Anyone successfully get their stubborn kid to consider other schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a junior and is adamant that schools must have the following:

No snow/No cold temps (can get cold for short periods but nothing where it is in 30's for months at a time)
Must have football and strong school spirit
Must be >10,000 students

This basically translates to big state flagships in the SEC, Texas, AZ, etc.

I am trying to explain to him that as an OOS student with a weighted GPA of 3.9 and mediocre test scores, he really needs to cast a wide net. If he were willing to consider other geographical regions, or forgoing the football, or consider smaller schools, he could increase his chances. He is standing his ground. In the end whatever happens happens, but it is hard sitting back and thinking there is a possibility he doesn't;t get in anywhere. I truly do not think he sees that as a reality.

Why would he? Only a few in these categories are even questionable for him.

[Anonymous]

That is definitely a realistic set of requirements. Plenty of schools that fit that. I would only insist that at least one school on the list has to be an in-state safety just in case the OOS $$$ doesn't come in as anticipated. If you are in VA that could be JMU or possibly VT depending on major.

[Anonymous]

Not weighing in on particular schools or your kid's parameters, but I will say my stubborn kid became a lot more flexible in fall of senior year and once they actually started applying. The reality of it all hit and hearing about all their classmates applying to many of the same places made my kid consider other options I suggested. One week I suggested a particular school that seemed to fit most of what my kid wanted but was told no way would they consider it and then the following week, my kid piped up and said they would apply there (no concrete reason for the change of heart). So, OP, it's still early and minds can change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not weighing in on particular schools or your kid's parameters, but I will say my stubborn kid became a lot more flexible in fall of senior year and once they actually started applying. The reality of it all hit and hearing about all their classmates applying to many of the same places made my kid consider other options I suggested. One week I suggested a particular school that seemed to fit most of what my kid wanted but was told no way would they consider it and then the following week, my kid piped up and said they would apply there (no concrete reason for the change of heart). So, OP, it's still early and minds can change.

VERY true. My DC had no idea really what they wanted fall of Junior year, but by senior year, obviously had a good idea and applied to a wide variety of schools. It's way too early to freak out and anyway, his list seems like a solid start and one which he should fine some good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will get into most of the schools in his mind's eye:

Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky or any of the confederate states.

Probably not UT-Austin or Vanderbilt.

With those stats, a student can omit UGA and Clemson from your "confederate" state schools.

I know students admitted to those schools with lower GPAs.

I don't understand the problem, unless OP is against the schools themselves. There is no reason to assume he would not be admitted to Ole Miss, LSU, Tenn, Kentucky, Alabama, or some schools in FL.

I call BS (for UGA, at least). UGA and Clemson are NOT easy to get into. I get it, you hate red (confederate 🙄) states.

From UGA Admissions class of 2026 information;

Here are some rough statistics on the Entire Freshman Admitted Class of 2026-November, February and March waves, where we admitted 16,600+ students total, which is somewhat above last year’s offers of admission (I do not have separate data on just the final group, sorry):
UGA Calculated Grade Point Average mid-range/average: 4.00 – 4.30, with a 4.16 average
Please remember this is not the GPA students see on their high school transcript, but rather the GPA that UGA recalculates for everyone based on the core academic courses taken in high school and looking at the actual grades posted on the transcripts. Roughly 90% of the HS core grades were A’s, and 9+% were B’s, thus showing the academic strength of the accepted group.
AP/IB/Dual Enrollment course mid-range/average: 7-12 courses, average of 10
We determine academic rigor based on all core classes a student has taken (CP, Honors, Advanced, AP, IB, DE, etc.) as compared to what is offered in the school/community. This is not based simply on the number of AP/IB/DE courses, but instead we look at the overall coursework over four years in the core areas and the progression of rigor over the years. The AP/IB/DE information is the most specific data I can give on it, but the numbers do not cover all of our curriculum review.
SAT Total mid-range for students: 1350-1480
This data is based on admitted students where the SAT was the strongest score if both SAT and ACT were submitted or if the SAT was the only test taken and sent.
ACT Composite mid-range for students: 31-34
Remember, UGA focuses on ACT E and M. For reporting purposes, we give out the best score overall ACT score, but the ACT E and M are very similar to the overall score.
This data is based on admitted students where the ACT was the strongest score if both SAT and ACT were submitted or if the ACT was the only test taken and sent.
For the 2026 class, the biggest academic factors were still a student’s grades and course rigor, as these are the best indicators of future success @ UGA.

