I wouldn't get into my alma mater today - what chance do my kids have?

[Anonymous]

I'm not an alum of a super selective school, either. Purdue, class of 1999, engineering, OOS. 4.8 weighted GPA, 3.4 unweighted. 1205 SAT, 33 ACT.

My kids are freshman and 8th grade, so we have time, but the things I've been reading lately are scary - namely, that I would be unlikely to be accepted into the program I graduated from with my unweighted GPA. And that's from back when PE, health class, the arts, and whatever else weren't factored in, so my unweighted GPA would be much lower today! (I got D's in PE and C's in mandatory art/music)

Is there hope anymore for kids with stats like mine? Do I really need to harp on them for straight A's? I can't handle four years of anxiety, so please ease my mind or tell me they'll be fine at a less selective school.

[Anonymous]

What state do you live in?

[Anonymous]

Purdue Engineering has been super selective for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What state do you live in?

FL, might move back to VA in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purdue Engineering has been super selective for awhile.

I know. I was pretty surprised.

[Anonymous]

To clarify, my heart isn't set on Purdue. But it was my safety, and now it's basically out of reach.

[Anonymous]

I stopped interviewing for my alma mater because no one I interviewed got in - so luckily I have had no hope for my own kids for a long time!

Grad school is the new college IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an alum of a super selective school, either. Purdue, class of 1999, engineering, OOS. 4.8 weighted GPA, 3.4 unweighted. 1205 SAT, 33 ACT.

My kids are freshman and 8th grade, so we have time, but the things I've been reading lately are scary - namely, that I would be unlikely to be accepted into the program I graduated from with my unweighted GPA. And that's from back when PE, health class, the arts, and whatever else weren't factored in, so my unweighted GPA would be much lower today! (I got D's in PE and C's in mandatory art/music)

Is there hope anymore for kids with stats like mine? Do I really need to harp on them for straight A's? I can't handle four years of anxiety, so please ease my mind or tell me they'll be fine at a less selective school.

The thing is, if you went to high school now, your stats would be higher. Wherever you were in your class (%ile) would be the same, and your stats would correspond. The hand wringing over "I wouldn't get into my alma mater today" is overblown. I mean, you probably wouldn't get in-- but you would be competitive to.

[Anonymous]

Why would you even want your kids to go to your alma mater? You are not raising mini-mes.

[Anonymous]

This gives my kids a chance I think - https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/looming-enrollment-cliff-poses-serious-threat-to-colleges/

[Anonymous]

They'll get in somewhere based on their stats when they apply. There are lots of colleges out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you even want your kids to go to your alma mater? You are not raising mini-mes.

I'm not. But if I wouldn't get into my safety school, what chance do they have at getting into a quality college?

[Anonymous]

I also would not get into my alma mater - the only stats I remember are sat scores at this point (don’t think I ever actually tracked my GPA, just class rank)

Although they have recentered since I took it, so who knows - my score would likely be higher

[Anonymous]

I don't know that you can compare your stats to todays - much has changed so it might not be apples to apples.
I wouldn't worry. See where their stats are in junior year of HS, and develop the balanced list of safeties, targets, and reaches.
Plus, you lucky thing, you will very likely benefit from the coming decline in the US population applicant pool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you even want your kids to go to your alma mater? You are not raising mini-mes.

I'm not. But if I wouldn't get into my safety school, what chance do they have at getting into a quality college?

I have kids similar ages and I don’t really understand this thought process. What does this have to do with you and where you could get in? They’ll get in where they get in.