What kinds of schools might be interested in my DD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown?

Highly unlikely she'd get into Georgetown, especially since I don't get the impression that she attends a Catholic high school ( students from Catholic schools have an admissions preference at Georgetown).

If she's okay with staying in this area, she'd probably have a fairly decent shot at getting into George Washington University, which seems like it would suit her interests. It wouldn't be a safety by any means but probably isn't too huge of a reach, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do I get her to focus on schools that are not "name brand?" She is being courted by the likes of Oberlin, Grinnell and Skidmore, but shows know real interest. We visited Smith & Wellesley and she and her Dad like them.

Courted in what way? Has she visited these schools before deciding she isn't interested? From what you've said, depending on her polical leanings & geographic preferences, Oberlin, in particular, could be a great fit for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Story behind the grades - she took hard math and science to challenge herself, plus had to deal with a serious illness in the family. It's not as if she were slacking. I don't expect straight As - and neither did our school psychologist. Believes the pressure is unhealthy and something has to give, so if that means a hard earned C - and we have many teachers in our school who do not believe in grade inflation - so be it.

I would definitely have her find a way to work both of these things into her application essays.

The fact that Oberlin is interested in her is a good sign. Her tests,scores & GPA in & of themselves hardly make her a shoe-in there so the fact that they are courting her gives credence to the belief that SLACs are more likely to look at the "whole" applicant & give significant weight to things such as impressive extracurricular activities/achievements ( & some of hers definitely call into that category).

[Anonymous]

^ fall, not call!

[Anonymous]

Well, not courted so much as expressed interest- mailings, ec. However, I know that means nothing and is largely a marketing ploy to boost applications. God, how I wish schools would just tell USNWR to stuff it. I just read "Where You Go Isn't Who You'll Be" and I want her on her summer reading list.

Someone above mentioned GWU - her father went there, so not sure whether she would be "legacy"'or not. FWIW, I went to Columbia, but that would be well nigh impossible for her. Maybe through Barnard?

As to foreign languages, she speaks Russisn and Spanish. Would've been nice if the Korean she got in Korean ES stuck. When she was eight she could sing the entire Korean national anthem in Korean she hasn't attended an IB program abroad.

She'll have some time to explore European schools this summer when she goes to work at her father's past if assignment. He had told her about English language options at German school, and we can also look at the UK.

In the end, I know there are any number of good schools out there, but I need to get her beyond the chatter at her HS which is all about UVA, Ivies, etc.

Virginia schools she's visited thus far are UVA, GMU, JMU, CNU and W&M. She has no desire for GMU. Might be the size, because it is the same reason she did not like UMASS -Amherst.

Regarding the IB Fair next weekend, I'm not sure we'll make it. She has another activity scheduled, and I frankly find the fairs difficult to navigate - crowded, hard to get around, etc. Hiwever, I'll take a look at the schedule and list of schools.

I would also like for her to listen to the "Getting In" podcast. It's not about getting in, but getting the right fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is bright, socially and politically active. She is a leader in the FBLA and Junior Achievement, has worked a summer job at a US Embassy (thanks to her Dad), and leans towards studying the humanities, business or social sciences. She is also active in the Foreign Servuce Youth Foundatiin, volunteering her time to speak in growing up as a TCK and in a multi-lingual household. She has taken the most rigorous program - the full IB diploma - but her grades are average at best - she struggled in the higher level math and physics. Her GPA is a 3.3. Her test scores are good - ACT composite 30 and SAT 1850 (old scale); 1300 (new).

What might be a good mix of reach, probable and safety schools for her? We have visited a few colleges, and I think she tends to like the smaller LACs, although I think her dream school is UVA. I think UVA is a longshot, but she might still apply and has also considered NVCC direct transfer. What other schools that would provide a stimulating intellectual environment and help her stretch her wings and get out of her comfort zone might be interested in someone with her profile?

AU, GW. UVa would be a waste of the application fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, not courted so much as expressed interest- mailings, ec. However, I know that means nothing and is largely a marketing ploy to boost applications. God, how I wish schools would just tell USNWR to stuff it. I just read "Where You Go Isn't Who You'll Be" and I want her on her summer reading list.

Someone above mentioned GWU - her father went there, so not sure whether she would be "legacy"'or not. FWIW, I went to Columbia, but that would be well nigh impossible for her. Maybe through Barnard?

As to foreign languages, she speaks Russisn and Spanish. Would've been nice if the Korean she got in Korean ES stuck. When she was eight she could sing the entire Korean national anthem in Korean she hasn't attended an IB program abroad.

