My friend just got "a likely admissions" letter from Dartmouth today, and I did not get one. What's next?
I am in your same boat. While I personally don't know anyone who has received a likely letter, the Dartmouth 2012 facebook group has had numerous wall posts of students who have received the coveted letter. So naturally, I did some research on the subject because I was freaking out. Here's what I found out: Universities such as Dartmouth and Yale send out likely letters to students that: 1. they are absolutely sure that they want to admit this student 2. they are such strong students that the admissions committee is absolutely positive that other universities of similar caliber (i.e. other ivies) will accept this student 3. the student will have a hard time choosing between all of these schools, so the university wants to get their name out there to increase their yield rate. these students are the cream of the crop. they often have incredibly high test scores and incredible extracurricular achievements. only about 15% of all of the students accepted receive a likely letter. Therefore, the other 85% of admitted students have to wait until early April. I have also heard that there are multiple waves of letters. Apparently, this was the second wave (but I have heard a lot of conflicting stories on this issue). But basically, while getting a letter basically guarantees admission, not getting a letter in no way means you will not get in because most students do not get one. It is just a way for Dartmouth to persuade their top candidates to matriculate. Unfortunately, we will have to wait in agony to hear our decision. Best of luck! Hope to see you next year in Hanover!
What steps can you take during undergrad to get into a top 15 law school?
Thank you for the A2A, Neha T.It seems to me the admissions officers from the schools are in the position to answer this question. Alternatively, a pre-law advisor in college should be able to provide guidance.When I applied to law school, admissions officers told me the only thing that mattered were an applicant's college GPA and LSAT score. This is probably still accurate, but then again maybe not. After all, I began law school in 2005. If this is still accurate, however, then the objectives are clear.Achieve academic excellence. There is no substitute for perfect grades. Taking courses in a pre-law curriculum is not enough to compete with the other applicant's. That curriculum will not impress law schools without a high GPA.Additionally, begin to study for the LSAT as a college student. Learn the necessary skills to score well on it. Before taking an LSAT prep course, buy books about it from Princeton Review, Kaplan, or any other publisher to begin learning these skills.As a corollary, maintain the highest integrity. For example, never cheat. Eventually cheaters get caught. That will destroy the prospect of acceptance to practically any law school.In addition, choose friends carefully. Legal problems in college are potholes in the road that one must traverse on the way to law school and also admission to the bar. Avoiding them is preferable to driving over them.These efforts in college are no guarantee of admission to law school. But excellent grades and a clean record will open doors to other professions too.
My daughter just received a general SAT score of 1440 with 700 for English and 740 for math. This was her second time sitting the SAT. What does she need to do to increase her chances of being accepted to Harvard University?
A simple Google search would show you that 1470 is 25% for Harvard. Harvard is a R-E-A-C-H for your daughter.3 types of schools you should consider when applying to collegesWhen parents ask questions like this, it makes me very nervous.Have you even thought about:How you would pay for Harvard without excessive student loans?Your daughter’s marketable major?I suggest you worry less about Harvard and more about how you are going to get this kid through college and into a decent job.Go to the library and get these books. Read them.Kalman A. Chany with Geoff Martz, “Paying for College Without Going Broke,” (New York, New York: Penguin Random House LLC, 2016).Frank Palmasani, “Right College, Right Price: The New System for Discovering the Best College Fit at the Best Price,” (Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 2013).Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder, “The New College Reality: Make College Work For Your Career,” (Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2012).NotesIn addition to an “acceptance” safety school, you also need a “financial” safety school.You also might want to read Frank Bruni’s book—Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be.Making a success out of college these days is more complicated than buying a used car.
What's a good excuse to tell a teacher why you can't stay after school?
1) If you really CAN'T do it, then that means you already have a good reason. If so, then just tell your teacher the truth about your conflicting schedule. If you don't already have a good reason, then it means you CAN do it but just don't WANT to. There's a difference. Don't lie. 2) Generally speaking, though, the teacher isn't allowed to insist upon extracurricular time except for assigned detentions. Has she assigned detention to the whole class? If so, that's fishy. Really, it's fishy. Instead of lying about why you "can't" stay after school, you would be better served to ask why this has to be done after school instead of during regular class time. If she won't back down, you should discuss it with a counselor and/or administrator to bring this fishy situation to the attention of her superiors.
The average teenager has the same level of anxiety as a psychiatric patient in the 1950s. Why is that?
There is so much more stress on you these days. You are asked to get good grades and yet have a lot of extracurricular activities. Life is too fast paced. Teenagers used to call one another’s house on rotary phones like the ones you see at antique stores. There were no cell phones. Think is almost like a rotary phone ☎️. Except no push buttons like the red one. Teens didn’t need to take calculus unless they were going into engineering. And then they’d take that in college. You only needed a high school education to get a good job and college degrees weren’t at such an astronomical cost. Teenagers went to dances they called hops and high school was fun for them. They got out more with friends and went to drive ins. Computers may make some of our lives easier. But, now everyone is at risk for identity theft. Also with less activities you have more time for fresh air and friends. There were drive ins that you saw the first run movies in. Today they are flea markets. People had more respect for one another, too. You didn’t have to worry about school shootings and didn’t have to have fencing and the policemen at schools. It was an easier and simpler time.
Does it look bad to not take a science class during junior and senior year?
I coached Sci Oly and as amazing as it is, it is sort of conflicting that you would be on the team but not be in any science classes. You don’t have to take AP science but I really think you should take a science class. In our high school everyone is required to take 3 years of science so make sure you confirm the requirements.I also think you should take science because you didn’t clearly state your future interests and even if you think you know you may change your mind later. Colleges are going to look to see if you are taking strong core classes - English, Math, Sciences and all else are considered electives.I’m not so sure doubling up on Englishes is going to help with anything. However, I am a supporter of taking psychology if it is taught well at your school. I think everyone should take a psyche class as well as statistics.Take a science class!!
What is your personal experience with being deaf?
I am considered LD or Late Deafened because I grew up with hearing and had pretty much the same experiences as every average child out there. In my 7th year, I was given conflicting medications that, among other things, took my hearing.Although my teachers thought I should attend a Deaf school, my father stated that, “We live in a hearing world, and you will just have to learn how to live in it.” Many times, have I thought that he was wrong, calloused, hard, and to a point…imbarised by my lack of hearing. Yet today, I am very thankful for the “hard love” he instilled in me. The power to never underestimate the gift the God has given me…my deafness.The strength that my father forced me to see in myself has not been limited to my deafness, it has entered every facet of my life. When someone told me I could not do something, I proved them wrong. I have started 6 different companies and sold each of them at a substantial profit. I have been a prison minister, an accountant, a home builder, worked at Mt St Hellens fixing their volcanic sizemic equipment. My wife and I have our deep water certification and have dived all over the world including the blue hole, the Barrier Reef, dived off the contental shelf, and swam with sharks, octopus, wales as kelp forests. Together we have hiked almost the whole Pacific Coast Trail, hiked across every island in Hawaii, but 2 (because we are not allowed on them or we would have.) We have raised a family and have four beautiful grand children.So, to answer your question, “What is your personal experience with being deaf”…well, mine has been just like any other life. I have had my ups and downs, but in the end, my life is what I chose to make it.Personally, I think I have had a wonderful life! If I were to be called to my maker tomorrow, I would feel like I have lived a great and complete life. Mainly full of joy, friends, happiness, and family. My personal experience has been a HUGE blessing!