[Anonymous]

What about New Mexico?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will get into most of the schools in his mind's eye:

Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky or any of the confederate states.

Probably not UT-Austin or Vanderbilt.

With those stats, a student can omit UGA and Clemson from your "confederate" state schools.

I know students admitted to those schools with lower GPAs.

I don't understand the problem, unless OP is against the schools themselves. There is no reason to assume he would not be admitted to Ole Miss, LSU, Tenn, Kentucky, Alabama, or some schools in FL.

I call BS (for UGA, at least). UGA and Clemson are NOT easy to get into. I get it, you hate red (confederate 🙄) states.

From UGA Admissions class of 2026 information;

Here are some rough statistics on the Entire Freshman Admitted Class of 2026-November, February and March waves, where we admitted 16,600+ students total, which is somewhat above last year’s offers of admission (I do not have separate data on just the final group, sorry):
UGA Calculated Grade Point Average mid-range/average: 4.00 – 4.30, with a 4.16 average
Please remember this is not the GPA students see on their high school transcript, but rather the GPA that UGA recalculates for everyone based on the core academic courses taken in high school and looking at the actual grades posted on the transcripts. Roughly 90% of the HS core grades were A’s, and 9+% were B’s, thus showing the academic strength of the accepted group.
AP/IB/Dual Enrollment course mid-range/average: 7-12 courses, average of 10
We determine academic rigor based on all core classes a student has taken (CP, Honors, Advanced, AP, IB, DE, etc.) as compared to what is offered in the school/community. This is not based simply on the number of AP/IB/DE courses, but instead we look at the overall coursework over four years in the core areas and the progression of rigor over the years. The AP/IB/DE information is the most specific data I can give on it, but the numbers do not cover all of our curriculum review.
SAT Total mid-range for students: 1350-1480
This data is based on admitted students where the SAT was the strongest score if both SAT and ACT were submitted or if the SAT was the only test taken and sent.
ACT Composite mid-range for students: 31-34
Remember, UGA focuses on ACT E and M. For reporting purposes, we give out the best score overall ACT score, but the ACT E and M are very similar to the overall score.
This data is based on admitted students where the ACT was the strongest score if both SAT and ACT were submitted or if the ACT was the only test taken and sent.
For the 2026 class, the biggest academic factors were still a student’s grades and course rigor, as these are the best indicators of future success @ UGA.

You call BS that I know people were admitted to GA and Clemson with less than a 3.9? OK, I guess I imagined it. Lol. And for the record, I am not the poster who wrote "confederate states."

[Anonymous]

It would depend on the rigor of courses taken, wouldn't it?

[Anonymous]

He sounds like a perfect candidate for SEC schools and merit there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not weighing in on particular schools or your kid's parameters, but I will say my stubborn kid became a lot more flexible in fall of senior year and once they actually started applying. The reality of it all hit and hearing about all their classmates applying to many of the same places made my kid consider other options I suggested. One week I suggested a particular school that seemed to fit most of what my kid wanted but was told no way would they consider it and then the following week, my kid piped up and said they would apply there (no concrete reason for the change of heart). So, OP, it's still early and minds can change.

+1 with my Sr. Lots has changed since last year.

[Anonymous]

You don't specify what is a "mediocre" test score, but if it's at least 1200 (in one sitting, not "super scored") he will get a scholarship to University of Alabama

https://scholarships.ua.edu/freshman/out-of-state/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a junior and is adamant that schools must have the following:

No snow/No cold temps (can get cold for short periods but nothing where it is in 30's for months at a time)
Must have football and strong school spirit
Must be >10,000 students

This basically translates to big state flagships in the SEC, Texas, AZ, etc.

I am trying to explain to him that as an OOS student with a weighted GPA of 3.9 and mediocre test scores, he really needs to cast a wide net. If he were willing to consider other geographical regions, or forgoing the football, or consider smaller schools, he could increase his chances. He is standing his ground. In the end whatever happens happens, but it is hard sitting back and thinking there is a possibility he doesn't;t get in anywhere. I truly do not think he sees that as a reality.

At lest he's giving you options, my son is set on JMU and only JMU. ugh!

You say he has "mediocre" test scores?... in case you don't know, many schools don't require test scores anymore.