daughter going to college next year -- need advice

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

09/10/2012 11:06:27 AM · #1

Ok -- the first question is this:

I can't seem to get a handle on whether or not early decision is a good or bad idea.

The college in which she's interested has a binding early decision.

Some people say that early decision is a good thing, and that it's easier to get into. Some people say it's a bad idea unless you're an obvious shoe-in, because otherwise they'll wait and see what is better in the general pool.

I'm new to all of this. When I went to college, I only applied to one, got in on my PSATs alone, and never had to write an essay or take the SATs. I'm going to have lots and lots of questions in this process. Is there anyone that understands all of this and has been through it successfully that can give me some advice?

thanks!

Venser

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

09/10/2012 11:16:38 AM · #2

I'm assuming college implies university?
I've noticed this distinction between Canadians and Americans when discussing universities and colleges. In Canada, university is typically considered more prestigious than college, but in the US they tend to lump everything into one pool.

It's spelled out pretty nicely here. If you have specific questions, I'll try to answer them. I was a professor before I moved to finance.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/10/2012 11:25:11 AM · #3

early decision that's binding makes me uneasy. a student will likely change her major at least once, and the idea of being locked in to a school this early would make me nervous when they find the school they "really" want to go to.

most college admissions offices use a basic formula for admission, a certain weight is given to the following factors: SAT score, Community Service/Recommendations, Application essay, High School GPA. No need to feel a bombed SAT means she won't get accepted to many schools. Some schools have a minimum threshold for SAT score (i.e. i believe ivy league requires 1300+ on academic portion)

mbrutus2009

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

09/10/2012 11:27:24 AM · #4

Unfortunately, I won't be of any help here. That being said this is what happened with me...

I play volleyball so I was recruited by the school I attend now and one other for that. I also was "looked at" by 6 other schools for soccer. So my decisions weren't really all that hard... I knew I wanted to play volleyball and I knew I didn't want to be out of state so that left the college that I attend now. I did decide pretty early on in my senior year where I wanted to go and I sent my application pretty early and signed during my volleyball season.

I don't think that will really help much but I thought I would put it in here just in case.

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

09/10/2012 11:29:24 AM · #5

i dont understand the point of a binding early decision, does this mean she cant apply anywhere else?

if so i would pass, if she is a good student she should have plenty of options, she may not get into her top choice but rejection is a good life lesson to learn anyway.

09/10/2012 11:29:46 AM · #6

Yup -- university.

She has a strong SAT score, not as strong GPA. It seemed like when I went to college it's all about SATs, now it seems to be more towards GPA.

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

09/10/2012 11:30:47 AM · #7

she can always transfer.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

09/10/2012 11:32:43 AM · #8

The reason I'm asking about early decision, is that recent studies makes it sound like it's easier to get in early decision -- the acceptance rate is higher in most places. Yet I'm wondering if that's only because it's a better pool that's more certain of where they want to go -- not a bunch of people that are reaching.

So if you're not a top candidate in the school's view, are you better off waiting for the full applicant pool, or better off going against a smaller pool?

bassbone

Nikon Z8

09/10/2012 11:35:14 AM · #9

Originally posted by mike_311:

Binding Early Decision means the student can apply to other schools, but cannot with early decision. And if the student is accepted by the Early Decision school, they must withdraw all other applications and commit to attending that school. The issue is that you will not know the amount of financial aid being offered at the point of acceptance.

Good luck Wendy!

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

09/10/2012 11:40:02 AM · #10

Originally posted by bassbone:

Originally posted by mike_311:
i dont understand the point of a binding early decision, does this mean she cant apply anywhere else?

if so i would pass, if she is a good student she should have plenty of options, she may not get into her top choice but rejection is a good life lesson to learn anyway.

Binding Early Decision means the student can apply to other schools, but cannot with early decision. And if the student is accepted by the Early Decision school, they must withdraw all other applications and commit to attending that school. The issue is that you will not know the amount of financial aid being offered at the point of acceptance.

Good luck Wendy!

yeah, I'd pass. i dont like commitments, especially for young people.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

09/10/2012 11:41:46 AM · #11

Originally posted by vawendy:

This is apparently one of the few 'advantages' to Early Decision, but to be honest, I have not seen hard and fast statistics to state that it actually is true. It might be, but I am unsure about a lot that colleges and universities do with regards to admissions.

Venser

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

09/10/2012 11:54:44 AM · #12

Where you do your undergrad is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I'd skip early admission and play the field.

markwiley

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS

09/10/2012 11:55:13 AM · #13

Wendy, I will pass along my impression for whatever it is worth.

If your child knows where they want to go, I think you might as well go with early decision. Colleges like the commitment that early decision applicants show and that can often give them an edge / improve their chances of getting in. In general, it seems that it cannot hurt. My daughter applied early decision to a school, and the school did not immediately accept her -- they deferred her to the general pool. I think this is standard practice. When the school to which my daughter applied made their decision on the general pool they accepted her and offered her a modest scholarship to boot. So, in terms of your chances getting into a school, I do not see how early decision hurts you.

However, I have heard that early decision can have a negative affect on the financial aid package the school offers. If you are committing to the school with early decision they have less incentive to a lot of financial assistance. So, by holding off you may get a sweeter financial aid offer.

