(04-28-2014, 02:16 PM)Mikeferrari link Wrote:[quote author=CornFed link=topic=9773.msg88629#msg88629 date=1398708688]
[quote author=anmalanman link=topic=9773.msg88628#msg88628 date=1398705175]
from Cornfed
Quote:I have no figures for applications from Iowa in that time frame, but I'm pretty sure it was a pretty low number. I was frequently asked where I would be attending college, and when I replied,"Stanford", half the time the inquirer would react by saying something like,"Oh that is wonderful! But are you sure you'll be OK being way out in Connecticut?".
MANY years ago, when I informed my Iowa high school counselor that I planned to take the SATs, he responded, "Why? The University of Iowa doesn't require them."
The idea of applying to an elite school or even going far away for college just wasn't normal.
Oh man, does that ever resonate with me!!!!!! My high school counselor was aghast that I was not going to go to Iowa or Iowa State; after all, they are nearly as good as the Ivies and cost so much less!!!
Really shouldn't bag on her, though. a very large segment of the population had convinced themselves of these truths, and they constantly reinforced one another.
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My experience was similar. Councilor refused to give me Stanford app, say our local JC was perfect for the first two years and free, then I could transfer to LA State.Â
Besides, I would never get in and only wasting my parents money on the app fee. When I did get in he never spoke to me again. A*hole probably got rejected himself.
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I'm not 100% certain as to why this is the case, but after having two sons negotiate the college application/admissions process in the last five years, I can offer some thoughts. I make these statements based upon interactions with about a dozen high school counselors from four different high schools and a few independent counselors (we didn't use one):
1)Â I would not be surprised if there were college counselors even at strong high schools who occupy those roles by default...meaning they may not be the most qualified to actually counsel students.Â
2) Most counselors (employed by high schools) have too many kids to effectively get to know each one. And the average student is not heading to the Ivies or Stanford or MIT or CalTech, so the counselors try to do their best with the middle of the bell curve.
3)Â Many, if not most counselors are less familiar with the admissions process at highly selective colleges than the parents of high achieving students or the students themselves.
4) For private schools, there is a degree of pressure to steer students to mid-level private colleges. They take a natural inclination for smaller scholastic populations in fairly regulated environments (compared with many/most public high schools) and apply it to the collegiate environment. I know that we were forced to sit through several lengthy presentations as to the merits of small, private colleges throughout the land. My feeling is that many/most of these schools are somewhat starving for students, particularly good students, particularly students who are prepared to pay full tuition. Along those lines, I feel very much sorry for my father who had three kids attend state schools in Oregon, Arizona and Nevada. Typically though, my siblings resided in those states and were able to pay in-state tuition after two years.
5) I would not be surprised if the very best college counselors left the employ of high schools to go out on their own and make a little more scratch. One of my cousins (Stanford grad) fits this description. He is a great guy, by the way. He lives and works locally in the San Francisco Bay area, and I would recommend him without hesitation. P.m. me if you want the details.
6) A surprisingly high percentage of the time, the UCs or CSUs throw curveballs to the counselors. Makes them a bit skittish about making commitments in terms of "likely to get in."