Good college for 3.2 student from Langley High

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Interesting about the Eagle Scout. We attended several different Information Sessions on colleges where comments were made that Eagle Scouts won't be looked down on by any means but that the achievement doesn't carry the weight it used to. Guess one could understand that but somewhat sad indeed. I think its fairly consistent that it doesn't hurt but its not a "clincher" either.

At the end of the day, being an Eagle Scout ought to be its own reward for the experiences gained along the way. These kids really are the ones you want to have around in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The disheartening thing about this is that in hundreds of high schools across the country, this kid would likely be top 10% of his class.

--Langley parent, and graduate of one of "those" high schools.

With an 1100 SAT?!?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC grades got up to a 3.5 and the SATs got way better too around 1400 on the 2 parts. DC got into lots of good schools including Penn State, JMU, USC and many others.

Thank you for the update. I have a sophmore son with a GPA of 3.4 and this thread was making me nervous! Good to hear that your DC got into good schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC grades got up to a 3.5 and the SATs got way better too around 1400 on the 2 parts. DC got into lots of good schools including Penn State, JMU, USC and many others.

Thank you for the update. I have a sophmore son with a GPA of 3.4 and this thread was making me nervous! Good to hear that your DC got into good schools!

Awesome! I love when posters come back with an update. Congrats to your son!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC grades got up to a 3.5 and the SATs got way better too around 1400 on the 2 parts. DC got into lots of good schools including Penn State, JMU, USC and many others.

Glad to hear it, OP! I also have a DC from Langley who had similar stats and also got into a bunch of good schools. I don't know who these people are who insist that if a student doesn't have a 3.8 or above, they're destined for community college. Anyway, good job to your DC!

Sure but 1400 is way better than 1100 and 3.4 is way better than 3.2

For sure.

[Anonymous]

Of course it's way better. That just shows you you can improve your scores. I bet he took a good prep class and studied. It does help.

[Anonymous]

All this pressure to get into schools that are damn near impossible to get into due to large number of applicants, US World Report ranking BS, etc. Students with high achievements end up feeling like failures because, what, Harvard, Yale, or Duke didn't accept them?

Completely and totally stupid. And this coming from the parent of kids who are very bright. Glad my eldest didn't care about status - he immediately recognized that so many schools had really good computer science departments that he was the one who could make the choices. Sure enough, he got into all four schools he applied to. My daughter and her friend, I am watching the sadness on their faces when they are rejected or wait listed, when they could get into any number of great schools across the country. And this, even though they DID get into a great school already!

It's really so sad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All this pressure to get into schools that are damn near impossible to get into due to large number of applicants, US World Report ranking BS, etc. Students with high achievements end up feeling like failures because, what, Harvard, Yale, or Duke didn't accept them?

Completely and totally stupid. And this coming from the parent of kids who are very bright. Glad my eldest didn't care about status - he immediately recognized that so many schools had really good computer science departments that he was the one who could make the choices. Sure enough, he got into all four schools he applied to. My daughter and her friend, I am watching the sadness on their faces when they are rejected or wait listed, when they could get into any number of great schools across the country. And this, even though they DID get into a great school already!

It's really so sad!

Sure is...life was so simple when I went to college 25+ years ago....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The disheartening thing about this is that in hundreds of high schools across the country, this kid would likely be top 10% of his class.

--Langley parent, and graduate of one of "those" high schools.

With an 1100 SAT?!?

Absolutely would have been top 10% in my smaller-town Midwestern high school.

Not today. Everyone, everywhere needs to be an A student. I remember when I was in high school a long time ago, being a solid B student was something to be proud of. The kids today have so much pressure.

I'm beginning to better understand where it's coming from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The disheartening thing about this is that in hundreds of high schools across the country, this kid would likely be top 10% of his class.

--Langley parent, and graduate of one of "those" high schools.

With an 1100 SAT?!?

Absolutely would have been top 10% in my smaller-town Midwestern high school.

Not today. Everyone, everywhere needs to be an A student. I remember when I was in high school a long time ago, being a solid B student was something to be proud of. The kids today have so much pressure.

I'm beginning to better understand where it's coming from.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The disheartening thing about this is that in hundreds of high schools across the country, this kid would likely be top 10% of his class.

--Langley parent, and graduate of one of "those" high schools.

So the joke is on those who don't live in flyover country. Enjoy George Mason, suckers....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, the SAT scores should improve-- 1,100 is the 10th grade PSAT projected with no prep course taken. So a prep course will be taken this year and who knows, maybe 1300. Just interested in what the options are for DC now with worst case on grades and SAT scores. Mathmatically it is very hard to bring the grades up that much when you have a 3.2--3.3 for the first two years. Thanks to those who have posted helpful suggestions.

Having just gone through this process with my senior DC, I would suggest that you concentrate heavily on improving the test score, whether sat or act. As you correctly pointed out, there's not much you can do to raise the gpa, but there is LOTS that you can do to raise the test scores, thus increasing your DC's chances in admission. According to some calculations, SAT I and SAT II test scores are given equal weight with gpa in calculating the Academic Index. Practice, prep, practice, practice, prep and more practice over the summer and your DC will increase scores and college options.