She is still one of the finalist for the Coke scholarship and that would just solve all the problems. We should know in the next week if she advances. After that it goes to interviews and then they fly her to Atlanta with the other winners. 

 We are really going to go hard this weekend and go after as many 1k to 2k obscure  scholarships that we can find for her. Everyone goes for the big ones so I told her if she can focus on getting some little ones that have minimal requirements that people overlook, it will greatly help the bottom line. 

 I really appreciate all the kind words. I think this has been a great lesson for her. She has never failed in her life at anything  and now she is getting turned down for things and this is ultimately going to make her a better Person moving forward. 

But enough about money, the subtle shift in her is so heartbreaking. I can see her doing things now that she never did. She feeds the cat. She hugs her little sister. She knows she is probably leaving and I can see her doing the mental countdown In her head. I feel myself doing it too. I am going to miss the stupid things like making her breakfast in the morning and complaining about all the shoes left everywhere. She is my little girl and it is going to hurt. 

 

[NewlyRetired]

Daughter was accepted at the Honors College at the Univ of MD.  

This is sooo good!  Congrats to you and your daughter!

The honors programs are a wonderful addition to the typically higher acceptance schools that give better students a fantastic new choice!

Was this early decision/action?  For some reason I thought those came in December but I it seems like from this thread that answers can come at any time.

Is this her/your first choice of colleges?  

if so, fabulous.  If not, still fabulous because you have a great fall back position if the other choice does not materialize.  Great position to be in!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Just can't imagine what's going through your mother-in-law's tiny head.  Unbelievable. 

why would any grandparent do this????  That is just awful.  

I hope that sounds worse in print than actually happened in real life.

 

[BowieMercs]

Daughter was accepted at the Honors College at the Univ of MD.  

Go Terps!

 

[James Daulton]

Daughter only got Spring Semester acceptance at U of M.  I guess being 30th in a class of 420 with 1280 SATs doesn't cut it anymore.  And what's weird is that she was accepted into the honors college at JMU (which only takes like 4% of it's freshman class as honors).  And while I realize that U of M is more highly thought of than JMU, to not even be accepted as a Fall admittance seems weird to me. 

 

[NewlyRetired]

Daughter only got Spring Semester acceptance at U of M.    I guess being 30th in a class of 420 with 1280 SATs doesn't cut it anymore. 

what does this mean?   Is this saying she can't start school there until 2018?

I did not pay too close attention but I thought for most if not all of my daughters applications she had to chose which semester she was applying for (fall of 2017 in this case).

Is U of M University of Maryland?  I thought they had a near 50% acceptance rate.  That is utterly frightening if they found that many kids with better grades and test scores that your daughter for the fall semester...

 

[The Z Machine]

My daughter was accepted into the honors program of one of her safe schools James Madison.  The honors program takes like 200 kids only each class so this gives her some hope on some of her stretch schools.  Although she really likes James Madison and its business school seems well regarded.

As I recall from my undergrad days, the honors programs or courses were often easier to get As and Bs in than the regular courses. I didn't figure that out, but some of my slacker friends did. They don't want those honors kids to fail out, so the curve is easier.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

This is sooo good!  Congrats to you and your daughter!

The honors programs are a wonderful addition to the typically higher acceptance schools that give better students a fantastic new choice!

Was this early decision/action?  For some reason I thought those came in December but I it seems like from this thread that answers can come at any time.

Is this her/your first choice of colleges?  

if so, fabulous.  If not, still fabulous because you have a great fall back position if the other choice does not materialize.  Great position to be in!

Thanks NR.  MD has an EA priority filing deadline of 11/1 and the results for that were released yesterday.  I was told that 70-80% of the incoming class is filled through this.

I think my daughter would be perfectly happy going to MD.  She has lots of friends there and has visited the campus several times, and likes it.  We live about 45 minutes from there, so the price would definitely be right.  She was also accepted at Georgia Tech and likes the idea of it as well.  She'll probably end up deciding between the two, though she might get lucky with one of the reach applications she sent out.  Not counting on those, though, nor are we counting on Michigan, where she was deferred.

 

[James Daulton]

what does this mean?   Is this saying she can't start school there until 2018?

I did not pay too close attention but I thought for most if not all of my daughters applications she had to chose which semester she was applying for (fall of 2017 in this case).

Is U of M University of Maryland?  I thought they had a near 50% acceptance rate.  That is utterly frightening if they found that many kids with better grades and test scores that your daughter for the fall semester...

