Where are your average kids top picks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have an average kid who is applying for engineering?

Depending on your definition of average. My son with a 3.7 weighted was accepted to Engineering at WVU. He did not submit test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are average kids? DCUM usually means something absurdly high, as in, a 1420 and a 3.85 with "only" 8 APs.

This. And honestly I'm really struggling with this. I feel like my kid is 'below average" because of his for real B average GPA (will be lucky to graduate with a 3.4UW), but SATs are in the 99th percentile, has taken 11 APs, and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. No one seems to know what to do with a kid like this.

Well, that was quite a humblebrag!

Your kid won't get into a Top 20, but I predict plenty of options in the top 40-60 range.

I don't see it as a "humblebrag," but a real issue. A smart person who can clearly test well, but has a GPA that can hinder acceptance. The goal is to get into a college that delivers academically, and will allow them to be successful grade wise and not flounder. It's a balance. One of the "Colleges that change lives" might work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are average kids? DCUM usually means something absurdly high, as in, a 1420 and a 3.85 with "only" 8 APs.

This. And honestly I'm really struggling with this. I feel like my kid is 'below average" because of his for real B average GPA (will be lucky to graduate with a 3.4UW), but SATs are in the 99th percentile, has taken 11 APs, and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. No one seems to know what to do with a kid like this.

Well, that was quite a humblebrag!

Your kid won't get into a Top 20, but I predict plenty of options in the top 40-60 range.

I don't see it as a "humblebrag," but a real issue. A smart person who can clearly test well, but has a GPA that can hinder acceptance. The goal is to get into a college that delivers academically, and will allow them to be successful grade wise and not flounder. It's a balance. One of the "Colleges that change lives" might work.

This is my kid with a much lower GPA. I think the low GPA reveals how lazy my kid is. We are honest with DC, and we are not currently inclined to pay for child to go away for school unless they can show more motivation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3.4 and 1200 sat Fcps dc is looking at:

Jmu
Cnu
Longwood
Vcu
Pitt
Penn state
Elon
Tennessee
College of Charleston
U South Carolina
Indiana
U Mary Washington
Lafayette, Susquehanna Gettysburg

Goal is to be under $60k after merit aid. Some of these are more reaches than others. Do does not know their major yet but likely not stem.

This is a very good list. You are doing it right.

Following this. 3.88W, 1250, 5 APs, DC catholic. Similar list to the above with more reachy schools: UVA, Wisco, Tulane, Clemson, Miami, Richmond. Non-STEM major.

Do schools look at 5 AP classes 3.88 GPA and then 1250 SAT and see grade inflation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3.4 and 1200 sat Fcps dc is looking at:

Jmu
Cnu
Longwood
Vcu
Pitt
Penn state
Elon
Tennessee
College of Charleston
U South Carolina
Indiana
U Mary Washington
Lafayette, Susquehanna Gettysburg

Goal is to be under $60k after merit aid. Some of these are more reaches than others. Do does not know their major yet but likely not stem.

This is a very good list. You are doing it right.

Following this. 3.88W, 1250, 5 APs, DC catholic. Similar list to the above with more reachy schools: UVA, Wisco, Tulane, Clemson, Miami, Richmond. Non-STEM major.

Do schools look at 5 AP classes 3.88 GPA and then 1250 SAT and see grade inflation?

Yes. Why a 1250!?
Unless you have 4s and 5s on all APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loyola MD
McDaniel

Excellent choices!

I have a question about Loyola MD. It seems like a great option all around, but would it be problematic for someone who is not Catholic and did not go to Catholic school? I know it's open to all faiths, and the Jesuit philosophy is very appealing, but I do want to know if my DC would feel comfortable as someone who did not grow up with religion part of family life at all.

Jesuit schools are generally very welcoming and inclusive. Follow the university’s social media pages and you will also get a sense for the culture there. Seems like a solid place. While my family is Catholic, my junior who is college searching is not religious and felt at ease there. They also have an interfaith space (Fava Chapel) for students of any faith to use for prayer, worship, quiet reflection, etc.

My dd got into one. She loves it, but it is SO expensive. We likely won't do that which is too bad.

Very few people pay the full price. My kid goes to a Jesuit school that costs close to $75k but I pay around $30k. Do the net price calculator.

I did. We don’t qualify for financial aid so it is still 50k, plus very expensive travel.

[Anonymous]

A lot of these stats seem above average but not high stats VS. Truly average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have an average kid who is applying for engineering?

Depending on your definition of average. My son with a 3.7 weighted was accepted to Engineering at WVU. He did not submit test scores.

Mine is! 3.5/1220 SAT (which he has been submitting)

So far:

VCU-accepted
Roanoke-accepted
Richard Bland-accepted
ODU-accepted

Applied::
VT-stretch
GMU
Marymount
JMU
Bridgewater

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CNU!

+1!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Using an example outline from above for mine:
FCPS kid, 3.8w with 1300 SAT (mostly TO on applications), these are some applied to:
UVA
Pitt
Penn state
UDel
UMD
WVU
UNCG
College of Charleston
Bama
Auburn
UCF
Still may do other applications for VCU, Old Dominion, Randolph Macon, or Marymount, if needed.

Goal is to be under $30k after merit aid. I don't want to spend this even, but more merit or needs based grants are probably unlikely and this is a 4 year max I think we can live through on both pay as we go and repayment loan.

A) UVA is $40, not $30
B) a weighted 3.8 is unlikely to
get in because the past fall's students reported having a 4.5 GPA at the 75th percentile, a 4.4 at the median and a 4.2 at the bottom 25Th percentile.
C) if you applying TO you need a great GPA, ECs or hooked. A 3.8 isn't going to cut it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using an example outline from above for mine:
FCPS kid, 3.8w with 1300 SAT (mostly TO on applications), these are some applied to:
UVA
Pitt
Penn state
UDel
UMD
WVU
UNCG
College of Charleston
Bama
Auburn
UCF
Still may do other applications for VCU, Old Dominion, Randolph Macon, or Marymount, if needed.

Goal is to be under $30k after merit aid. I don't want to spend this even, but more merit or needs based grants are probably unlikely and this is a 4 year max I think we can live through on both pay as we go and repayment loan.

A) UVA is $40, not $30
B) a weighted 3.8 is unlikely to
get in because the past fall's students reported having a 4.5 GPA at the 75th percentile, a 4.4 at the median and a 4.2 at the bottom 25Th percentile.
C) if you applying TO you need a great GPA, ECs or hooked. A 3.8 isn't going to cut it

So many less qualified applicants shoot their shot to UVA every single year and more and more continue to do so.