Stats and college admissions

[Anonymous]

DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

You need to find a GO school (Grades Optional)...it's the natural extension of TO.

[Anonymous]

3.3 with 1540? that's going to raise a red flag to someone

[Anonymous]

The simple solution (which everyone should do anyway) is to apply to a range of schools. Help him get excited about schools where his GPA is close to the average. Maybe his SAT score will get him merit aid at them. Also let him apply to schools where his SAT is close to the average SAT. He's less likely to get in, but maybe with stellar essays and recommendations he'll have luck.

[Anonymous]

I would focus the search around the GPA and consider that the SAT could help a bit on the margins but shouldn't drive the school selection.

The disparity in GPA/SAT could be a negative for some admissions officers, suggesting a slacker at school who had potential for much higher grades. Is there a learning disability? Do the grades show an upward trend (i.e. GPA is being brought down by lower grades in 9th but did great in 11th?)

[Anonymous]

OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

[Anonymous]

If you are in VA, schools on target for a 3.8 weighted include...

CNU - has a major in Computational & Applied Math and a Data Science minor
GMU - has a Computational & Data Sciences major in the college of science (so likely an easier admit than if he had to apply to college of engineering)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

Depends on what the typical range is for the HS. An almost all Bs student with a 1500+ SAT is going to raise some questions.

[Anonymous]

Check your school's Navience data. At our FCPS school, with a fairly large sample size 100% of the kids with 3.8 or higher and 1350 or higher got into Clemson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

Depends on what the typical range is for the HS. An almost all Bs student with a 1500+ SAT is going to raise some questions.

What questions does it raise, besides "how much tutoring did you get?" and "how many times did you take the test?" (Questions that could be asked of anyone with a 1500+.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

Clemson is state school with D1 athletics. Whoever populates the below average group, it is't regular OOS students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

LOL ! Thank you for making my day !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

Depends on what the typical range is for the HS. An almost all Bs student with a 1500+ SAT is going to raise some questions.

What questions does it raise, besides "how much tutoring did you get?" and "how many times did you take the test?" (Questions that could be asked of anyone with a 1500+.)

It depends on class rank. If 3.88 gets you top 10% then it makes sense. If this is a MCPS or FCPS public and a 3.88 is barely top 50%, then it screams prepped and lazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

Someone who can score a 1540 on SAT should be able to have higher than a 3.8W gpa. That's a really smart kid. So the lower score (unless they are at a big 3 private) could indicate laziness/lack of dedication and top colleges don't want to see that. Many kids with a 1540 SAT have well over a 4.0 W gpa, especially with 9 APs.

I'd look at schools where your gpa is at least 25% and hope the SAT gives you decent merit