It was the former. From the start, we've told our 4.05 wgpa/no EC's kid that in-state schools were what we could afford. If she were straight A's and a million EC's, maybe we'd bend and look at expensive out of state schools that are better than any of the in-state publics. But she's a very good but not incredible student, so we're not. If she were a C student, no way in h-e-double hockey sticks would we send her out of state and pay full pay out of state costs. |
I believe this poster. I was a C student in high school (ant a top private school) and college but graduated top of my class in law school. I didn’t bother studying or going to class until law school, when I finally had some maturity, desire to succeed and interest in the subjects. Now that I have two kids with ADHD, I recognize that I clearly have it. I believe there is such a thing as a late bloomer and also believe that intelligent people can do poorly in school for a multitude of reasons. |
Are you saying that you were a C student in high school and got into an Ivy League college? I don’t think so. That other poster is saying that, and that’s what is bullshit. |
Can we please keep examples to the last three years since this is when college admissions really changed. We don’t want to hear stories from 30 years ago, which are completely irrelevant. |
Absolutely |
PP who doesn't believe those of us with actual experience with brilliant people who get Cs regularly, just can't understand things they haven't experienced themselves.
The brilliant C student is not an uncommon phenomenon. They tend to do amazing things in the real world, but but aren't well suited to the artificial environment of schooling. |
There is a reason these schools do not publish average GPAs in the CDS. |
Just a reminder to folks that OP’s kid is not a typical “C student” (whatever that means). They were sick. If you don’t have personal experience with the way illness can cause a kid’s grades to plummet…well, then actually I’m happy for you. But if OP’s kid was seriously ill, especially for an extended time, their grades won’t be an accurate representation of their ability, motivation, or potential.
OP, I hope this thread is, on the whole, more helpful to you than not. Be sure to look for a school where your kid will be supported, and where there can be a lot of proactive (and shame-free) conversation about needs and goals. It’s possible there will be gaps in knowledge. You want to make sure your kid doesn’t get in over her head should these gaps reveal themselves. Wishing you both well. |
+1000000 Around here, if you didn’t go from starting school early to a magnet program to 27,000 AP’s plus an IB diploma to an Ivy, you’re a moron. |
I have a 3.1 student who has gotten into multiple colleges. Even got merit at several schools to bring the cost to $30-$50 K. It partly depends on course rigor. There are many options, just not ones that DCUM talk about all the time. Look at smaller schools in Maryland and PA, less popular state schools like WVU or Kentucky, and state schools in VA that aren't UVA and VT. |
Of course! |
This has stood out to me as well. |
My friend's son had a severe concussion that derailed high school and ultimately he had to repeat senior year. No idea what his ultimate GPA was but it would not have been perfect. But he ended up accepted to University of Washington in CS and then transferred to Cornell. Smart kid who had a tough road and showed a lot of resilience. That matters a lot. Good luck OP, I'm sure your kid will have a lot of options. Be sure the counselor explains the situation and use the "other information" section on the common app for the student to explain too (if it doesn't become the common app topic). |
As a former high school teacher, I know of a lot of A students in high school who were hand-held by parents and ended up doing quite poorly in college. |
+1 A kid with poor grades doesn’t get to have such stringent parameters about where they want to go. |