Please Be Kind: 2.6 GPA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid hasn't earned college. If he wants to go to college, he should now work hard in community college. Or he can try a trade. I personally, wouldn't waste money if he can't hack it.

"Tough guy" parent! You know what we call "tough guy" parents?

Assholes.

Also, if you made more money maybe you'd be more open to giving him time to figure out life instead of having to choose when he is 17.

Tough guy.

He's not getting in anywhere with a 2.6 so paying for college is a moot point. That said, if he did get in somewhere with a 2.6 would you really want to toss 40-80K a year out on someone not prepared for college? Community college allows him to figure his stuff out without wasting money. He's not ready for college. A 2.6 in high school = failing in college.

My objection was to the authoritarian tone of the PP, that he hasn't "earned" college like it is some kind of reward you get from a boss or a coach. He doesn't know the kid and he's not the kid's parent.

I will point out to you -- politely as the tone of your post warrants -- that you don't know that kid or where he would do well, nor the family's financial status. I agree community college might be a good choice for him, but it also might not. It's far more complicated. Lots of kids blossom on college. And I completely disagree with your "He's not getting in anywhere with a 2.6". That's just factually untrue. There are plenty of good colleges that take kids from there and this thread is full of them.

What I do know is "screw that lazy kid and his B-minuses!" is ridiculous, insensitive, and unhelpful.

"tone" is about manners (i.e., how the message was delivered), and does not change the facts. while pp's delivery wasn't the message ("tone" of her message), it doesn't change the facts. don't focus on how it sounds, try to focus on what it says. your disagreement should be based on facts.

- dp

No, I can disagree on tone if I like to. I find it offensive. And I also do disagree with the facts.

And you are the one who called PP an a$$hole?

Yes, and I stand behind it. Responding in kind. That's not hypocrisy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But those are for schools that report GPA, which typically excludes privates. The 2.6 is unweighted and there is usually a bump from private schools.

Do you guys realize that many private schools don't weigh most (if any) classes, and there aren't minimum grades just for trying? I think MCPS parents have an overblown opinion of how superior their kids are.

a 2.6 is still very low. If the kid is really smart and somehow just has the worst luck getting tough graders in high school, then OP is paying a private to destroy DS's chance of getting into a decent college. There's a whole lot of irony there

I'm not the OP, but what is the irony? Don't project your resource hoarding, anything to get ahead world view on every private school parent. Some families opt for private schools to find an environment where their kids can be . . . gasp . . . happy, as well as physically and mentally healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC has a 2.6 GPA (lower if you look at only core classes) at a (not big 3) DMV private. 1380 SAT. Applied EA to 10 colleges recommended by school counselor. Only one college has rolling admissions and it was on the “match” list. Wait listed. Very concerned DC won’t get in to college. Has anyone else been in a similar grade/SAT situation? If so, where did your child get accepted? Wondering whether DC should apply to a couple more safeties RD. DC needs a small nurturing college with good supports (tutoring, writing center, approachable professors). Thank you. Please no snarks. And please no suggestions for community college. Thank you.

There are plenty of private colleges that will accept your student. It might be very costly but yes, there are plenty of colleges who will accept the student.
In terms of writing and tutoring, it's better to star that now if the student doesn't have that help to get them ahead in their writing.

[Anonymous]

Shepherd University?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But those are for schools that report GPA, which typically excludes privates. The 2.6 is unweighted and there is usually a bump from private schools.

Do you guys realize that many private schools don't weigh most (if any) classes, and there aren't minimum grades just for trying? I think MCPS parents have an overblown opinion of how superior their kids are.

a 2.6 is still very low. If the kid is really smart and somehow just has the worst luck getting tough graders in high school, then OP is paying a private to destroy DS's chance of getting into a decent college. There's a whole lot of irony there

I'm not the OP, but what is the irony? Don't project your resource hoarding, anything to get ahead world view on every private school parent. Some families opt for private schools to find an environment where their kids can be . . . gasp . . . happy, as well as physically and mentally healthy.

sure, I bet the kid is really happy. Clearly they aren't wasting their time studying. There are colleges where OP can pay to send DS where they likewise will be very happy and healthy. Hopefully OP has the king of money to cushion them afterwards so they can remain happy and healthy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Radford blows nuts. STD rate is higher than the grad rate.

OP, you need to look at Rollins College in Florida. It is small and nurturing, and it devours kids like yours: students from elite private schools who graduate in the middle of the pack or below.

According to the GPA distribution from the school's most recent common data set, one fifth of incoming freshmen had below a 3.0 high school GPA, and another one-fifth had between a 3.0 and 3.25.

Your kid's SAT is also at or above their 75th percentile. I think your kid would be in like Flynn.

Rollins is gorgeous, though not particularly academically inclined. Not sure I would suggest it if you suspect your student has untapped potential and are hoping it will be realized in college.

I'm familiar with Rollings only because I have family in WP and it carries at least some name recognition, but would generally advise against blowing money on an uncompetitive private, no name college or university. Better to go to a CC to blow a much, much lower amount of money while figuring out what to pursue and earning grades to compensate for HS.

Mr. Rogers alma mater?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. If you must know, DC has pretty signings that anxiety/depression we are just now getting a handle on with meds. Extremely bright perfectionist, gets A’s when turns in work, but lots of missing assignments. School counselor recommends college with small class sizes. Psychiatrist and psychologists say DC will blossom on right pharma cocktail and DC has heart set on freshman dorm experience away from mama. Thank you to those with helpful and supportive suggestions.

Hugs to you and the kid, OP. I hope you find that right med or combo of meds soon and I hope your child has a great experience at college! (No real advice--my kids are still in ES and my own college experience was more than two decades ago.)

[Anonymous]

What about Ferrum in Virginia? My brother went there and LOVED it. But FYI it's in the sticks.

[Anonymous]

Plenty of private colleges in VA that might consider admitting him. What about Roanoke, Lynchburg, Mary Baldwin, Randolph Macon? Then there are always usually Longwood, Radford, ODU.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend Coe College in Iowa! Small class sizes and supportive professors - just all around kind community of learners/teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Coe College in Iowa! Small class sizes and supportive professors - just all around kind community of learners/teachers.

In that same group of schools (Associated Colleges of the Midwest) are Monmouth College, Augustana College, Beloit College.

They are likely to accept a smart kid with potential but an iffy academic record, if there's something in the app that recommends him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why no community college suggestions??? This is the perfect scenario to take advantage of community college and then transfer after a couple of years. No shame in community college.

Or a directional school. Southern State University of whatever.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read through all the posts, but I suggest Catholic U

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But those are for schools that report GPA, which typically excludes privates. The 2.6 is unweighted and there is usually a bump from private schools.

Many privates don't report GPA. Since they pull from more states and often more from private high schools, the GPA figures mean much less than if you have most applicants from a state with a more consistent grading scheme. The reported GPAs at top Ivy schools from their common data sets may be lower than schools like UNC or UVA. (I believe they often report unweighted.)

Since GPA isn't considered for USNWR, there is no ratings impact to a school to accept a kid with a lower GPA if they have good standardized test scores (and class rank if that is reported, and it often isn't reported either).

[Anonymous]

Read “Colleges That Change Lives.” You will find the right school for for your kid there.