Target and Safety schools for above average but not top stats kid?

Anonymous wrote:My son is a good student, but not top of his class. His school is pretty rigorous and not grade inflated, his unweighted average is solidly A-. He has 2-3 APs in junior and senior year. He does one sport pretty well (won't be recruited), writes for the school newspaper and has a few other strong but not amazing ECs. He wants to study poli sci or economics or english in college and then grad or b-school down the line.

We're struggling to understand strong target/safeties for him beyond his public flagship. We've saved enough in 529 for full pay for 4 years (but not grad school). Due to family location, he is open to West Coast or Mid-Atlantic/North east. He needs to be near an airport.

Ideal size of college would be 5000-15000 undergrad.

- what is his class rank?
- any leadership?
- is he TO?
- how many APs were offered? Any offered sophomore year?
- where do kids from his school go?
- foreign language? Which APs did he take?

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07/05/2024 08:36

Subject: Target and Safety schools for above average but not top stats kid?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless he has near perfect test scores he sounds pretty average to me.

I was going to say he sounds better than above average. Funny how your own kid’s high school skews your idea of what is average or above average or top stats!

+1

If the student goes to a rigorous school or maybe a competitive private school where As are not the norm, they're definitely above average.

But not if the school offers a bunch of APs and he only took 2-3, which is why a kid who is at a school without grade inflation can have an A- average and not be top half of the class. You are compared to your classmates.

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07/05/2024 08:45

Subject: Target and Safety schools for above average but not top stats kid?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary, UVM

Sorry, but not getting into W&M with that profile.

Its a boy, so definately possible.

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07/05/2024 09:02

Subject: Target and Safety schools for above average but not top stats kid?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William & Mary, UVM

Sorry, but not getting into W&M with that profile.

Its a boy, so definately possible.

+1 especially if he does ED and a good interview. My DD with similar profile was waitlisted with the Spring start option after applying RD which makes me think she could have been admitted ED. Even if he doesn't want to commit to ED, the Spring start, doing Fall semester study abroad is not a bad option.

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07/05/2024 09:56

Subject: Target and Safety schools for above average but not top stats kid?

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Anonymous