If we just want middle-ish instate VA, how hard do we have to work?

[Anonymous]

Kid tests well and is an athlete and has A- avg in honors/IB.
He’s a sophomore and summers are traveling, swimming, lifeguard and technique coach.
Single mom here who has been hands off with school and with no time, energy, or money to make him do anything besides band and sport.
Will after school clubs or community service matter at all if he doesn’t do them?
We’re in NoVa at DCUM “bad” high school but with a sizable peer group.
Can kids like this get into JMU? Tech?

[Anonymous]

You're fine, just stay on track. Your kid doesn't need to be in 50 clubs at once. Tell him to focus on the few he really likes and wants to do well in (if he enjoys the activity, the chances of that are higher). That's his story.

PS: Tech is competitive. I would not consider it "middle-ish" anymore. It now creates heartbreak every year for so many families who thought of it as middle-ish.

[Anonymous]

He sounds fine. FWIW, my son's only school EC was very light involvement in stage crew. He had a couple hobbies he did on his own time and one long term service activity we do together as a family. He got into VT (in 2021, the first year their admissions got weird) and JMU. I'm sure he'd also have gotten into VCU, GMU, UMW, etc.

Gradewise, 9th was more Bs than As, 10th a mix, almost all As in 11th, straight As in 12th. Upward trend with good but not the most rigorous schedule.

[Anonymous]

VT is not "middle-ish"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT is not "middle-ish"

But plenty of kids just like OPs kid get into VT and JMU.

VT weighted GPA is 4.03, so 50% are below and 50% above, SATs 25-75% range is around 1200-1400
JMU's weighted GPA mean is 3.69, and SATs 25-75% is around 1160-1340

So stats-wise VT is a tougher admit than JMU, but both are doable for kids who get mainly As and some Bs in a generally rigorous courseload. Both are test optional too, and rank SATs as only considered, whereas for instance they are "very important" at W&M. (UVA puts SATs as only "considered" but they primarily accept high ones and over 75% of students submit scores--their 25-75% range is 1400-1510 so it seems to be a bit disingenuous on their part)

VT cares a lot about supplemental essays--so look ahead and put effort there if that's the first choice. Because it's popular, you can't guarantee an admit, but as long as your stats are in their range you have a good a chance as anyone. Higher stats don't seem to give you a higher chance for them--they are looking for something else. JMU seems to be more the case that if your stats are in their range, you will very likely be accepted. Males have a slightly easier acceptance at JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is not "middle-ish"

But plenty of kids just like OPs kid get into VT and JMU.

VT weighted GPA is 4.03, so 50% are below and 50% above, SATs 25-75% range is around 1200-1400
JMU's weighted GPA mean is 3.69, and SATs 25-75% is around 1160-1340

So stats-wise VT is a tougher admit than JMU, but both are doable for kids who get mainly As and some Bs in a generally rigorous courseload. Both are test optional too, and rank SATs as only considered, whereas for instance they are "very important" at W&M. (UVA puts SATs as only "considered" but they primarily accept high ones and over 75% of students submit scores--their 25-75% range is 1400-1510 so it seems to be a bit disingenuous on their part)

VT cares a lot about supplemental essays--so look ahead and put effort there if that's the first choice. Because it's popular, you can't guarantee an admit, but as long as your stats are in their range you have a good a chance as anyone. Higher stats don't seem to give you a higher chance for them--they are looking for something else. JMU seems to be more the case that if your stats are in their range, you will very likely be accepted. Males have a slightly easier acceptance at JMU.

Ugh you were the one hijacking and going on and on and on about supplemental essays at Tech on the other thread. TLDR. Tighten it up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is not "middle-ish"

But plenty of kids just like OPs kid get into VT and JMU.

VT weighted GPA is 4.03, so 50% are below and 50% above, SATs 25-75% range is around 1200-1400
JMU's weighted GPA mean is 3.69, and SATs 25-75% is around 1160-1340

So stats-wise VT is a tougher admit than JMU, but both are doable for kids who get mainly As and some Bs in a generally rigorous courseload. Both are test optional too, and rank SATs as only considered, whereas for instance they are "very important" at W&M. (UVA puts SATs as only "considered" but they primarily accept high ones and over 75% of students submit scores--their 25-75% range is 1400-1510 so it seems to be a bit disingenuous on their part)

VT cares a lot about supplemental essays--so look ahead and put effort there if that's the first choice. Because it's popular, you can't guarantee an admit, but as long as your stats are in their range you have a good a chance as anyone. Higher stats don't seem to give you a higher chance for them--they are looking for something else. JMU seems to be more the case that if your stats are in their range, you will very likely be accepted. Males have a slightly easier acceptance at JMU.

