Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Dave, today's Doonesbury jokes about "second tier" schools turning down qualified applicants that are accepted by Ivies. . . .rejecting them before the students turn the second tier school down. I've read about this supposed practice on other discussion boards, and wonder if it is true? How would a school know where else a student is applying?

By Dadster on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 07:58 am: Edit

Sometimes they know because they ask, but more often they guess based on stats. If a second-tier college has an applicant with Ivy-level stats, and has little or no contact with the student beyond getting an application, they may assume that they are a safety for that student. Nine times out of ten, they'll be right. The tenth kid, who only applied to one school because his/her stats made acceptance a foregone conclusion, may be in for a nasty surprise.

Most commonly, it seems, they waitlist that student to avoid "wasting" an acceptance. If it turns out the student was really interested after all, he/she can always let them know, and an opening can appear.

To avoid this scenario, applicants to colleges for which they are overqualified should be sure to have multiple contacts with the college expressing interest, and in the essays/written answers work in an explanation of why the college is of particular interest. (Note that this problem affects mainly private schools - I haven't heard of any state schools doing this.)\

Kind of amusing that arcane college admissions stuff is in Doonesbury!

By Chrisd on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 10:00 am: Edit

Thanks for the info! My daughter is applying at several very selective schools, and our large state univ. as a sort of back-up, and I was concerned that might jeopardize any merit scholarship offers from the state u.

By Dadster on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 02:12 pm: Edit

State schools often have rolling admissions, so if that is the case in your state I'd suggest applying as early as possible. That should maximize the chance of a merit award, and also will put the safety in the bag before the other applications are even done.

If your state u has an honors program, you might check that out, too.

In general, state colleges tend to be more formula-based both in admissions and in awarding merit aid. Sometimes they even publish cutoff values for various levels of merit awards and/or honors admission.

By Chrisd on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Good advice on applying early to the state school.....I didn't think that would have any effect on a merit award, so that application will be done first!

By R Storm (Anonrs) on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 08:54 pm: Edit

When our son interviewed, one of the most common questions was "where else are you applying?" Also -- it's been a few years, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong -- but I believe that the first page of the Common Application form directly asks what schools you are applying to.

As suggested by dadster, if you seem "overqualified" you may need to work very hard to let a college know of your sincere interest. Many schools are tired of being considered as *a last ditch safety* for students who have no serious interest in possibly attending.

By California Mom (Calmom) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 03:03 am: Edit

I don't think that the Common App. asks what other schools students are applying to, but I know that at least one college asked that question as a supplemental question. Basically, I advised my son to give an incomplete answer -- that is, not to disclose any colleges he didn't want them to know about. My son was applying to quite a few colleges, so it was very easy for him to list only 2 or 3. I really didn't feel that it was an appropriate question, even though I know many colleges ask.