ACT 27 from top private

[Anonymous]

Here's the harsh reality OP: If your kid is at a DC "Big3" or similar then a 3.0 is bottom 10% in the class if not bottom 5%.
These schools often graduate no 4.0s but generally have an average class GPA of 3.6.
There are only a tiny handful of 3.0 kids. Often nobody below a 3.0.
I've recently seen the data for 2 schools as I had a senior last year and this year (different Big3 schools).

So you have a kid who probably wasn't a great academic fit for their high school. That couldn't have been easy on them over the years.
You need to find them a good college fit. It's not going to be one where 50% of the class had a 3.9/1550.

Practically speaking this will be places like TCU, SMU, Alabama, College of Charleston, maybe Miami of Ohio, some HBCUs, etc. You'll need to work with college counseling.

UGA is way too ambitious. The are test required and denied everyone under a 3.6/1450 from our Big3 last year. UGA EA data just came out and 25% of the class has a 35+!

Good luck. Your kid will find their place and have a terrific college experience!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a great school for her out there but I fear it isn’t the ones you are targeting, OP. Have you talked to the school’s college counselors about what they advise and what is realistic given the grades and scores?

Yes! Our college counselor has been telling us from middle school that there is a great college fit for anyone. My kid is about 3.6 unweighted so a little bit higher gpa but an awful test taker, I don’t think she should even take them honestly but I would never target a test required school. We’re looking at bottom 3950 schools and hoping for some $$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3.09 is low for high point thought the act is more inline. UNC Greensboro is an option.

3.09 is low for Highpoint? Hard to believe. They serve a lot of students who have struggled in school, and the parents have money. That's the simple truth. If you are full pay, they will love you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.09 GPA, and adhd diagnosis. She’s terrible at math and science, always has been. She’s a good kid otherwise and is very invested in the college process. We’re full pay

27 ACT is great if her GPA is 3.09. With her GPA a comparable ACT score falls between 20-24. So she is on her marks. Maybe look for different schools and do the "reach" ones because you never know...

+1. I think her grades are more limiting than her ACT scores. Given that she’s taken it twice with prep and gotten the same score, I wouldn’t have her take it again at least not during the school year. Instead, I would have her focus on getting her grades up as much as possible during the second half of junior year. I also would expand your college list significantly. There are tons of schools out there - she will be accepted somewhere. Reach schools are great but she also needs to find some safeties that she likes and that would be a good fit for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.09 is low for high point thought the act is more inline. UNC Greensboro is an option.

3.09 is low for Highpoint? Hard to believe. They serve a lot of students who have struggled in school, and the parents have money. That's the simple truth. If you are full pay, they will love you.

Straight from their website:
1280 SAT - Average score for admitted students
27 ACT - Average composite score of all students who took the ACT
3.53 GPA Unweighted

[Anonymous]

That is objectively low, OP, for anything above third tier schools. What prep did you do? I hired a one-on-one tutor for my severely ADHD kid and he ended up with a 35.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the harsh reality OP: If your kid is at a DC "Big3" or similar then a 3.0 is bottom 10% in the class if not bottom 5%.
These schools often graduate no 4.0s but generally have an average class GPA of 3.6.
There are only a tiny handful of 3.0 kids. Often nobody below a 3.0.
I've recently seen the data for 2 schools as I had a senior last year and this year (different Big3 schools).

So you have a kid who probably wasn't a great academic fit for their high school. That couldn't have been easy on them over the years.
You need to find them a good college fit. It's not going to be one where 50% of the class had a 3.9/1550.

Practically speaking this will be places like TCU, SMU, Alabama, College of Charleston, maybe Miami of Ohio, some HBCUs, etc. You'll need to work with college counseling.

UGA is way too ambitious. The are test required and denied everyone under a 3.6/1450 from our Big3 last year. UGA EA data just came out and 25% of the class has a 35+!

Good luck. Your kid will find their place and have a terrific college experience!

I agree. Sorry, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Junior has taken the ACT now twice and gotten a 27 both times, even with lots of prep between. We’re at a top private and she completes her work on time and is an otherwise engaged student but test scores continue to be a problem and have been for a very long time. It is worth taking a third time in the fall?

