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Post by bc2ca on Feb 17, 2017 1:02:11 GMT
The college acceptance thread got me thinking about how times have changed, at least IME. Back in the day, my friends and I decided what school we wanted to attend and applied. I set the poll to allow 2 answers, so pick your decade and how many schools you applied to.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 10, 2024 5:57:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 1:05:24 GMT
If I had known , I would have applied to cornell. Tuition is free to ny residents if you make under $65 grand.
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,734
Location: So. Calif.
Jun 25, 2014 23:22:29 GMT
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Post by garcia5050 on Feb 17, 2017 1:06:35 GMT
I had honors classes where we were 'pushed' to apply to one private, one UC (university of California) and as a backup, one Cal State. Our class assignments were geared towards the essay question on various applications. I ended up at the backup school.
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Post by christine58 on Feb 17, 2017 1:07:56 GMT
I graduated HS in 77....applied to 3 SUNY schools..got in all three and chose SUNY Geneseo..
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Post by padresfan619 on Feb 17, 2017 1:08:14 GMT
2005, I applied to 3. Ended up going the community college route for the first two years and got my bachelors degree without any debt!
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Post by refugeepea on Feb 17, 2017 1:09:59 GMT
1
I was realistic. It was a state university. I figured if I got into the first I wanted, I would be for the rest. I wasn't smart enough to get an academic scholarship and couldn't afford out of state tuition.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Feb 17, 2017 1:10:11 GMT
I applied to five that I recall. Had to see where the most financial aid was going to come from. I reeeeeeeeeeally wanted to go to Georgetown (I was accepted) but it was too much money.
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 17, 2017 1:11:34 GMT
I said one, but the reality is that I went first to the local community college, got my AA moved to Gainesville, applied to UF, didn't get in, took a few classes at the community college in Gainesville to bring up my grades, applied to UF and got in. So one, but already lived there like I was going to go there anyway. This was in the mid and later 80's. I worked a lot to pay for those classes (even though I got Pell money) so it took me a while.
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Post by katlady on Feb 17, 2017 1:13:42 GMT
I don't remember exactly how many I applied to, but I applied to a couple because they contacted me first (didn't pick any of those). But I did not do any college visits other than a couple of field trips to local universities. I can't believe how many schools my niece and nephew have visited! They have been all over the U.S. looking at schools (one graduated high school two years ago, the other is a junior). I just picked schools to apply to based on their brochures.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Feb 17, 2017 1:22:24 GMT
I applied to five. And it was long enough ago that I used an actual typewriter for my applications!
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Post by Pahina722 on Feb 17, 2017 1:24:26 GMT
Graduated in '78 and applied to 3: FSU ( back-up), Duke (a teacher's recommendation) and Emory (my choice because of major). I got into all three, so I chose Emory. I really don't remember any angst as so many of the kids now have because I was fully prepared to go to any of them.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Feb 17, 2017 1:35:04 GMT
I applied to 4 programmes in 3 universities in Ontario (we were only allowed to apply to three in-province universities) and 2 programmes at McGill.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Feb 17, 2017 1:41:18 GMT
Applied in the 90s and applied to 10. Yep, 10. My Mom still talks about the application fees. I honestly had no clue what college would accept me - this was way before the days of good data on SAT scores etc - plus I think technically my high school had a guidance counselor, but she was really guiding people through the penal system, so not so focused on directing college applicants. I went to the library and checked out the Big Book on Colleges. I read up on who had strong engineering schools - I'm sure I also looked at some of the mountain of snail mail I started receiving after the SATs. I applied to 2 Ivys, 2 as hard to get into as Ivys, 2 UCs, 2 Cal States, and 2 random schools that were strong in engineering and sounded good. I will always have a soft spot for USC - they do rolling admissions and admitted me in late November. I still remember when I opened the envelope and knew I'd been accepted. I was the first one in my family to go to college (including 40+ first cousins).
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,996
Jun 26, 2014 13:42:47 GMT
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 17, 2017 1:44:33 GMT
I only really applied to WVU. I looked into VA Tech because I was offered a scholarship even before applying, but it was too far away for my taste, and I wasn't really interested in engineering, even though I ended up getting "talked into" chemical engineering at WVU orientation LOL. In 1980, a woman with a 760 math SAT score was a hot commodity. For me, it was all about finances. My out-of-pocket (tuition, room & board, books) at WVU my freshman year was -$50 once I collected all of my grants and scholarships. My sophomore year cost a bit more because of a price increase and the fact that two of my small scholarships were non-renewable; I think I paid about $250 that year. Junior year was $0 out of pocket because I lived in an apartment, and my parents were pretty good about supplying food from the farm (meat, canned veggies, potatoes), and my roommate paid a higher portion of the utilities in return for sharing food. First senior year (I had two after a major change) I pocketed probably $500 because I was an RA, which paid all my room and board. My book expenses were higher that year because I was starting to gather all of my "professional" books and supplies that I would need for student teaching the next year. My second senior year cost me a little more because my four-year scholarships and grants had run out, but I was able to do my student-teaching as a grad student, which allowed me to get a tuition waiver as an RA in addition to room and board. I took out a very small loan that year to make ends meet--I think it was maybe $1250?--since I needed a car to drive to student teaching. Dad helped me find a decent older car for less than a $1000, and the balance of the loan covered my parking fees and gas (ahhhh, the days of $.70/gal gas). It's funny--I had so much mail from the "elite schools," but there is no way I was coming out of any of those with such little debt. I was far enough away from home that I was "independent" at school, but I was close enough that I didn't have a lot of travel expenses. I did have a part-time job every semester for spending money, except for my first semester. I even tutored during my RA years for the extra cash.
