Rigor with 3.3 UW/ 4.0 WGPA

[Anonymous]

In this competitive environment, I’m not sure that the rigor is helping my DS get into a decent top 50 college . 11 IB classes, 3 AP, full IB diploma expected. Will land with 27 B’s, 23 As, 5 Cs and 1 D. Lots of leadership and ECs coming from a large MCPS HS. Worked part time and matured alot through gradual leadership positions in HS. Test optional, prefers mid-Atlantic, Northeast urban school. Acceptances to schools with 20-30% acceptance rates are not coming in. He doesn’t want to do gap year but that might not be a bad option. He gets an A for effort on my book. Undecided major, not STEM oriented (his words). Any ideas of schools or gap year programs ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this competitive environment, I’m not sure that the rigor is helping my DS get into a decent top 50 college . 11 IB classes, 3 AP, full IB diploma expected. Will land with 27 B’s, 23 As, 5 Cs and 1 D. Lots of leadership and ECs coming from a large MCPS HS. Worked part time and matured alot through gradual leadership positions in HS. Test optional, prefers mid-Atlantic, Northeast urban school. Acceptances to schools with 20-30% acceptance rates are not coming in. He doesn’t want to do gap year but that might not be a bad option. He gets an A for effort on my book. Undecided major, not STEM oriented (his words). Any ideas of schools or gap year programs ?

What happened with in-state options and safeties? I'm sorry, but that's a pretty low GPA (plus test optional doesn't help) for 20-30% acceptance rate schools. The reality is that your DS is competing with 3.8-4.0 UW students submitting good test scores for that level of school. Didn't his guidance counselor advise a balanced list of schools. You seem to be mentioning reaches more than targets or safeties.

[Anonymous]

What are the colleges?

WVU might still be accepting.

[Anonymous]

Lots of colleges still accepting applications. Here is a list:
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/which-colleges-are-still-accepting-applications/

I recommend targeting schools with 50%+ acceptance rates.

[Anonymous]

Good tips here
https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/s/vqQYGFYDDM

[Anonymous]

Are those semester grades or yearly grades? Because my kid will only have half that many grades.

I agree with the first response..we're shooting for instate and my kid has a good amount of rigor, with about 70%, A's, 30% B's, and nothing less, and I don't expect her to get into UVA or WM, and VT seems like a toss-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this competitive environment, I’m not sure that the rigor is helping my DS get into a decent top 50 college . 11 IB classes, 3 AP, full IB diploma expected. Will land with 27 B’s, 23 As, 5 Cs and 1 D. Lots of leadership and ECs coming from a large MCPS HS. Worked part time and matured alot through gradual leadership positions in HS. Test optional, prefers mid-Atlantic, Northeast urban school. Acceptances to schools with 20-30% acceptance rates are not coming in. He doesn’t want to do gap year but that might not be a bad option. He gets an A for effort on my book. Undecided major, not STEM oriented (his words). Any ideas of schools or gap year programs ?

Sorry but he had no chance at these.
What acceptances does he have?

[Anonymous]

What were his safeties?

[Anonymous]

VCU, ODU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this competitive environment, I’m not sure that the rigor is helping my DS get into a decent top 50 college . 11 IB classes, 3 AP, full IB diploma expected. Will land with 27 B’s, 23 As, 5 Cs and 1 D. Lots of leadership and ECs coming from a large MCPS HS. Worked part time and matured alot through gradual leadership positions in HS. Test optional, prefers mid-Atlantic, Northeast urban school. Acceptances to schools with 20-30% acceptance rates are not coming in. He doesn’t want to do gap year but that might not be a bad option. He gets an A for effort on my book. Undecided major, not STEM oriented (his words). Any ideas of schools or gap year programs ?

What happened with in-state options and safeties? I'm sorry, but that's a pretty low GPA (plus test optional doesn't help) for 20-30% acceptance rate schools. The reality is that your DS is competing with 3.8-4.0 UW students submitting good test scores for that level of school. Didn't his guidance counselor advise a balanced list of schools. You seem to be mentioning reaches more than targets or safeties.

This is correct. I find it hard to believe any counselor would have advised your DC he had a good shot at T-50 schools. The stats simply don't support it. "A for effort" has no play with admissions committees.

[Anonymous]

UMW?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMW?

Good rec, and they are still accepting apps.

[Anonymous]

Even if he takes a gap year, his prospects don't improve for the next college application cycle. He's not getting into a T50 OP. Have you and he adjusted your expectations?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes we’ve adjusted expectations. Counselors at big high schools aren’t helpful but agree the list was not balanced - the inflated expectations were his, we’ve been trying to tell him to add more safeties since the summer and the reality is just now sinking in for him. Rejected from in-state UMD College Park, WL at Wisconsin Madison, IN at Pitt, thanks for the link on other schools still accepting applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes we’ve adjusted expectations. Counselors at big high schools aren’t helpful but agree the list was not balanced - the inflated expectations were his, we’ve been trying to tell him to add more safeties since the summer and the reality is just now sinking in for him. Rejected from in-state UMD College Park, WL at Wisconsin Madison, IN at Pitt, thanks for the link on other schools still accepting applications.

Pitt is a great option.

Loci strategy:
He should contact a current student/prof at Wisconsin so he has goo material for a LOCI.
Hire a college counselor to help with the Loci strategy. The Reddit link above is from a counselor I follow and she has good tips.