She was accepted as a Spring 2018 student in the freshmen connection program.  This means she can enroll at Maryland in the Spring of 17, but she has to take classes after 3pm Mon-Thur (something about have a lot of seniors who need the extra semester to graduate).  If she applies for housing before May 1st, she'll be guaranteed on campus housing so the only difference is having to take late classes for a semester.  Of course logic is working real good right now but I'll keep on working on it. 

 

[Fear The Turtle]

what does this mean?   Is this saying she can't start school there until 2018?

I did not pay too close attention but I thought for most if not all of my daughters applications she had to chose which semester she was applying for (fall of 2017 in this case).

Is U of M University of Maryland?  I thought they had a near 50% acceptance rate.  That is utterly frightening if they found that many kids with better grades and test scores that your daughter for the fall semester...

Right, it's Maryland and they offer a Spring 2018 start to some of the kids that applied but weren't accepted for the Fall of 2017.  MD's acceptance rate does hover around the high 40%s but, little by little, it's getting harder to get into.  Plus, I was told that UMD is obligated to take kids from all over the state so some kids with nice grades/scores from higher performing parts of the state are passed over in favor of kids with lesser grades/scores in lesser performing parts so the school can get the required geographic balance.  I was told by a mother who has a son at Winston Churchill H.S. in Montgomery County, MD, (an elite public school in a high performing area) that the average weighted GPA for UMD-accepted students at his school is almost 4.4.   

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Daughter only got Spring Semester acceptance at U of M.  I guess being 30th in a class of 420 with 1280 SATs doesn't cut it anymore.  And what's weird is that she was accepted into the honors college at JMU (which only takes like 4% of it's freshman class as honors).  And while I realize that U of M is more highly thought of than JMU, to not even be accepted as a Fall admittance seems weird to me. 

It could simply be a matter of where you are in the state.  You might be "unlucky" enough to be in high performing part of the state where the competition is fierce.  We're in Mont. Co. and my daughter has a teammate who got a 35 ACT but got Spring acceptance.  He has a 2.9 GPA but he is in the most difficult magnet program the school offers: SMCS.  It's getting crazy.

 

[James Daulton]

It could simply be a matter of where you are in the state.  You might be "unlucky" enough to be in high performing part of the state where the competition is fierce.  We're in Mont. Co. and my daughter has a teammate who got a 35 ACT but got Spring acceptance.  He has a 2.9 GPA but he is in the most difficult magnet program the school offers: SMCS.  It's getting crazy.

Yea, once I get her past the stigma of the acceptance with "criteria", hopefully she'll see that once the Spring semester starts she'll be on the same exact schedule as everyone else. 

 

[ffjunk]

Daughter only got Spring Semester acceptance at U of M.  I guess being 30th in a class of 420 with 1280 SATs doesn't cut it anymore.  And what's weird is that she was accepted into the honors college at JMU (which only takes like 4% of it's freshman class as honors).  And while I realize that U of M is more highly thought of than JMU, to not even be accepted as a Fall admittance seems weird to me. 

This isn't all bad. She can start at a college which is cheaper, a win for you, and transfer those grades right in. Just make sure they accept from the other college.

Also for all you new college parents, do yourself a favor and check, or have your kids check, rate my professor for the colleges your kids are going to go to. Not all reviews are legit, but when you start seeing a lot of the same negative comments, change out of that class and get a good professor. Obviously you won't know who they get until the schedules come out but stay on top of it. It will help out for the semesters to come too.

 

[NewlyRetired]

.  I was told by a mother who has a son at Winston Churchill H.S. in Montgomery County, MD, (an elite public school in a high performing area) that the average weighted GPA for UMD-accepted students at his school is almost 4.4.   

Do all high schools weigh the same way or does the college just chuck the high schools weighing system and use one of their own to keep everyone on the same formula?

I have a feeling my daughters high school has too high a bonus for ap and honors courses which artificially enhances the weighted gpas.

Do you know what an A+ is equivalent to in your daughters high school for AP and then for honors?

 

[Courtjester]

I know my daughter has a 4.57 right now because they weigh AP courses differently. .

Recovering after my melt down last night here guys--sorry to cloud this positive thread with my negativity. Too many I guess.

