In 女儿 case, 定点太低. 伸请 too many matching schools - Duke, Wash U, Cornell, Vandy, and Tufts. Only two reach schools - H and S. She actually did not want to apply to H and only did it under my pressure. Should have done HYPS + Duke, WashU + safety.
In 儿子 case, 在EA以后推的8够. Once he got in U of C EA, he basically stopped everything else. He only did three more applications without putting in much efforts. He then turned down school interviews and did not write optional essays. Without other good admissions, we have much less power to negotiate for FA $$.
Other may say that 一个孩子上S,一个孩子上芝大 is almost decent. 看看这个坛子,大家开口闭口问藤爸藤妈. 谁家没有一个HYP?
唉... ...
真是木有脸来混 WXC.
总结 - if not sure, apply to more schools.
If EA, make sure they have most of the everything ready for other schools.
IF your children are rebellion ABC, just pray that you have at least one way to make they do things.