3.1 GPA, 32 ACT; any schools matching in-state VA tuition/COA?

[Anonymous]

FCPS HS soon-to-be junior with 3.1 GPA (u/w) and scored 32 on ACT practice test. We are building a college list focused on $$.

Are there any schools that come close to matching COA of VA in-state options, given the not-so-great GPA?

[Anonymous]

Is the GPA based on just middle school and freshman grades, or are you estimating final sophomore year grades in the GPA calculation? I have a soon-to-be junior but his grades are sort of up in the air (could finish the year with all A/A-s or could get a whole load of B+s based on how things look right now). Even after the dust settles, a lot could change next year.

Some schools (both in-state and out-of-state) will use the weighted GPA (i.e., the only one that appears on the FCPS transcript). Florida State, for example, bases their merit scholarships on weighted GPA and test scores (they offer in-state tuition or half off OOS tuition depending on qualifications). A lot of the larger scholarships for OOS students seem to come from public universities in the south (Alabama has pretty huge scholarships) and western states like Wyoming and Montana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the GPA based on just middle school and freshman grades, or are you estimating final sophomore year grades in the GPA calculation? I have a soon-to-be junior but his grades are sort of up in the air (could finish the year with all A/A-s or could get a whole load of B+s based on how things look right now). Even after the dust settles, a lot could change next year.

Some schools (both in-state and out-of-state) will use the weighted GPA (i.e., the only one that appears on the FCPS transcript). Florida State, for example, bases their merit scholarships on weighted GPA and test scores (they offer in-state tuition or half off OOS tuition depending on qualifications). A lot of the larger scholarships for OOS students seem to come from public universities in the south (Alabama has pretty huge scholarships) and western states like Wyoming and Montana.

Thanks for your reply. The GPA is estimating final sophomore year grades. Good to know about the weighted GPA.

[Anonymous]

Would it be better to see what schools your child would be interested in and then see what the money would be like?

[Anonymous]

You should check the Parent Forum on College Confidential - there is a thread for families with kids with similar stats as your child. I find that it is a very helpful resource.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS HS soon-to-be junior with 3.1 GPA (u/w) and scored 32 on ACT practice test. We are building a college list focused on $$.

Are there any schools that come close to matching COA of VA in-state options, given the not-so-great GPA?

What is the weighted average?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should check the Parent Forum on College Confidential - there is a thread for families with kids with similar stats as your child. I find that it is a very helpful resource.

Thank you for the suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS HS soon-to-be junior with 3.1 GPA (u/w) and scored 32 on ACT practice test. We are building a college list focused on $$.

Are there any schools that come close to matching COA of VA in-state options, given the not-so-great GPA?

What is the weighted average?

3.5 (estimated at the end of sophomore year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it be better to see what schools your child would be interested in and then see what the money would be like?

We thought it would be better to not look at Rolls Royce price point options when we can only afford GM options.

[Anonymous]

The 32 will be a big help. Have your son drill and retake the ACT to try and get to a 34. DC had a 34 on first try and retook to get a perfect 36, but had already been contacted by two colleges out of the blue to offer $28,000 scholarships. What these small LACs wanted was his top ACT score - at first they said "Because you have scored over 32 . . . " and when we corrected them (they had purchased the list of men who had taken the test and scored over 32) they upped the ante. They will also waive the application fee, etc. The problem is, even with a $28,000 merit scholarship, the two institutions (which I doubt you have heard of) were still more expensive than in-state, so he went to UVA. You are smart to start so early, and yes, make College Confidential your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 32 will be a big help. Have your son drill and retake the ACT to try and get to a 34. DC had a 34 on first try and retook to get a perfect 36, but had already been contacted by two colleges out of the blue to offer $28,000 scholarships. What these small LACs wanted was his top ACT score - at first they said "Because you have scored over 32 . . . " and when we corrected them (they had purchased the list of men who had taken the test and scored over 32) they upped the ante. They will also waive the application fee, etc. The problem is, even with a $28,000 merit scholarship, the two institutions (which I doubt you have heard of) were still more expensive than in-state, so he went to UVA. You are smart to start so early, and yes, make College Confidential your home.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS HS soon-to-be junior with 3.1 GPA (u/w) and scored 32 on ACT practice test. We are building a college list focused on $$.

Are there any schools that come close to matching COA of VA in-state options, given the not-so-great GPA?

What is the weighted average?

3.5 (estimated at the end of sophomore year).

The GPA generally climbs from end of sophomore year to junior and senior year as students generally take more Honors/AP class in their Junior and Senior years. My DC had a weighted 3.65 at the end of sophomore year and graduated with a 3.993. (He was admitted to VATech Engineering.) The lower the GPA the greater the difference. If your DC gets the same grades and takes more courses that have the GPA bump up- they will have a higher GPA.

Naviance uses the end of senior year GPAs. So, if you can use the same grades from freshman and sophomore year and add in the bump ups, you can see an approximation of their end of senior year GPA. Then use that to look at Naviance. You may find that there are some decent in state options for your DC.

[Anonymous]

Watch their course selection. If there were more regular classes/not honor, APs, do you think the uw GPA would rise?. I would rather be college hunting (especially for merit aid) with a uw gpa closer to 3.5.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP and I realize what I say is contrary to the post immediately before mine, but I stand by it.

[Anonymous]

DD had a unweighted GPA of 3.8 and got merit aid out-of-state everywhere. Only 3 AP classes.