Junior Year: Need to assemble college list but don't have grades or test scores yet...

[Anonymous]

OP:

1. Grades. What is current (after 10th) WGPA and from what jurisdiction of public. How many non-As Q1

2. Rigor: did he do all core honor freshman and all honor plus AP World in 10th (assumes FCPS). How many APs in 11th? Which core classes (is, French 4) were not AP? Which electives?

3. Testing is less important. His PSAT will have a concordance to SAT. But, it’s not great. I’d have him take the ACT and SAT practice tests and see which he is better at using the concordance table. Maybe you need a class, tutor, etc. my kid got the 32 overall to a 34 based solely on using a math workbook to get math from a 26 to a 33. In a couple of weeks.

4. ECs. You got What you got.

Agree to start with different types of state schools. But, arts and sciences? Engineering? CS? What majors is he considering?

I had an A/B kid in 9th and 10th. Who started to look at colleges, wanted a WM and became an A student (13As and 1 B in 11th and 12th with 10 APs). Was accepted at WM. Would not have happed based on 9th and 10th grades.

[Anonymous]

I had an A/B kid in 9th and 10th. Who started to look at colleges, wanted a WM and became an A student (13As and 1 B in 11th and 12th with 10 APs). Was accepted at WM. Would not have happed based on 9th and 10th grades.





This is great to hear. My DS had a couple Bs freshman and sophmore year but got up to straight As in junior year (and so far as a senior). 'm hoping the couple of Bs in 9th & 10th don't hold him back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had an A/B kid in 9th and 10th. Who started to look at colleges, wanted a WM and became an A student (13As and 1 B in 11th and 12th with 10 APs). Was accepted at WM. Would not have happed based on 9th and 10th grades.

This is great to hear. My DS had a couple Bs freshman and sophmore year but got up to straight As in junior year (and so far as a senior). 'm hoping the couple of Bs in 9th & 10th don't hold him back.

Our counselor said upward trend should be okay (different deal IG Bs first appeared in 11th). She also said my kid had a strong chanced in ED. RD, not so much. Kid was accepted ED.

[Anonymous]

Drag some siblings along on the college visits if possible. Even if they are young, they can start it at least think about what comes next and will have a better idea about a list when they get to their junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it's junior year and my child has friends who are looking at schools already. I'm ready to do the same and my child has aspirations to go to a top college, but with it being so competitive these days it's hard to know what is realistic. I imagine we should look at a range of schools, but he is an athlete and we're a big family and don't have a lot of time for visits. Grades from freshman and sophomore year are good/great, but the first quarter of junior year is only ending this week. He'll take the SATs this spring and by then we'd have a real GPA to work with, but isn't that a little late to start the process? Can I start to target schools based on freshman through first quarter junior year grades alone?

I have a junior as well. If your kid is an excellent student and since you already have Q1 grades can’t you just assume nothing will change? I too have a great student and he’s been taking HS credits since 7th grade. He’s had 1B and 2B+ and the rest As. Straight As last year and so for the same this.

Your child also took PSATs, no? I’d expect at a bare minimum a 100pt increase with test prep. You already should know where you kid falls unless they have some sort of academy breakdown.

One thing I’d caution you on is these days ECs are GIGANTIC. Athletics are very one dimensional. Has your kid made time for NHS, service hours, other honor societies, tutoring other kids, service in community, or a job? Andy plans for an internship? Really all of the above is needed if he is aiming high. If he’s in Virginia and you don’t want to bother JMU, GMU, VCU….ect will be viable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drag some siblings along on the college visits if possible. Even if they are young, they can start it at least think about what comes next and will have a better idea about a list when they get to their junior year.

If they're not interested in visiting, that can backfire. I developed an irrational dislike of the schools I was dragged to as a younger sibling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP:

1. Grades. What is current (after 10th) WGPA and from what jurisdiction of public. How many non-As Q1

2. Rigor: did he do all core honor freshman and all honor plus AP World in 10th (assumes FCPS). How many APs in 11th? Which core classes (is, French 4) were not AP? Which electives?

3. Testing is less important. His PSAT will have a concordance to SAT. But, it’s not great. I’d have him take the ACT and SAT practice tests and see which he is better at using the concordance table. Maybe you need a class, tutor, etc. my kid got the 32 overall to a 34 based solely on using a math workbook to get math from a 26 to a 33. In a couple of weeks.

4. ECs. You got What you got.

Agree to start with different types of state schools. But, arts and sciences? Engineering? CS? What majors is he considering?

I had an A/B kid in 9th and 10th. Who started to look at colleges, wanted a WM and became an A student (13As and 1 B in 11th and 12th with 10 APs). Was accepted at WM. Would not have happed based on 9th and 10th grades.

This is all correct. Do the above. Start with general touring. Small vs large. In-state vs out of state (figure out NOW how much you and DH can afford - don't dangle a 83K a year SLAC in front of your kids if you can't afford it - you can do all of that work now - run the NPC on the college pages. Talk to your accountant).