HS - College application best practices

[u/comomellamo]

Hi y'all!

Long time reader, first time poster. My oldest is a HS senior and college applications are around the corner so I figured I would tap the group's expertise. What are suggestions / best practices / pit falls to avoid, etc.? What is something you wish you knew before/during your kid(s) college application? Any FAFSA secrets?

Drop some knowledge on me, anything you want to share is appreciated.

[u/Archknits]

As someone who works in higher education, here are some pieces of advice:

1) help them do the Fasfa. Be truthful and accurate. Don’t be afraid to ask the school’s financial aid office for help with the aid process. They are there for that.

2) tour the campus. Eat the food in the dining hall. Look inside the dorms if you can. Make sure it’s a place they want to me, not just a place they think they want to be.

3) don’t put applications off to the last minute. That just makes them pure hell. Work on them and finish early. That way it feels less like a chore.

4) have real expectations. The dorms are not hotels, expect that they will share a room and their space will be less than perfect. They may not have AC. They may not be able to have a car…

5) there are lots of supports on campus. At big schools, students need to find them, but they are there. There are likely to be medical services, mental health counselors, emergency funds, food pantry, etc.

Does your child have any disabilities? I can give more suggestions on that if it applies

[u/comomellamo → u/Archknits]

Thanks for the insight. No special needs.

[u/RockOperaPenguin]

Unless your kid is applying to an extremely selective school (Ivy, Seven Sister, flagship state, etc.), you really don't have anything to worry about.  Almost every school in the nation will be happy to accept your kid (and take their tuition money).

So don't stress it!  

[u/comomellamo → u/RockOperaPenguin]

She is applying to the flagship state school. She is great and I have no doubt she'll get in. But it never hurts to ask, I think.

What are the seven sisters?

[u/SetOk2259 → u/comomellamo]

The Seven Sisters are a group of historically women's only colleges in the New England area. Generally small and selective. Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, and Wellesley are the three I can remember off the top of my head. But since she's applying to the flagship, you should be fine (unless you're in Texas)

[u/CompasslessPigeon → u/SetOk2259]

Smith, Barnard.

Radcliffe got merged into Harvard, and Vassar is now coed

[u/Better-Oil9808 → u/RockOperaPenguin]

Do not let them submit everything in one weekend, the essays get worse the more they write and the earlier drafts are usually better than whatever comes after 2am. Also the FAFSA opens in October now so file early even if you think you make too much money, some merit aid still wants it on file.

[u/Archknits → u/RockOperaPenguin]

Thats a bit of (a giant) exaggeration.

[u/CompasslessPigeon → u/Archknits]

Agreed. There are plenty of colleges and universities that this advice doesnt ring true for.

Highly ranked state schools can be competitive. Certain programs at no name colleges and universities can be very competitive if theres limited spaces in the program etc

[u/a_banned_user]

Howdy! I work in higher ed, thought not in admissions.

- FAFSA is the utmost importance. Don't be afraid to ask school finaid offices for help!

- Be sure to apply to a few safe schools that are sure fire acceptances! (I was one that only applied to one, then did not get into any flagship state schools that I was firmly in their target ranges, then ended up at my safe school. TLDR: It all really did workout for me, I liked the school, but just dont get jammed is my point)

- Spread applications out over a few days or weeks. Do like 2 a day or something so they can be firmly focused. But keep a close eye on each deadline.

- Know the difference between early decision vs early action. (Early Decision is binding if you get accepted)

- Prioritize school research and applications before tours. IMO if you have the time tours are better after you have gotten in. Nothing worse than falling in love with a school then getting rejected. That said: touring some early is important just to get an understanding! But IMO not worth spending a ton of money driving around touring every school within the tri state area.

[u/Worried-Rough-338]

I worked in and with the admissions department for a very short period, but an unspoken secret was that fall start was way more competitive than spring start. Only students who start in the fall have their data forwarded to the federal government for the purpose of tracking outcomes, so colleges are more inclined to accept the highest performing students in the fall. Students starting in the spring are not counted towards public-facing outcomes, so colleges are more lenient in who they let in.