How is your gifted kid doing at a lower-ranked college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

University of Alabama has about a thousand NMF kids there due to the scholarships they offer. Not thousands, but certainly a large cohort of very smart kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

according to the college board their 75th percentile score is 1470, not 1500

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

University of Alabama has about a thousand NMF kids there due to the scholarships they offer. Not thousands, but certainly a large cohort of very smart kids.

You can become a NMF with a confirming SAT score well below 1500. It is usually the commended cutoff. If you look at the selection index for the PSAT for Alabama, Mississippi, etc. you will see there aren't a whole lot of 1500+ scorers in that area.

[Anonymous]

Hi, Did the OP from 2021 ever come back?
Love to get an update from her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

according to the college board their 75th percentile score is 1470, not 1500

US News has it at 1500. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-florida-1535

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

I checked the CDS because I found this hard to believe: 25th is 1330 and 75th is 1470. That's a good score (why lie?) but no, it is not 10,000+ over 1500+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

I checked the CDS because I found this hard to believe: 25th is 1330 and 75th is 1470. That's a good score (why lie?) but no, it is not 10,000+ over 1500+.

Wild. I had no idea that US News is using fake data. The rankings aren’t just a bad idea, it turns out they’re pure, 100% garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

First Univ of Florida is a great school. But its 75% SAT score is "only" 1470. For the 2025 freshman class, 80% submitted SAT scores, totaling 5,908 students. We can only estimate how many scored above 1500, but we know that only 1,477 scored above 1470. Assuming a normal dropoff, it's probably only fewer than 300 or so who scored above 1500.

To estimate, let’s assume the scores above 1470 are distributed such that the proportion above 1500 can be approximated. The difference between 1470 and 1600 is 130 points. If we assume a normal distribution and that 1470 corresponds roughly to the 75th percentile, scores above 1500 are likely in the upper tail. Based on standard normal distribution properties, the proportion of scores above a threshold like 1500 (approximately 2 standard deviations above the median in a typical SAT distribution) is small but nonzero.A conservative estimate, based on historical SAT data where approximately 2-3% of test-takers score above 1500 nationally, suggests that within the top 25% (scores above 1470), perhaps 10-15% of this group might exceed 1500, given the University of Florida’s competitive admissions. Let’s use 12% as a midpoint estimate for the proportion of the top 25% scoring above 1500:12% of 1,477 = 0.12 × 1,477 ≈ 177 students.

Thus, approximately 177 students who enrolled at the University of Florida and submitted SAT scores are estimated to have scored above 1500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior, and her only options for college are in-state because of our family's financial situation. She has a 3.88 at a good public high school, one sport, no ECs to speak of. She hates high school with a passion, thinks it's idiotic, all her classes are stupid, hates the administration and its crazy rules and incompetence, etc. She does the work because her friends do it, but she has no enthusiasm for school at all.

She went to CTY at Johns Hopkins for three summers, where she really blossomed. She told me recently those were the happiest weeks of her life. Her CTY teachers said she was "exceptional" and "outstanding."

I'm not bragging, I'm worried. I fear she'll be unhappy and unchallenged in college. We can't afford to send her to a CTY-like top college. If you have a similarly gifted kid who went to a lower-ranked college, how did s/he do? Did your child find a peer group? Were the classes interesting/challenging enough? Any advice most appreciated.

Go to a public school with an honors college - She'll do great and find her peer group. Mine certainly has. Both children wen to "lower-ranked" colleges that were not terribly selective - but both are in honors colleges taking classes that challenge them. They will both graduate with double majors in areas that they enjoy. They both made friends that will last and will fondly remember college. The worst thing you can do is allow her to be in the mindset that she is somehow settling and is "better" than the school she is attending -then she will be constantly looking at the glass half empty, her classmates will (at least subconciously) feel the condescension and stay away, and instead of taking advantage of the myriad of opportunities being a smart kid at college can provide, she will find herself on the outside looking in - and it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

University of Alabama has about a thousand NMF kids there due to the scholarships they offer. Not thousands, but certainly a large cohort of very smart kids.

The NMF cutoffs are generally lower than a 1500 - they only correspond to a 1500 on the SAT in DC, Massachusetts, and NJ. Everyone else most likely got below 1500

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

First Univ of Florida is a great school. But its 75% SAT score is "only" 1470. For the 2025 freshman class, 80% submitted SAT scores, totaling 5,908 students. We can only estimate how many scored above 1500, but we know that only 1,477 scored above 1470. Assuming a normal dropoff, it's probably only fewer than 300 or so who scored above 1500.

