College search for an average kid at at top private school

[Anonymous]

My DS will be a senior next year, and I'm getting nervous about college. He attends one of the Big-3, has mediocre grades, and top SAT scores (2250). The grades have definitely improved each year, but he's not near the top of the class at all because of lower freshman grades. Any advice to share on how to help a kid like this get into a decent school where he will not be bored? I'd appreciate any tips.

[Anonymous]

He really won't have trouble getting into a top 50 school, particularly if he has some extracurricular interests and achievements as well. It helps to be a boy, it helps to be on an upward trajectory, freshman year especially can be ignored, many high schools start at 10th in other parts of the country. My DD had a somewhat mediocre freshman year, a better sophmore but not perfect and excellent junior and senior years in terms of grades and she got into a top Ivy. And there are far far more academically challenging schools than there were 30 years ago. And the colleges understand that grading at Sidwell, NCS, St Alban's, Maret and GDS is not easy, and that kids very very rarely have perfect records. Kids like this at my DD's big 3 seemed to get into places like University of Michigan or Wisconsin at worst, or LACs like Claremont-McKenna, Bates or Colby, Rice, Emory, McCallister, Tulane, even U Chicago. Those SATs will help quite a bit, and if he can get his grades up this semester and in the fall semester (while he should apply early action somewhere that is a reach, he could get deferred to look at his senior fall grades). Anyway, really don't despair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS will be a senior next year, and I'm getting nervous about college. He attends one of the Big-3, has mediocre grades, and top SAT scores (2250). The grades have definitely improved each year, but he's not near the top of the class at all because of lower freshman grades. Any advice to share on how to help a kid like this get into a decent school where he will not be bored? I'd appreciate any tips.

I would also really not worry about him being bored anywhere. There are reasons to choose more or less selective schools, but every school will have advanced courses, interesting extracurriculars, and new experiences for him. He may even benefit from being a "bigger fish" somewhere where he can take the kind of leadership role he may not have been able to at his highly selective high school. My sister did an honors program at a public university and was extremely well prepared for med school and enjoyed her four years without boredom.

[Anonymous]

My DD was not dissimilar although slightly lower scores (33 ACT, SATs not her thing). She had good extracurrics - team captain of 2 sports teams, good internships, legitimate interest in community service. She also interviewed very well - lots of confidence and enthusiasm. So she did better in acceptances at schools that did interviews than those that didn't.

She was realistic about her college options. The college counselors at a big 3 will surely be helping you select approriate colleges. If he's an average kid he won't be bored at the top 50 colleges. Presumably at this point you've already visited a ton of colleges so he must have some sense of what he's interested in.

At this point there isn't much you can do except help guide him through the process, figure out what his passions and strengths are so he can talk about that in essays and interviews, help with interviewing skills if needed (we didn't for number 1, will need to for number 2).

[Anonymous]

It really depends OP how on he's done with his ECs and SAT Subject Tests and whether he's excellend in anything in particular. Please expound. My kid is at a top Ivy and did well in high school but not Middle School.

Also, your son will need to hit the essays "out of the park" and interview very well. I wouldn't give up just yet. I think he'll be fine.

Please expound on your son a little more so we all can offer a little more particular advice. I am a prof at a local university by the way...ranked #50 to give you a big hint.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what you mean by "mediocre" grades, but one of my kids had a transcript that can be most charitably described as demonstrating an upward trajectory. After lousy freshman year (mostly Bs, a couple of Cs), he had all As and Bs -- but slightly more Bs than As. His SAT scores were a little higher than your son's (just over 2300). He did surprisingly well in college admissions (admitted to 1st choice Ivy, not HYP). He had several factors going for him, in order of importance:
he took the most challenging classes in those subjects where classes are offered at different levels,
he had really strong teacher recommendations,
he wrote great essays -- self-aware and funny in a dry and self-deprecating way,
3-season varsity athlete and team captain (though not in a marquee sport),
he did well in interviews.

My advice: Don't get nervous -- your kid needs you to be steady now; he's already facing plenty of pressure from his peers and himself. He should do his very best on these 2nd semester exams and on any standardized tests he'll be taking. No matter what the counselors say, encourage him to work a little on essays over the summer -- brainstorm topics and maybe write the first paragraph for a couple of those topics to see if they've got legs. Take a shot at some dream schools, but love your safeties -- there are plenty of great schools out there. Be chill and breathe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what you mean by "mediocre" grades, but one of my kids had a transcript that can be most charitably described as demonstrating an upward trajectory. After lousy freshman year (mostly Bs, a couple of Cs), he had all As and Bs -- but slightly more Bs than As. His SAT scores were a little higher than your son's (just over 2300). He did surprisingly well in college admissions (admitted to 1st choice Ivy, not HYP). He had several factors going for him, in order of importance:
he took the most challenging classes in those subjects where classes are offered at different levels,
he had really strong teacher recommendations,
he wrote great essays -- self-aware and funny in a dry and self-deprecating way,
3-season varsity athlete and team captain (though not in a marquee sport),
he did well in interviews.

My advice: Don't get nervous -- your kid needs you to be steady now; he's already facing plenty of pressure from his peers and himself. He should do his very best on these 2nd semester exams and on any standardized tests he'll be taking. No matter what the counselors say, encourage him to work a little on essays over the summer -- brainstorm topics and maybe write the first paragraph for a couple of those topics to see if they've got legs. Take a shot at some dream schools, but love your safeties -- there are plenty of great schools out there. Be chill and breathe.

Wow. What a nice post. And great advice too!

[Anonymous]

Most colleges don't take into account the grades of freshman year. Does he have any interesting extra-curriculars, something he's passionate about?