The weighted gpa for jmu according to SCHEV is higher than 3.9

[Anonymous]

There are other middle schools in VA. CNU, Longwood, ODU, Radford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is not "middle-ish"

But plenty of kids just like OPs kid get into VT and JMU.

VT weighted GPA is 4.03, so 50% are below and 50% above, SATs 25-75% range is around 1200-1400
JMU's weighted GPA mean is 3.69, and SATs 25-75% is around 1160-1340

So stats-wise VT is a tougher admit than JMU, but both are doable for kids who get mainly As and some Bs in a generally rigorous courseload. Both are test optional too, and rank SATs as only considered, whereas for instance they are "very important" at W&M. (UVA puts SATs as only "considered" but they primarily accept high ones and over 75% of students submit scores--their 25-75% range is 1400-1510 so it seems to be a bit disingenuous on their part)

VT cares a lot about supplemental essays--so look ahead and put effort there if that's the first choice. Because it's popular, you can't guarantee an admit, but as long as your stats are in their range you have a good a chance as anyone. Higher stats don't seem to give you a higher chance for them--they are looking for something else. JMU seems to be more the case that if your stats are in their range, you will very likely be accepted. Males have a slightly easier acceptance at JMU.

SAT/ACT is "considered" at W&M, not "very important". It pretty much has to be that way if you are now test optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are other middle schools in VA. CNU, Longwood, ODU, Radford.

Would VCU be considered middle?

[Anonymous]

I also think Tech and JMU are getting harder to get in so see how what the stats for class of 2024 end up being. And it will depend on how many others from his high school apply. I’d look at VCU and CNU as middle of the road and GMU depending on major, even ODU.

[Anonymous]

VT is middle-ish for everything except engineering and CS. There may be a few other competitive, niche programs, but your son will do fine applying to the school’s general program.

[Anonymous]

Listing the VA public Us by median GPA (from SCHEV), Only UVA, W&M, VT have medians above 4.0. Although VT's is impacted a lot by higher GPA for engineering admits so outside of that I'd say it falls with the big "middle-sh" group that has medians in the 3.7-3.8 range.

UVA 4.4
W&M 4.33
VT 4.04

JMU 3.88
CNU 3.78
GMU 3.76
UMW 3.73
VCU 3.73
VMI 3.70
Longwood 3.69

UVA Wise 3.55
ODU 3.40
Radford 3.40

Virginia State 3.03
Norfolk State 3.01

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listing the VA public Us by median GPA (from SCHEV), Only UVA, W&M, VT have medians above 4.0. Although VT's is impacted a lot by higher GPA for engineering admits so outside of that I'd say it falls with the big "middle-sh" group that has medians in the 3.7-3.8 range.

UVA 4.4
W&M 4.33
VT 4.04

JMU 3.88
CNU 3.78
GMU 3.76
UMW 3.73
VCU 3.73
VMI 3.70
Longwood 3.69

UVA Wise 3.55
ODU 3.40
Radford 3.40

Virginia State 3.03
Norfolk State 3.01

Nice data. From this, it’s easy to see that kids who attend UVA and WM have completed lots of AP courses with excellent grades. That’s why their GPA is above 4.0. The high-middle schools are for kids who excelled in a general education program. Notice that their GPAs are near 4.0 but not above it. Kids at the bottom schools clearly struggled even in a general education program. With a GPA around 3, such students probably had a few As, mostly Bs, and some Cs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listing the VA public Us by median GPA (from SCHEV), Only UVA, W&M, VT have medians above 4.0. Although VT's is impacted a lot by higher GPA for engineering admits so outside of that I'd say it falls with the big "middle-sh" group that has medians in the 3.7-3.8 range.

UVA 4.4
W&M 4.33
VT 4.04

JMU 3.88
CNU 3.78
GMU 3.76
UMW 3.73
VCU 3.73
VMI 3.70
Longwood 3.69

UVA Wise 3.55
ODU 3.40
Radford 3.40

Virginia State 3.03
Norfolk State 3.01

Nice data. From this, it’s easy to see that kids who attend UVA and WM have completed lots of AP courses with excellent grades. That’s why their GPA is above 4.0. The high-middle schools are for kids who excelled in a general education program. Notice that their GPAs are near 4.0 but not above it. Kids at the bottom schools clearly struggled even in a general education program. With a GPA around 3, such students probably had a few As, mostly Bs, and some Cs.

Weird assessment, bro. So much wrong with what you've written here. Only kids with above a 4.0 took AP? Because that's how you wrote it. Plenty of kids take AP courses and get below a 4.0 GPA.