We have family friends from Chicago whose very bright, very motivated daughter wants to go to SMU. Great kid, great family, would be a great asset to the school. Just got this email from the parents:
Paige was just notified that she was deferred.... I have a feeling that by us not visiting the school before applying, they may not have understood her high interest.
This is a kid near the top of her class, GPA just over 4.0. They are flying in next Thursday the 4th to view the campus on Friday the 5th. Since I don't think there will be anybody there to give her a tour, I'm taking off that afternoon to walk them around myself.
Anybody got a contact or a lead who can help admissions understand her high interest? Or any other suggestions? Neither our family nor theirs is sure how the game is played these days.
Call the admissions office and ask who is in charge of Chicago, then explain the situation. Write a letter of support immediately and copy admission director.
When in town see if anyone on the BOT might meet with her and then support her.
You didn’t mention most important info - standardized tests. Grade points vary widely from school to school so SMU uses standardized tests for admission. What were her ACT and/or SAT scores?
Deferring isn’t the end of the world. Probably her test scores were under the average - 31ACT, 1330 ish SAT and or the level of her desire to attend wasn’t reflected strongly enough. After her visit, she needs to write a letter to the admissions counselor stating her strong desire to attend SMU if admitted. Jackie Romero pops up as the admissions counselor for Illinois on the smu website. Mention her recent visit to the campus. Find out when the Mustang Mondays are scheduled for the spring and sign up asap for one. The more contacts she has with Jackie Romero and the more steps she takes will enhance her prospects of being admitted as SMU wants kids who strongly want to be here. If she retakes the act or sat and her scores improve, submit them.
