Any chance for a humanities, low GPA, TJ kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is applying as a humanities/social science major with a major spike. High SAT, all 5s on AP exams, research published in most prestigious journal for major, national awards for major, great ECs and internships.

The one caveat is the gpa. Freshman year was very bad, sophomore not so great, but huge upward trend. Would a 4.3-4.4 weighted gpa be competitive for T20s? How will colleges view a humanities student from TJ, and will they forgive low grades in STEM classes?

Probably not.
According to Naviance average T20 student accepted from TJ has ~4.55 weighted GPA and 1555 SAT
The acceptance rate for students with those stats or higher was ~30%
In this context, 0.05 GPA is significant. a 0.25 difference puts you in different categories.
Of the Top 20 schools, your best chance is Chicago ED0 if you can afford it and ED1 if not.

If you have an C's you are probably cooked. More than a couple of B's also derails you. The only exceptions I have seen have been recruited athletes.
These admission committees are literally looking at an ocean of straight A students and "but its TJ" does carry much weight when there are more straight A TJ students than they have room for.

But the GPA in Naviance is after the end of senior year, which is typically higher than after junior year. So you need to take that into account. We also don’t know anything else here, other than a vague description of “very bad” grades freshman year which nonetheless may yield a 4.3-4.4 GPA after junior year. Regardless, I’d think someone applying for humanities with this background could create an interesting, if not compelling, narrative.

[Anonymous]

Can they take anything through virtual Virginia? Maybe they should check with guidance counselor. Also just wanted to say your kid sounds like a great kid and I’m sure their TJ experience will pay off in college and life so thinking about the long game, your kid is well positioned to do great!!!

[Anonymous]

If the spike is unusual and interesting enough it can compensate. It probably has to be something rare they want and can’t get from another kid with higher grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the spike is unusual and interesting enough it can compensate. It probably has to be something rare they want and can’t get from another kid with higher grades.

What’s an unusual humanities spike?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the replies. Disheartening but understandable. Is there any "secret" to boosting GPA like taking classes over the summer?

Take heart.

It's not over. It has barely just begun.

I talk to a lot of TJ parents in your situation, and I'll tell you what I tell them.

Your kid hit the wall. It is far better for them to hit that wall in high school than in college.

The most important college in their academic career is the one that grants them their terminal degree.

Get a PhD, MD, JD or MBA from Harvard and nobody cares if your undergrad was from a state college.

Your child is extremely likely to get a degree past college.

Going to grad school or law school or med school is just very likely for them because it's low hanging fruit for them.

TJ students like your kid can get into WM or VT with 80%+ acceptance rate, maybe even with a bit of merit. UVA is the only VA state school that gives TJ students a hard time.

Apply more broadly if you like but know that they are likely to go to grad school, save a bit of dry powder to pay for that so the list of schools that are worth the extra money is not very long.

And who knows, your kid would not be the lowest GPA to get into T20 from TJ especially with those sort of ECs.

[Anonymous]

Just don’t expect to get in UVA. Lots of good options at others schools where everyone isnt applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the spike is unusual and interesting enough it can compensate. It probably has to be something rare they want and can’t get from another kid with higher grades.

What’s an unusual humanities spike?

Imagine something like:

Asian Lit & Languages & Creative Writing Majors:
W/scholastic awards
Youngarts writing award

Founder youth writing program @ local library
editor literary magazine
founder/president of school creative writing club
editor-in-chief for school paper
competitive summer writing program
Calligraphy
Asian culture club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is applying as a humanities/social science major with a major spike. High SAT, all 5s on AP exams, research published in most prestigious journal for major, national awards for major, great ECs and internships.

The one caveat is the gpa. Freshman year was very bad, sophomore not so great, but huge upward trend. Would a 4.3-4.4 weighted gpa be competitive for T20s? How will colleges view a humanities student from TJ, and will they forgive low grades in STEM classes?

Probably not.
According to Naviance average T20 student accepted from TJ has ~4.55 weighted GPA and 1555 SAT
The acceptance rate for students with those stats or higher was ~30%
In this context, 0.05 GPA is significant. a 0.25 difference puts you in different categories.
Of the Top 20 schools, your best chance is Chicago ED0 if you can afford it and ED1 if not.

If you have an C's you are probably cooked. More than a couple of B's also derails you. The only exceptions I have seen have been recruited athletes.
These admission committees are literally looking at an ocean of straight A students and "but its TJ" does carry much weight when there are more straight A TJ students than they have room for.

But the GPA in Naviance is after the end of senior year, which is typically higher than after junior year. So you need to take that into account. We also don’t know anything else here, other than a vague description of “very bad” grades freshman year which nonetheless may yield a 4.3-4.4 GPA after junior year. Regardless, I’d think someone applying for humanities with this background could create an interesting, if not compelling, narrative.

I am interpreting very bad to mean at least 1 C or 2 Bs.

I am interpreting not so great to mean at least one B+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the replies. Disheartening but understandable. Is there any "secret" to boosting GPA like taking classes over the summer?

Is your child a son or a daughter?

Are you full-pay or need a lot of merit?

If you have a full-pay son with a sincere interest in the Classics, I’ll bet the odds are better than for a daughter who wants to major in creative writing and needs lots of merit aid.

But I think your child should shrug off the Negative Nellie’s and apply to a couple of T15 to T50 dream schools, no matter what. You never know.

Then your child should apply to the same kind of mix of matches and safeties that should be on most kids’ lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the spike is unusual and interesting enough it can compensate. It probably has to be something rare they want and can’t get from another kid with higher grades.

What’s an unusual humanities spike?

Ballet dancer with a professional company. Being one of the best young oboists in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all the replies. Disheartening but understandable. Is there any "secret" to boosting GPA like taking classes over the summer?

Yes, take college level classes.

[Anonymous]

If you low your expectation a tiny bit, your kid have very good chance for several T30, like USC, NYU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ED a SLAC

+1 … they will love the upward trajectory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the spike is unusual and interesting enough it can compensate. It probably has to be something rare they want and can’t get from another kid with higher grades.

What’s an unusual humanities spike?

Ballet dancer with a professional company. Being one of the best young oboists in the country.

That’s not a humanities spike

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just don’t expect to get in UVA. Lots of good options at others schools where everyone isnt applying.

Don’t be ridiculous, he’s qualified for UVA.