As a side note, my daughter did not attend the school that she tried early decision and was eventually accepted in with the general pool. It turns out being spurned in the early decision process soured her enthusiasm for the school. She went somewhere else and was very happy.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

09/10/2012 12:06:07 PM · #14

My daughter did not apply early decision because we were told the schools generally give less financial aid to that pool of applicants. But she also knew that she would be okay, ultimately, with any of her choices.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/10/2012 12:09:56 PM · #15

That does seem to be a sticking point -- no negotiations or info on financial aid (though if it's not good enough, you can get out of the binding earlier decision).

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

09/10/2012 12:35:36 PM · #16

it depends on whether your daughter really wants to go there.

i only wanted to go to one school, but wasn't sure if i'd get in during the general admission. i applied early decision just to get my name in front of the admissions office so that if it didn't come through, i could deal with the general admissions process. as was, i got early decision and never looked back. it was great knowing the first week in december what my classmates wouldn't know until mid-to-late spring.

if financial aid is an issue, here's an article in the wall street journal that you might find useful.

as far as the binding goes, that is only for the freshman class; basically, if they are willing to consider you early decision, they don't want you going anywhere else. it's only fair. if you can't commit, then apply general admission.

also, if you have questions, you should be talking directly with the admissions office, rather than going on "what you heard". they have people that are ready, willing, and able to answer all your questions. they are looking for students that best fit their school and they can help you and your daughter decide if their school is a good fit. unfortunately, a lot of mistakes are made when the decision is based on just how beautiful a school looked when you visited. a better guide is to look at the make up of the current incoming class to see what types of scores, grades, rankings, activities, service, and leadership experiences are in their mix. if your daughter doesn't have a lot in common with the school's typical student, it probably won't be a good fit. again, though, those questions are probably best answered by those who deal with this stuff every day.

good luck!

mrchhas

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

09/10/2012 12:45:35 PM · #17

I say she should go to the best but cheapest school she can - the most financial aid is the key and that doesn't DOES NOT mean loans and stuff. This I say having paid my student loans for 12 years already and I still have a way to go. As venser said college isn't that important anymore, i think because it's almost the base for any job. The key is to be free in all senses once she finishes, which will give her MANY more options.

jusjoshing

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/10/2012 12:50:32 PM · #18

Im a 4th year undergraduate right now at I didnt do early decision because im indecisive and wanted to be absolutely sure where I wanted to go. Even though I got into FSU and its a fantastic school I choose Central FLorida over it because I liked it better. With early decision I woudlve ended up at FSU. My little brother on the other hand was absolutely sure he wanted to follow me to UCF and went with early admission. Unless she is absolutely sure now, Id say wait and make some visits to the campuses and such. As far as changing majors goes, as long as the few she is interested in have great programs as both schools of interest I wouldnt worry about it.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

09/10/2012 01:02:59 PM · #19

Originally posted by vawendy:

That does seem to be a sticking point -- no negotiations or info on financial aid (though if it's not good enough, you can get out of the binding earlier decision).

I remember that discussion... okay so what if the school you really really really want to go to enough to apply early accepts you.... but we (as a family) know we can only send you if they give you aid. And they don't. Then what?

I suggest you seriously consider whether you want to be the reason she can't go to the one school she has her heart set on.

avalanche1030

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

09/10/2012 01:29:36 PM · #20

My daughter only wanted to attend one university and had since she had been small (simply due to the major she was wanting to get into and it is one of the best). The nice thing about early decision is that she didn't have to stress all year long. She prepared over the summer, got her application packet in by the 3rd open day of admissions and was accepted by October. Not only that but because she had her application in so early she got a SWEET corner dorm room that in comparison was HUGE.

Our financial package sucked but I think it was more due to our income.

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

09/10/2012 01:40:42 PM · #21

Wendy, early decision is only if the SAT is not good or if that particular college is #1 on your daughter's list. Otherwise she should play the field and see what other options she'll have.

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

09/10/2012 01:51:02 PM · #22

We've never dealt with the Early Decision question, but there are plenty of colleges that are still hurting for students. But, I would think that Early Decision (and acceptance) would give you some leverage on things like room selection, financial aid package, etc. because the college has committed to you (admitting you means that you meet their qualification requirements, and unless it is a college that is truly turning away students, means they want you there, and will probably be a bit more open to making and keeping you happy - squeaking wheel, grease, etc.).
More importantly, your daughter needs to fully understand starting college is a commitment to finishing a degree. It looks worse on your resume to have started college, but failed to complete it than to never have started. I'm not a big fan of the whole college thing, but it is a fact that in larger corporations you have to have at least a bachelor's degree to even be considered for the higher paying jobs.
Also, with the exception of your first job out of college and maybe the first two years of your career, your major and GPA does not matter all that much - having completed the degree does. For example, I've worked in computers for 35+ years, but my degree is in Sociology - go figure.

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS

09/10/2012 02:41:36 PM · #23

It does sound like it's better to do regular application than the binding early decision.

There's also the early action, which is non-binding. From what I can tell, it doesn't sound like there's any reason to not do the early action?

markwiley

Fujifilm X-Pro2

09/10/2012 02:58:39 PM · #24

I do not know of any downsides to early decision.

Good luck -- it can be an exciting and stressful time. Sounds like you will be losing one of your models.