Found a couple more scholarships for my daughter to go after and she has been working pretty much all day on one of them. Just a heads up, there are a ton that close 2-1-17. There is a National Honor Society one that closes that day and the requirements are being a member of the Honor Society and a 400 word essay.  375 scholarships for $2,325 for semi-finalists and then more money if your kid makes it through to the later rounds. Pretty nice obtainable reward for such little effort--so something for your kids to consider.

Went and put a deposit down on the location for our daughter's graduation party today. We put feelers out for a bunch of places and it was just jaw-dropping what some wanted. 5k-7K for a high school graduation party?? We are really happy with the place we got and she is really excited about it. I know my HS graduation party consisted of a keg and grilled hot dogs/hamburgers. I sat in the garage and got drunk playing quarters--times have changed I guess.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

I know my daughter has a 4.57 right now because they weigh AP courses differently. .

Recovering after my melt down last night here guys--sorry to cloud this positive thread with my negativity. Too many I guess.

Found a couple more scholarships for my daughter to go after and she has been working pretty much all day on one of them. Just a heads up, there are a ton that close 2-1-17. There is a National Honor Society one that closes that day and the requirements are being a member of the Honor Society and a 400 word essay.  375 scholarships for $2,325 for semi-finalists and then more money if your kid makes it through to the later rounds. Pretty nice obtainable reward for such little effort--so something for your kids to consider.

Went and put a deposit down on the location for our daughter's graduation party today. We put feelers out for a bunch of places and it was just jaw-dropping what some wanted. 5k-7K for a high school graduation party?? We are really happy with the place we got and she is really excited about it. I know my HS graduation party consisted of a keg and grilled hot dogs/hamburgers. I sat in the garage and got drunk playing quarters--times have changed I guess.

You call that a melt down?  Just blowing off a little steam is all.  I appreciate any and all kinds of input in this thread.

Thanks for the tip on the scholarships and deadlines.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Do all high schools weigh the same way or does the college just chuck the high schools weighing system and use one of their own to keep everyone on the same formula?

I have a feeling my daughters high school has too high a bonus for ap and honors courses which artificially enhances the weighted gpas.

Do you know what an A+ is equivalent to in your daughters high school for AP and then for honors?

I don't know the answers to these questions unfortunately.  I know our county just has A through E; no + or -.  We have the standard stuff: AP and Honors classes are worth up to 5 on the weighted scale and regular classes up to 4.  If you take one of each and get an A in both, then your WGPA is 4.5 and your GPA is 4, right?  Our county is unusual in that schools don't rank, which can sort of suck when you get a class ranking question.  You've got to stick N/A in there with an explanation, if possible.  

 

[NewlyRetired]

  Our county is unusual in that schools don't rank, which can sort of suck when you get a class ranking question.  You've got to stick N/A in there with an explanation, if possible.  

This is the same with our school.  I think I read something like 40% of High Schools in the US have stopped releasing class rank so colleges are fully aware when the N/A comes in.

Our school system will release valedictorian and salutatorian in May but that is long after of any use for applications.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

This is the same with our school.  I think I read something like 40% of High Schools in the US have stopped releasing class rank so colleges are fully aware when the N/A comes in.

Our school system will release valedictorian and salutatorian in May but that is long after of any use for applications.

Cool.  Didn't realize that the % was so high.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

As I recall from my undergrad days, the honors programs or courses were often easier to get As and Bs in than the regular courses. I didn't figure that out, but some of my slacker friends did. They don't want those honors kids to fail out, so the curve is easier.

This is true at my university, at least for most honors courses.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Any news to report?

While we wait, I'd like to share some things I've learned, mistakes we've made, etc. for the benefit of future readers of this thread:

1. I would advise checking out the Common App before your kid's senior year, while you still have a chance to finesse his schedule. My daughter busted her A with difficult classes in her junior year but had neglected to get her gym and art credits in. I didn't realize that only her current year (senior) classes would be listed on the App. Sort of sucked to have to list Ceramics and Weightlifting.

2. I would recommend getting your child's resume done by the summer before senior year, at the latest. We procrastinated on this and pieced together a rush job for the first few offerings (scholarships, etc.) in the fall and, needless to say, she didn't get squat. Plus, doing a resume makes the application process much easier as you'll have thought through the types of things you'll want to accentuate on any apps you'll do.

3. If your child joins any resume-padding (to be blunt) organizations, tell him to get himself selected to a leadership position, It looks a lot better to say you're vice-president or whatever of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Club at school than simply being a member. My daughter had joined a few of these clubs for well-intentioned reasons, but I have to admit I was happy to be able to list her leadership titles for these clubs on her application and resume.