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Post by Linda on Feb 17, 2017 1:52:41 GMT
1988 and my guidence counsellor was overly ambitious and my parents had no clue (mum went to the hometown catholic college, dad dropped out at 14)....I applied to Harvard (waitlist), Brown (no), Clark U. (which is where I went), WPI (yes IF I took physics in summer school) and the Air Force Academy (was offered the prep school instead).
By today's standards I only applied to dream/reach schools - no safeties at all.
I SHOULD have gone to a cheaper school - I'm STILL paying off my student loans - and I ended up finishing up at a community college and transferring credits back to Clark to graduate.
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Post by Merge on Feb 17, 2017 1:55:36 GMT
I applied to and got into my state's flagship university, a couple of smaller private schools, a small state school in Missouri, and Northwestern. My parents were very opposed to me going eight hours away to Northwestern, and they didn't offer me much money, and my parents couldn't afford to pay, so it would have meant big loans. The small state school in Missouri gave me a free ride, so that's where I went.
My high school student is appalled at this story. Ha ha. I was perfectly happy with my choice, but kids of this generation are being taught to think that only elite schools are acceptable.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Feb 17, 2017 2:00:05 GMT
..... It's funny--I had so much mail from the "elite schools," but there is no way I was coming out of any of those with such little debt...... I always caution people in low income brackets to be very careful about this assumption. As I said before, I applied to everyone and their brother. The Ivy and Ivy-like schools offered packages that well exceeded state schools. Every state and family circumstance is obviously different. But I caution people that if you have the grades and scores for an Ivy or other elite school that offers 100% meet need based financial aid - apply. Those schools have huge endowments and are extremely generous with their packages (at least in my experience).
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Feb 17, 2017 2:04:15 GMT
I applied to six. three for me and three that my father insisted on. (I was pAying my own way.) I went to the college I wanted to since as my father had told me incessantly my whole life on every matter, the person who pays gets to choose.
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Post by txdancermom on Feb 17, 2017 2:08:28 GMT
I think I applied to 4.
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chendra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,861
Location: The 33rd State
Jun 27, 2014 16:58:50 GMT
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Post by chendra on Feb 17, 2017 2:08:41 GMT
I attended college in the 80's and I didn't feel like I had many choices. My parents told me I had to go to a school within an hour or so drive from home, and it could only be a UC or a Cal State. They assumed we couldn't afford private schools. So, I applied to UC and was accepted. However, back in the day, you applied to all of the schools on one application and just ranked them in order of preference, so technically, I applied to eight schools. I got my first choice, which I somewhat randomly chose because it looked pretty in the catalogs, didn't have a football team, and oh yeah, had a strong program in my chosen major. I've often thought that if the internet had been available back then, I wouldn't have been so naive about available opportunities and my life would have been totally different. (Assuming I had also magically developed increased confidence in dealing with my parents.) I was remarking to a coworker though how times have changed, and how I can't imagine only applying to one school these days. Everything seems so much more competitive.
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Post by busy on Feb 17, 2017 2:10:31 GMT
Class of 1991
I think I applied to 12. I was fairly heavily recruited based on my PSAT scores, and I was fortunate that my parents were willing and able to support me going wherever I thought was the best match.
I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to major in, but had a couple options, so I narrowed down to schools that were strong in both areas. I also wasn't sure what part of the country I wanted to be in, so geographically dispersed my applications.
That was back before the common application, and in the days of using an actual typewriter to complete the paper application forms. It was a Herculean task to do them all.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 10, 2024 5:57:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 2:10:39 GMT
I knew from 8th grade on where I wanted to go. I knew what I wanted to study. That was the only school I applied to. I regret dropping out to marry the ex. Worse decision of my life.
