Stats and college admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. She has a weighted 3.8 and you people are suggesting a learning disability? Never change, DCUM.

Depends on what the typical range is for the HS. An almost all Bs student with a 1500+ SAT is going to raise some questions.

What questions does it raise, besides "how much tutoring did you get?" and "how many times did you take the test?" (Questions that could be asked of anyone with a 1500+.)

Or the question of how dedicated were they to their studies in HS. Many smart kids are not motivated in HS or just slack off because.

[Anonymous]

GPA is the most important quantitative value in application. SAT not so much. University of California system will not even look at your SAT.

If WGPA is only 3.80. But SAT is 1500+. You need to have a lot of explaining to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

South Carolina public school GPAs are based on a 5.0 scale which skews their numbers. Clemson is a good school but that Average GPA is T20 range not 75th ranked ranked. CS is more competitive yes but still. Their applications are way up after they went test optional and common app but their yield is also very very low. You should apply.

[Anonymous]

What kind of school does your kid attend? If it's a competitive private school, the answers may be different from a public school.

Obviously, it depends what your kid is looking for but i would consider schools like Muhlenberg, Bard, maybe Franklin and Marshall or Skidmore, Denver U, Chapman, Arizona....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3.3 with 1540? that's going to raise a red flag to someone

Maybe Mr. Singer's brother is in business in DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.3 with 1540? that's going to raise a red flag to someone

Maybe Mr. Singer's brother is in business in DMV.

hilarious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3.3 with 1540? that's going to raise a red flag to someone

Why? This make sense if it is from TJ, when GPA is tough but kids generally do very well in standardized tests. I know because that is my kid with no prep or tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

You'll be fine. Sheesh. One of my kids was like 3.6/1440 and got into College Park 2y ago. If you're a MD res, worst case go to UMBC or CC then transfer.

But there are loads of schools that will take a 1540.

And I'd ignore all colleges stated gpa stats. You can't tell what is weighted or not and they are all trying to impress people with numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

You'll be fine. Sheesh. One of my kids was like 3.6/1440 and got into College Park 2y ago. If you're a MD res, worst case go to UMBC or CC then transfer.

But there are loads of schools that will take a 1540.

And I'd ignore all colleges stated gpa stats. You can't tell what is weighted or not and they are all trying to impress people with numbers.

OP here. Thanks!

To answer some of the questions.
- DS goes to FCPS (not TJ)
- SAT was in one sitting with about 2 months of prep. Score is consistent with the PSAT (which was with no prep) score. Slightly higher percentile in the SAT, given the prep.
- Agree on the comments about lack of dedication. It doesn't matter if the course is AP, Honors or not. Grades about the same, mostly due to lack of effort. Great class participation, teachers love him, etc. but doesn't put in the work. We realize we need an 'explanation' come college application time.
- Can't afford Singer or his brother, but I suspect Singer's services will now be offered at a very steep discount given his soon-to-be destination.

Thanks for all the suggestions..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.3 with 1540? that's going to raise a red flag to someone

Maybe Mr. Singer's brother is in business in DMV.

Who is Mr. Singer and his brother

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.3 with 1540? that's going to raise a red flag to someone

Maybe Mr. Singer's brother is in business in DMV.

Who is Mr. Singer and his brother

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Blues_scandal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

A lot of schools are IN his range.

Muhlenburgh
Shenandoah
SMCM--maybe
Washington College

Keep in mind not all schools allow their students to even reach a 4.3. At Blair, you'll see 4.7, which isn't even possible at my kid's school.

Take a look at Selingo's Who Gets In and Why--or read his blog. Also, there's a chart someone shared here once that shows what schools you can apply to with which GPA.

Maybe Bucknell and schools similar in GPA acceptance.

CollegeVine will also have loads of suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GPA is the most important quantitative value in application. SAT not so much. University of California system will not even look at your SAT.

If WGPA is only 3.80. But SAT is 1500+. You need to have a lot of explaining to do.

Really? GPA is that important? It seems like a standardized test would be more important, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

FYI - a lot of North and South Carolina use different GPA scales than you see in NOVA. I think some use a 5.0 or 6.0 scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior who will likely end up with a 3.3+/3.8+ GPA (9 APs). SAT is 1540. A lot of schools are out of his range when you look at just the GPA. We are in a quandry as to where to apply.

For example, Clemson has an average GPA of 4.39 (source: collegevine) for the 2021 cycle. What kind of kids populate the group below that average? URMs? Women? athletes? or will someone like my kid - low GPA but high SAT and rigorous curriculum be part of that pool. Using Clemson as an example. DS wants to pursue a major in a CS-adjacent field - Data science, Information Systems, etc. but not interested in full CS.

You'll be fine. Sheesh. One of my kids was like 3.6/1440 and got into College Park 2y ago. If you're a MD res, worst case go to UMBC or CC then transfer.

But there are loads of schools that will take a 1540.

And I'd ignore all colleges stated gpa stats. You can't tell what is weighted or not and they are all trying to impress people with numbers.

OP here. Thanks!

To answer some of the questions.
- DS goes to FCPS (not TJ)
- SAT was in one sitting with about 2 months of prep. Score is consistent with the PSAT (which was with no prep) score. Slightly higher percentile in the SAT, given the prep.
- Agree on the comments about lack of dedication. It doesn't matter if the course is AP, Honors or not. Grades about the same, mostly due to lack of effort. Great class participation, teachers love him, etc. but doesn't put in the work. We realize we need an 'explanation' come college application time.
- Can't afford Singer or his brother, but I suspect Singer's services will now be offered at a very steep discount given his soon-to-be destination.

Thanks for all the suggestions..

He will be fine and have plenty of options. Sounds like he will get good recommendations which will help.

One thing to think about is what story does the transcript tell - is there a trend up throughout HS? Was he increasing rigor?

I get the disparity -- my kids both had 1500+ SATs with minimal prep but lower GPAs than might be expected with that, partly because both have ADHD. One was pretty classic upward trend -- all Bs in 9th with mostly regular level classes, gradually improving grades and increasing rigor, got mostly As with a few APs in 11th, all As with heavy APs in 12th. My other started 9th strong and then fell apart during covid. By 11th, added additional health issues to the mix and had grades all over the place and was very lucky to get some grades to round up to Bs on the final transcript. Has found her equilibrium in 12th and now getting all As with several APs. Her ultimate GPA is not that different than my older kid but the story the transcript tells is very different and we told the counselor she could share the health and ADHD issues that impacted grades. She's been happy with her acceptances.