I'll come up with more later. Anybody else care to contribute?

 

[NewlyRetired]

1. I would advise checking out the Common App before your kid's senior year, while you still have a chance to finesse his schedule. My daughter busted her A with difficult classes in her junior year but had neglected to get her gym and art credits in. I didn't realize that only her current year (senior) classes would be listed on the App. Sort of sucked to have to list Ceramics and Weightlifting.

I might be completely wrong here but it was always my understanding that the colleges all but ignore this section of the Common App.   Since they always have to check the transcript for validity, I think they use that document which of course shows every course taken in every high school year.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

I might be completely wrong here but it was always my understanding that the colleges all but ignore this section of the Common App.   Since they always have to check the transcript for validity, I think they use that document which of course shows every course taken in every high school year.

That's good to know. Can't help but thinking that those get a little more attention, though, as they're listed separately in the App and then again in the transcript. Hope you're right.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'll come up with more later. Anybody else care to contribute?

As my daughter fell into the category of great grades/low test scores, I want to encourage other people's kids in this situation to strongly consider test optional schools.  The list of schools grows every year and the quality of the schools goes up in accordance.  

I had no idea that the program was so wide spread before I started the process last summer.  I think the list is at over 900 colleges/universities country wide now offer this.

 

[NewlyRetired]

That's good to know. Can't help but thinking that those get a little more attention, though, as they're listed separately in the App and then again in the transcript. Hope you're right.

I think one of the reasons the app has this section is because anyone who applies early won't have much history at all on their transcript for the senior courses.  It might help the colleges who start sorting applications before 1st quarter grades are released by the high schools.

 

[SteelCurtain]

Do all high schools weigh the same way or does the college just chuck the high schools weighing system and use one of their own to keep everyone on the same formula?

I have a feeling my daughters high school has too high a bonus for ap and honors courses which artificially enhances the weighted gpas.

Do you know what an A+ is equivalent to in your daughters high school for AP and then for honors?

All high schools are different and colleges will typically recalculate GPA's to try to put students from different high schools on a even playing field.

 

[SteelCurtain]

I might be completely wrong here but it was always my understanding that the colleges all but ignore this section of the Common App.   Since they always have to check the transcript for validity, I think they use that document which of course shows every course taken in every high school year.

Not entirely true.   Not all high school's put the senior courseload on transcripts, so the listing in the common app will be relied upon at times.

 

[SteelCurtain]

As my daughter fell into the category of great grades/low test scores, I want to encourage other people's kids in this situation to strongly consider test optional schools.  The list of schools grows every year and the quality of the schools goes up in accordance.  

I had no idea that the program was so wide spread before I started the process last summer.  I think the list is at over 900 colleges/universities country wide now offer this.

Here is the list of test optional schools

 

[NewlyRetired]

Not entirely true.   Not all high school's put the senior courseload on transcripts, so the listing in the common app will be relied upon at times.

yeah I mentioned this above in another post.

All High Schools do eventually put the senior courses on the transcript as the colleges tell the high schools to keep sending them updates as the year moves on.

 

[SteelCurtain]

yeah I mentioned this above in another post.

All High Schools do eventually put the senior courses on the transcript as the colleges tell the high schools to keep sending them updates as the year moves on.

Yes....sorry as I was responding as I was going along in the thread.

Just for clarification, some schools will only list "current courses" on the senior grades, so any "second half only" courses may not show up until after the admission decision is rendered.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is the list of test optional schools

still no tier 1's yet (Ivy's, MIT, Cal Tech, Stanford etc).  I wonder who the first school at the top tier will be to offer this?  

I figure it will be one of the Ivy's wanting to appear more progressive but in reality offering it does not buy these schools much in the rankings manipulation game.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Yes....sorry as I was responding as I was going along in the thread.

Just for clarification, some schools will only list "current courses" on the senior grades, so any "second half only" courses may not show up until after the admission decision is rendered.

The bold makes sense.

When touring colleges, we had quite a few warn the kids that even if they were accepted that they would be checking their school records for the second half of senior year and could pull the acceptance if the grades plummet.

I assume that is mostly a scare tactic.  I wonder how often, if ever, a school actually withdraws an acceptance letter......?

 

[Fear The Turtle]

The bold makes sense.

When touring colleges, we had quite a few warn the kids that even if they were accepted that they would be checking their school records for the second half of senior year and could pull the acceptance if the grades plummet.