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Post by scraphappy0501 on Feb 17, 2017 2:19:18 GMT
...I applied to UC and was accepted. However, back in the day, you applied to all of the schools on one application and just ranked them in order of preference, so technically, I applied to eight schools. This was me in 1983 (well the fall of 1982 is when I applied.) I got into my highest ranked choice, UC Davis. I wasn't a fan of going to school in a city so UCLA and Berkeley were near the bottom of my list. I think I had UC Irvine second, UC San Diego third and UC Santa Barbara fourth. I'm not sure how it is now as I don't live in California any more but back then as long as you met the minimum requirements you were guaranteed admission to at least one of the UC schools. So I didn't apply to a safety school. The only other school I applied to was the University of Chicago. I was admitted there but it was too expensive, even with scholarship money, so I stayed in California and went to UCD.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,996
Jun 26, 2014 13:42:47 GMT
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 17, 2017 2:47:01 GMT
..... It's funny--I had so much mail from the "elite schools," but there is no way I was coming out of any of those with such little debt...... I always caution people in low income brackets to be very careful about this assumption. As I said before, I applied to everyone and their brother. The Ivy and Ivy-like schools offered packages that well exceeded state schools. Every state and family circumstance is obviously different. But I caution people that if you have the grades and scores for an Ivy or other elite school that offers 100% meet need based financial aid - apply. Those schools have huge endowments and are extremely generous with their packages (at least in my experience). My brother was 10 years younger than me. He was also a National Merit scholar and was accepted to Harvard. His package did not come close to covering all the costs, and considering how expensive housing would have been, he would have needed significant loans. And no, my family was not wealthy LOL, but he was the youngest child by 7 years, so Mom and Dad only had him and my disabled brother as dependents. The only significant savings they had was in retirement accounts, but they were completely debt free, and even though Dad was definitely no higher than lower-middle-class based on income, that all counted against them. So while we had always heard about the generous endowment and aid packages (from the counselors at the high school), my parents expected contribution was prohibitive. And then there was the travel issue--it was expensive to get back and forth to school if he were to go there. Need-based is very subjective, and it often does not correlate with the reality of what a family can really afford to pay. The only other school he applied to was WVU. He was accepted into the honors college and had a wonderful experience. Seven years later, he walked out of WVU with a masters in Economics, no debt, over $7,000 in the bank, and a well-paying job that he wanted doing research with the federal government. And BTW, he works with other economists who attended Ivy League schools, so it wasn't even a matter of settling for a lower-paying job by not going to Harvard. He never wanted a life on Wall Street or in big business, so his path met his needs.
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Post by stampinbetsy on Feb 17, 2017 2:54:28 GMT
I applied to 2 - the one I really wanted to go to, and the one my boyfriend (now husband) went to. I really only applied to the 2nd school because it would be sad if I didn't get into the first one.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,996
Jun 26, 2014 13:42:47 GMT
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 17, 2017 2:56:37 GMT
I always caution people in low income brackets to be very careful about this assumption. As I said before, I applied to everyone and their brother. The Ivy and Ivy-like schools offered packages that well exceeded state schools. Every state and family circumstance is obviously different. But I caution people that if you have the grades and scores for an Ivy or other elite school that offers 100% meet need based financial aid - apply. Those schools have huge endowments and are extremely generous with their packages (at least in my experience). My brother was 10 years younger than me. He was also a National Merit scholar and was accepted to Harvard. His package did not come close to covering all the costs, and considering how expensive housing would have been, he would have needed significant loans. And no, my family was not wealthy LOL, but he was the youngest child by 7 years, so Mom and Dad only had him and my disabled brother as dependents. The only significant savings they had was in retirement accounts, but they were completely debt free, and even though Dad was definitely no higher than lower-middle-class based on income, that all counted against them. So while we had always heard about the generous endowment and aid packages (from the counselors at the high school), my parents expected contribution was prohibitive. And then there was the travel issue--it was expensive to get back and forth to school if he were to go there. Need-based is very subjective, and it often does not correlate with the reality of what a family can really afford to pay. The only other school he applied to was WVU. He was accepted into the honors college and had a wonderful experience. Seven years later, he walked out of WVU with a masters in Economics, no debt, over $7,000 in the bank, and a well-paying job that he wanted doing research with the federal government. And BTW, he works with other economists who attended Ivy League schools, so it wasn't even a matter of settling for a lower-paying job by not going to Harvard. He never wanted a life on Wall Street or in big business, so his path met his needs. ETA: When I was applying in 1980, my counselors were predicting my expected costs at upper tier schools because they were really encouraging me to go. I still couldn't afford it without loans.
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Post by fredfreddy on Feb 17, 2017 3:08:59 GMT
Five in 1990.
Two CA state: Cal Poly SLO and Pomona Two UC CA: Davis and Santa Barbara One private: Santa Clara
I only applied to Santa Clara because it was my dad's alma. I really only wanted to go to SLO because my brother went there and I saw it at all the Poly Royals as a child. It was a no brainer but I applied to the others anyway.
I got into 5 out of 5. 3.9 GPA and SATs 1170. Funny how I still remember that.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 10, 2024 5:57:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2017 3:24:08 GMT
Graduated mid 90's, applied to 5 schools, got in to all 5, went to a Cal State due to cost. Glad I did as they have the top business school and at the time was in the national top 10.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Feb 17, 2017 3:31:46 GMT
LSU freshman in 1966. Never even considered going anywhere else.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,984
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Feb 17, 2017 3:44:22 GMT
1991 - I applied early decision to the school I wanted to attend and was accepted. Back then it was the rule that if you applied early decision somewhere, you weren't supposed to submit other applications.
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