She'll have some time to explore European schools this summer when she goes to work at her father's past if assignment. He had told her about English language options at German school, and we can also look at the UK.

In the end, I know there are any number of good schools out there, but I need to get her beyond the chatter at her HS which is all about UVA, Ivies, etc.

Virginia schools she's visited thus far are UVA, GMU, JMU, CNU and W&M. She has no desire for GMU. Might be the size, because it is the same reason she did not like UMASS -Amherst.

Regarding the IB Fair next weekend, I'm not sure we'll make it. She has another activity scheduled, and I frankly find the fairs difficult to navigate - crowded, hard to get around, etc. Hiwever, I'll take a look at the schedule and list of schools.

I would also like for her to listen to the "Getting In" podcast. It's not about getting in, but getting the right fit.

Mailings are marketing materials. She is not being courted.

[Anonymous]

If she is a legacy to Columbia, and you have continued to $upport the school, she can try to maximize her chances of admission with an ED application. She would have to address the low math grades and show excellence in other areas. Great essays would help with this, as well as excellent recommendations from teachers that can speak to her excellence in these other areas. ED to GW would also be a great possibility. Also, She still has time to increase her scores on act math, or math subject test(s). Georgetown is really not a good option for ED, as they defer the vast majority of applicants. Good luck! It really does work out in the end.

[Anonymous]

Get her a copy of "Colleges that Change Lives." by Pope. It will have a mix of name schools and non-name schools, so it isn't obvious you are trying to refocus her. Also, think about some place like McGill.

[Anonymous]

Yes, tge fact that her father attended GW makes her a,legacy there. How coukd she not be a,legacy at the school her father attended? How much being a legacy will factor into the admissions decision will likeky deoend on whether or not her father has donated money since graduating. In any case, it should give her at least a slight boost.

[Anonymous]

I believe she could apply directly into the Elliot school at GW. My nephew did this a few years ago and he had similar grades and scores and strong activities and interests (languages/volunteer work etc.) that reflected his interest in International Relations. It was an excellent experience and there were lots of opportunities in DC.

[Anonymous]

OP, schools buy mailing lists so your DD is not being "courted" so much as she took the ACT and that began the onslaught of mail. It's unfair, but mailers are targeted to make your kid feel special and wanted.

Agree with the PP you need a good story for the grades and she must show upward mobility. Freshman grades are forgivable, junior grades not so much. Our college counselor said the problem with low grades and high test scores is some schools interpret that as good ability but lazy. I'm not saying your DD is lazy, just sharing what we learned.

[Anonymous]

She's not lazy. She is in a demanding program and struggles with two classes - physics and calculus. Also, at our school the grading is hard. Her English teacher said it is very difficult for students in my class to get an "A" - that is for exceptional work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your DD sounds like a very strong student with a lot going for her. That said, I think you are getting some strange advice above and I'm wondering if either I'm missing something in the profile you've written or other people are unaware of what admissions are like these days. IMO, her GPA and test scores are non-starters for elite privates like Georgetown and W&L and elite publics like Berkeley and UCLA (and you would likely be full-pay there, very little aid given to OOS students at CA publics). Even as an in-state student, UVA will be a reach.

But I think she is a strong candidate for many schools and would have a shot at merit aid at many privates. I think she'd have a chance at W&M especially if she applied ED. For SLACs, I'd look at the USNWR schools below, say, the top 20, such as:

Grinnell
Macalester
Oberlin
Kenyon
Lafayette
Skidmore
Dickinson
Franklin & Marshall
Rhodes
St. Olaf
Clark
Denison
Lawrence
Sarah Lawrence
Beloit
Wooster
Rhodes
Connecticut
Trinity (CT)
Bard

I would also strongly consider women's colleges like Wellesley, Smith, Mt. Holyoke.

For publics, South Carolina is a good suggestion. She might also consider the University of Charleston, UNC-Asheville, SUNY Geneseo, Alabama. She should also apply to JMU or Christopher Newport or Mary Washington to make sure she has a safety you know you can afford.

It will be important to run the net price calculators at various schools to see what they estimate the cost of attendance at. Schools will definitely count both parents' income, but they may differ in how they treat living expenses for divorced households.

This is terrific advice. As the parent of a current senior now, I can tell you from personal experience that the OP's time will be much better spent on researching and visiting the matches and safeties. This is not a negative reflection on the OP's daughter, just a comment on the realities of current admissions. BTW, none of the listed private schools are safeties, imho.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for your advice. It has given me food for thought.