I assume that is mostly a scare tactic.  I wonder how often, if ever, a school actually withdraws an acceptance letter......?

Very curious about this myself. Other than for disciplinary violations, of course.

 

[SteelCurtain]

The bold makes sense.

When touring colleges, we had quite a few warn the kids that even if they were accepted that they would be checking their school records for the second half of senior year and could pull the acceptance if the grades plummet.

I assume that is mostly a scare tactic.  I wonder how often, if ever, a school actually withdraws an acceptance letter......?

Happens more than you would think.  But its still relatively rare. 

Think about it.  Its after the kid has graduated HS.  They have announced he is going to XYZ University.  He has the XYZ sticker on his car.  He wears the XYZ sweatshirt.  And then he gets the dreaded call in July.  After most schools aren't accepting applications, so he's stuck going to community college.  Its brutal.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Happens more than you would think.  But its still relatively rare. 

Think about it.  Its after the kid has graduated HS.  They have announced he is going to XYZ University.  He has the XYZ sticker on his car.  He wears the XYZ sweatshirt.  And then he gets the dreaded call in July.  After most schools aren't accepting applications, so he's stuck going to community college.  Its brutal.

Scary.  Imagine having to explain to family/friends?  Sounds just awful.

And I assume you need to take a pretty big dive in grades for this to happen, not just going from A to B range.

 

[The_Man]

still no tier 1's yet (Ivy's, MIT, Cal Tech, Stanford etc).  I wonder who the first school at the top tier will be to offer this?  

I figure it will be one of the Ivy's wanting to appear more progressive but in reality offering it does not buy these schools much in the rankings manipulation game.

None of the highly selective schools will go test optional. They need the tests to help them wade through tens of 1000s of applications. In fact, most of these schools also still require SAT IIs. 

News update: my niece who got deferred ED from Duke just got a likely letter from William & Mary. She's a Virginia resident and loves the school but still holds out hope of getting in somewhere "better." My sister and her husband are hoping she doesn't 

 

[NewlyRetired]

None of the highly selective schools will go test optional. They need the tests to help them wade through tens of 1000s of applications. In fact, most of these schools also still require SAT IIs. 

I agree that it is highly unlikely but it is interesting to note that some tier 1's, like Harvard, have recently gone test optional for the SAT Subject tests.

 

[JaxBill]

Huge day coming up later this week. University of Florida releases verdicts Friday  at 6 PM.

Decision gets much easier for son if he gets in.

Been accepted to Alabama and Ohio U but they're only offering in state tuition.

USF wants him bad but son would only go there as last resort.  (Their journalism program is mediocre and his older brother goes there.)

 

[squidrope]

 

[Fear The Turtle]

None of the highly selective schools will go test optional. They need the tests to help them wade through tens of 1000s of applications. In fact, most of these schools also still require SAT IIs. 

News update: my niece who got deferred ED from Duke just got a likely letter from William & Mary. She's a Virginia resident and loves the school but still holds out hope of getting in somewhere "better." My sister and her husband are hoping she doesn't 

Nice news for your family.  I'd never heard of likely letters until a few days ago.  How widespread is their usage?  Any idea what % of a school's accepted students get one?  When do they come out typically? 

 

[The_Man]

Nice news for your family.  I'd never heard of likely letters until a few days ago.  How widespread is their usage?  Any idea what % of a school's accepted students get one?  When do they come out typically? 

I think this varies radically. But I generally think they are used by schools that don't have rolling admissions - it's a way to give good news to the more-qualified segment of their admissions pool, and potentially generate interest/enthusiasm. I will say it was a giant relief for my niece. She's got really good qualifications, but after she got deferred early from Duke, she was left wondering if she was going to get in anywhere. She already liked William & Mary, and now she's going to spend the next 6 weeks being psyched about them before letters from other schools start arriving.

The experience I had with my son last year was that for kids with a realistic shot at the most selective schools, there really are very few "match" schools. There are either "likely" or "reach" schools - for example, my son felt like Georgetown was a "match" for him, but I thought anywhere with a 16% acceptance rate is a reach. It all eventually worked out, but it wasn't until March 30 that he was admitted to a college that he was excited to attend. That was a long, stressful wait since so many of his friends knew their destination literally months before he did.

So I think the "likely" letter is a really nice thing.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Semi off topic. Do colleges now days require a foreign language while in college? I know most require 2-3 years in high school, but what do you need to do while in college?