Please Be Kind: 2.6 GPA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Outside of nursing, dental tech, and some skilled trades, community college is a joke. And I say that after a 25 year career in higher ed. Community colleges are not serious places -- literally 80 to 90% of the students never complete their program. And the "instructors" are frequently bats*** morons.

I 100% don’t think this child should go to CC but I absolutely disagree with you. The kids I know at CC are very good students with odd family situations... dad died summer before freshman year, single mom getting cancer treatment, serious student with no money, kids with little guidance from parents but smart and need a college counselor to help them find their way, taking a few classes they need for graduate school because the English major did not require organic chemistry but their graduate program does...

I have a friend that did the pathways program at NOVA and was able to transfer to UVA after two years. This isn't uncommon.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t read the whole thread. Based on your initial post, I suggest you take a look at Merrimack College. It may be a bit of a stretch, but I think it fits your criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coe College
Luther College
Beloit
Milliken
Lots of small private universities in the Midwest would happily take him and they tend to be nurturing and supportive (esp Coe!)

I am not familiar with Milliken, but the other three are more selective/competitive than Eckert (especially Beloit) so I would be cautious there.

I'm curious from OP -- what is your son interested in actually doing (I got to about page 7 before commenting so sorry if you already said)? I am pro-community college (like, the good ones, not the bad ones) but I think that they really work best for students who are interested in a specific vocational path, like being a paralegal or p.a. or such.

If he's interested in a broad liberal arts education, then some of the mentioned colleges by other PPs sound good (some do NOT, looking at you ASU poster...) but the one that immediately jumped to mind was Earlham College in Indiana. Another one to consider would be the College of St. Benedict in MN. The GPA will be on the lower side at both, but hopefully the letter/letters of rec address that.

[Anonymous]

That was my hs gpa. I have a PhD now. Being able to take classes only in what interested me was liberating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. We are full pay.

Next tier liberal arts schools will seriously consider your DC. Check out Sewanee and Skidmore for starters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Outside of nursing, dental tech, and some skilled trades, community college is a joke. And I say that after a 25 year career in higher ed. Community colleges are not serious places -- literally 80 to 90% of the students never complete their program. And the "instructors" are frequently bats*** morons.

I 100% don’t think this child should go to CC but I absolutely disagree with you. The kids I know at CC are very good students with odd family situations... dad died summer before freshman year, single mom getting cancer treatment, serious student with no money, kids with little guidance from parents but smart and need a college counselor to help them find their way, taking a few classes they need for graduate school because the English major did not require organic chemistry but their graduate program does...

I have a friend that did the pathways program at NOVA and was able to transfer to UVA after two years. This isn't uncommon.

I know someone who attended a big state school, essentially failed outside to partying, attended Montgomery College and is now at a very well regarded private university from which he will get his degree.

[Anonymous]

I think he should look local or within an hour away so that you can get to him if needed. Even if he starts at a lower rated school, if he does well, he could try to transfer after sophomore year to a higher ranked school. Not sure what state you are in but let’s say you are in Maryland, he could try Frostburg for the college experience and try and transfer to Towson if he does well or University of Maryland. I think the key for him will be to get in and work really hard and find some really good summer positions/internships so that he lands a decent job after graduation and some workable skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, definitely apply to more safeties or better matches, and please ignore the negative posters. There are plenty of colleges that would admit your son, many of which have already been named here. I suggest going back to the college counselor for more ideas as she might be surprised that Eckerd waitlisted. My DS applied to Eckerd too, and from what I have read on College Confidential etc., it is only a pretty sure bet at 3.5 GPA (my DS is below 3.5), so I would not have considered it a match even with good test scores. I suggest having a frank conversation with your son so that he understands and is on board with casting a wider net. Covid-19 is making many aspects of life less predictable, including college admissions, and if he really wants to go away to college next year it is important that he sees this as helping his chances. Good luck and try to stay positive, lots of us are stressing now so you are not alone.

Op here. Thank you, and also so many other posters who provided excellent suggestions. Counselor was surprised about the wait list. She suggested a couple more safeties (CTCL SLACs) that we will add to the mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 to all this. If you’re full pay, sorry I can’t remember, then you stand an even better shot at a college like one of these. I got a great education at a college like this, went on to grad school for my PhD and had a terrific experience. Still know my old professors. And there were lots of kids there with less than stellar HS records. Don’t give up, OP. MC might be right for him, b it not he wants to go away he can!

[Anonymous]

I just don't understand the people who keep posting about community colleges. The OP asked specifically that you not do that. If you want to start a thread on the benefits of community colleges, go right ahead.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I love hearing these stories of successful people who started out as substandard HS students. When I posted, I never expected so many DCUMers to come out of the woodwork and admit to lackluster beginnings. Thank you so much for giving hope!

[Anonymous]

Go to a full pay, lower ranked liberal arts college. If you want to spend more.money, go out of state. If you want to spend less money on transportation, etc, go to one in state or nearby. Lots of private colleges in VA and PA need your money OP. Your ds will be accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand the people who keep posting about community colleges. The OP asked specifically that you not do that. If you want to start a thread on the benefits of community colleges, go right ahead.

The point is it can be a path to a much better college than the 4 year options one might have out of high school with a low GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand the people who keep posting about community colleges. The OP asked specifically that you not do that. If you want to start a thread on the benefits of community colleges, go right ahead.

The point is it can be a path to a much better college than the 4 year options one might have out of high school with a low GPA.

So is another 4 year college. The child does not want to go to a CC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. We are full pay.

Next tier liberal arts schools will seriously consider your DC. Check out Sewanee and Skidmore for starters.

Sorry, not Skidmore. Have you had a kid apply to college lately? I gave a bunch of suggestions earlier and they include where my dc with similar stats got in. My other kid (a year older) had slightly higher stats (mid 3’s gpa) and goes to a SLAC in the Midwest. She is blown away by the stats of some of her peers. They didn’t get into their reach schools which is why they are in school with my dd (her top choice) but still. Maybe full pay will help at a Skidmore, especially if they are having issues due to Covid. I just think op has to go a tier below. And the schools aren’t bad. It’s the dcum snobbery that makes people say they are. Meanwhile, there are thousands of people at the schools.