To estimate, let’s assume the scores above 1470 are distributed such that the proportion above 1500 can be approximated. The difference between 1470 and 1600 is 130 points. If we assume a normal distribution and that 1470 corresponds roughly to the 75th percentile, scores above 1500 are likely in the upper tail. Based on standard normal distribution properties, the proportion of scores above a threshold like 1500 (approximately 2 standard deviations above the median in a typical SAT distribution) is small but nonzero.A conservative estimate, based on historical SAT data where approximately 2-3% of test-takers score above 1500 nationally, suggests that within the top 25% (scores above 1470), perhaps 10-15% of this group might exceed 1500, given the University of Florida’s competitive admissions. Let’s use 12% as a midpoint estimate for the proportion of the top 25% scoring above 1500:12% of 1,477 = 0.12 × 1,477 ≈ 177 students.

Thus, approximately 177 students who enrolled at the University of Florida and submitted SAT scores are estimated to have scored above 1500.

How did you go from 1477 to 300?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior, and her only options for college are in-state because of our family's financial situation. She has a 3.88 at a good public high school, one sport, no ECs to speak of. She hates high school with a passion, thinks it's idiotic, all her classes are stupid, hates the administration and its crazy rules and incompetence, etc. She does the work because her friends do it, but she has no enthusiasm for school at all.

She went to CTY at Johns Hopkins for three summers, where she really blossomed. She told me recently those were the happiest weeks of her life. Her CTY teachers said she was "exceptional" and "outstanding."

I'm not bragging, I'm worried. I fear she'll be unhappy and unchallenged in college. We can't afford to send her to a CTY-like top college. If you have a similarly gifted kid who went to a lower-ranked college, how did s/he do? Did your child find a peer group? Were the classes interesting/challenging enough? Any advice most appreciated.

Go to a public school with an honors college - She'll do great and find her peer group. Mine certainly has. Both children when to "lower-ranked" colleges that were not terribly selective - but both are in honors colleges taking classes that challenge them. They will both graduate with double majors in areas that they enjoy. They both made friends that will last and will fondly remember college. The worst thing you can do is allow her to be in the mindset that she is somehow settling and is "better" than the school she is attending -then she will be constantly looking at the glass half empty, her classmates will (at least subconciously) feel the condescension and stay away, and instead of taking advantage of the myriad of opportunities being a smart kid at college can provide, she will find herself on the outside looking in - and it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Great advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

Truly depends on what you mean by “low ranked.” Plenty of DCUM rankings snobs believe Florida is “low ranked.” With 100% of students reporting scores, Florida’s 75th percentile score is 1500, and it enrolls about 40,000 undergrads. So that’s roughly 10,000 students scoring 1500+. Which is more students than the whole student body at all elite LACs and most Ivy+ schools.

UF students W/ SAT > 1520 (ACT 35) is in the range of 3-5% ( few hundred kids)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks!

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF. I tried PSU's Honors College. PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft. I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes. I loved Pitt. My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan. Also loved Michigan. So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days. I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college. Nothing but positivity. Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience. Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago. But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors. Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc. The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning. If they are quiet, more focus on you. My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship. Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her. Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly. The real world is a big place. Better to get used to it.

Why are you randomly reviving a thread that is 4 years old? OP has likely graduated college or is a senior in college by now. You always post about transferring to Pitt and going to Michigan. We know your story, PP. We know.

I would have found this thread helpful last year!

The big plus is the opportunities and flexibility that come with being at a university that WANTS YOU there vs being at a university that treats the students like they are lucky to be there (which was the vibe we got from some of the top schools we looked at). Ex. Columbia won't event take your AP credits - they make you retake everything! What a waste... instead my student started college as a junior (in terms of credits) and is able to take classes that interest them and are unrelated to graduation requirements etc. They can explore different majors while in college, instead of having to commit to a major as senior in HS....

It was a very difficult decision for my super high stats kid (NMF, 1570 SAT, 17 APs all 5's, national level internship, etc.) to choose a full ride scholarship over the T15 schools they were admitted to. My kid is in second year and doing amazing at a low ranked school ... because this low ranked school pursues top students (1500++ SAT, 36 ACT, NMF types) there are a LOT of them there 1,000s -- so my kid is surrounded by similarly exceptional students in very small classes (think 12-15 students bc kid skipped straight to upper level courses due to having so many AP credits). However the student body is quite large (huge public flagship) so there are all types of students -- which mirrors real life.

There exists no "low ranked school" that has thousands of 1500+ SAT scorers.

University of Alabama has about a thousand NMF kids there due to the scholarships they offer. Not thousands, but certainly a large cohort of very smart kids.

You can become a NMF with a confirming SAT score well below 1500. It is usually the commended cutoff. If you look at the selection index for the PSAT for Alabama, Mississippi, etc. you will see there aren't a whole lot of 1500+ scorers in that area.

Alabama NMF index is 214, which ranges from PSAT 760V+620M=1380 to 670v+800M=1470.

Then add up to 80 more for the year of growth to the SAT score.