Asking because our private makes it seem like these scores are abysmal and she will never get in anywhere. Alabama, TCU, and UGA are her top choices

UGA is off the table, full stop. Even Alabama and TCU might be reaches. You really need to be looking a tier or two down with a 27 ACT and 3.09 GPA. I'm guessing your daughter wants the large southern school experience, based on those top choices. Has she looked at Ole Miss, Arkansas?

The GPA is going to be the hardest thing to overcome. In an era of grade inflation, a 3.09 looks bad. There's no other way to put it, even accounting for the fact that privates are less likely to engage in grade-boosting shenanigans like unlimited retakes, accepting work until the last day, minimum 50% credit, etc. UNC-Greensboro's act range is 20-25 yet the average GPA of admitted students is a 3.7.

[Anonymous]

Did you try an SAT? With the shorter length you can fit in practice tests more easily. As others have said I would concentrate on the GPA. Look at where adding a tutor could move the needle before the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Junior has taken the ACT now twice and gotten a 27 both times, even with lots of prep between. We’re at a top private and she completes her work on time and is an otherwise engaged student but test scores continue to be a problem and have been for a very long time. It is worth taking a third time in the fall?

Asking because our private makes it seem like these scores are abysmal and she will never get in anywhere. Alabama, TCU, and UGA are her top choices

UGA is off the table, full stop. Even Alabama and TCU might be reaches. You really need to be looking a tier or two down with a 27 ACT and 3.09 GPA. I'm guessing your daughter wants the large southern school experience, based on those top choices. Has she looked at Ole Miss, Arkansas?

The GPA is going to be the hardest thing to overcome. In an era of grade inflation, a 3.09 looks bad. There's no other way to put it, even accounting for the fact that privates are less likely to engage in grade-boosting shenanigans like unlimited retakes, accepting work until the last day, minimum 50% credit, etc. UNC-Greensboro's act range is 20-25 yet the average GPA of admitted students is a 3.7.

+1. Ole Miss is a very good suggestion. The acceptance rate is about 98% and it offers the big, Southern school experience that her other choices suggest she wants.

[Anonymous]

Find a school with a high acceptace rate where she'll fit in and continue to grow. If she needs additional support, make sure the school will have it. She's 17 -- maybe she's still growing and evolving. Size could matter -- will she thrive at a big school or get lost?

Ignore the noise about ranking/prestige etc. I know that's easier said than done when surrounded by it. Find the fit and thrive. All will be well.

Signed, someone who was in the same boat 30+ years ago, rejected by 12 schools, went to my safety and had the best time and never looked back. The mistake I made was being unrealistc and worrying about how people would look at me (I attended a very nice private) during applications. I went on to have a great career and friends. I wish your daughter all the best.

[Anonymous]

There is honestly something really freeing and about not being in the running for a top college from the get-go. I know this may sound obnoxious but it's really true.

[Anonymous]

A 27 is stronger than a 3.09. She shouldn't go TO and she doesn't need to test again. She should try to max out her grades this year and should adjust her college list. UGA is never going to happen. Bama and TCU might or might not. She should look hard at Ole Miss, LSU, Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, and the like. Those all are good schools, and she could excel at and enjoy any of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Junior has taken the ACT now twice and gotten a 27 both times, even with lots of prep between. We’re at a top private and she completes her work on time and is an otherwise engaged student but test scores continue to be a problem and have been for a very long time. It is worth taking a third time in the fall?

Asking because our private makes it seem like these scores are abysmal and she will never get in anywhere. Alabama, TCU, and UGA are her top choices

She needs to get her ACT score to at least a 30 to be considered at UGA. Her current score would be ok for AL.

There's also a mindset aspect; my son initially got a 30, was disappointed, decided to retake and told me he'd get a 33-34 - he got a 33. He went into the ACT test with a strong attitude and had prepped. Also, some schools offer merit aid for high ACT/
SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

I find the reality of today’s college process insane. 30 years ago, I graduated from a random Midwest public school with a 25 ACT and 3.1 GPA. I attended a top 50 University, went on to law school, and make good money. It is sad that we act like kids are dumb with these stats and will never accomplish anything. Crazy!