Please Be Kind: 2.6 GPA

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Does your child’s school limit the number of applications?


No. But they really pushed hard for EA. Now DC (on meds) is having a decent senior year and grades are improving. Thinking some RD applications may be called for with 1st semester Senior grades.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So what was your kid's issue? LD? ADHD? Laziness? Did you prep your kid for the SATs? If so, why no tutors for the classes he needed help with? Did he apply to some state schools? Where do you live? Why EA? EA tend to be strong candidates.


Really? What is wrong with you?

Not every kid is a perfect student even with help. UGH>

OP ignore this one. Yes, I would have them apply to a rolling admissions school that you pretty much know is a slam dunk.



There is nothing wrong with me. The colleges will be asking these questions so that's why I brought them up.


No college is “asking” anything.

He will either get in or not.



If the OP doesn't qualify low grades with a much higher SAT score, schools will deny her child. She needs to make sure her child shares his experience in HS that lead him these opposing stats.
Anonymous
Sounds a bit like me. I had a 2.3 (UW) GPA, 1130 (super scored) SATs. Strong in math and science, (but D in HS chem). Really poor work ethic: would get A's & B's on tests, but 0 for HW, averaging to C's or worse. And I was virtually illiterate upon HS completion (undiagnosed dyslexia). This was 1982. SATs were something like 460 V, 670 M).

I applied to four schools (I wanted STEM): Clarkson, Va Tech, ODU, and Florida Tech. The assumption was ODU was a safety.

In the end, I got into Florida Tech. ODU rejected me. ODU....At that time they accepted 90% of the applicants.

The good news for me is since there was less busy work in college, I did much better, finishing my freshman year with a 3.8, transferred to Va Tech (better and cheaper), graduated with a 3.0. and STEM degree (2.0 was top 1/4 of tech's class back then), and earned my Doctorate.

Today I am an internationally recognized scientist -- very well respected, and make good money doing a job I enjoy.

The thing to be aware of, though, is there a lot more people who do not turn it around upon entering college than do turn it around.

It would be worth while to investigate why he is struggling to prepare him for success. Another option is military; he will learn discipline there, but it comes with a cost. (I thought about military, but every knew I was a nerd).

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Sounds a bit like me. I had a 2.3 (UW) GPA, 1130 (super scored) SATs. Strong in math and science, (but D in HS chem). Really poor work ethic: would get A's & B's on tests, but 0 for HW, averaging to C's or worse. And I was virtually illiterate upon HS completion (undiagnosed dyslexia). This was 1982. SATs were something like 460 V, 670 M).

I applied to four schools (I wanted STEM): Clarkson, Va Tech, ODU, and Florida Tech. The assumption was ODU was a safety.

In the end, I got into Florida Tech. ODU rejected me. ODU....At that time they accepted 90% of the applicants.

The good news for me is since there was less busy work in college, I did much better, finishing my freshman year with a 3.8, transferred to Va Tech (better and cheaper), graduated with a 3.0. and STEM degree (2.0 was top 1/4 of tech's class back then), and earned my Doctorate.

Today I am an internationally recognized scientist -- very well respected, and make good money doing a job I enjoy.

The thing to be aware of, though, is there a lot more people who do not turn it around upon entering college than do turn it around.



OP here. Thank you very much for sharing your uplifting success story. As I explained in an earlier post, DC has newly diagnosed anxiety/depression and Senior grades are improving (on meds). Prior problem was missing assignments (mostly A’s on worked turned in). Not lazy, but an anxious perfectionist with trouble “getting started” and following through. Thank you for giving me a story of hope.

It would be worth while to investigate why he is struggling to prepare him for success. Another option is military; he will learn discipline there, but it comes with a cost. (I thought about military, but every knew I was a nerd).

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My DC has a 2.6 GPA (lower if you look at only core classes) at a (not big 3) DMV private. 1380 SAT. Applied EA to 10 colleges recommended by school counselor. Only one college has rolling admissions and it was on the “match” list. Wait listed. Very concerned DC won’t get in to college. Has anyone else been in a similar grade/SAT situation? If so, where did your child get accepted? Wondering whether DC should apply to a couple more safeties RD. DC needs a small nurturing college with good supports (tutoring, writing center, approachable professors). Thank you. Please no snarks. And please no suggestions for community college. Thank you.


The key missing fact is whether you are seeking financial aid. If not, it will work out. DC was a 2.9 GPA with 26 ACT. Admittedly case a wide net - about 20 schools. But, in the end, got in to more than 3/4, even getting "merit" at a NESCAC (probably because of gender imbalance). Worried as well at the start, as things began with getting rejected ED but shortly thereafter got into big state school with rolling admissions and that took most of the pressure off.
Anonymous
Military for someone with anxiety and depression is just asking for a lifetime of PTSD = a hard no!
Anonymous
Sorry. OP message inadvertently embedded in PP’s story.
Anonymous
OP again. We are full pay.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC has a 2.6 GPA (lower if you look at only core classes) at a (not big 3) DMV private. 1380 SAT. Applied EA to 10 colleges recommended by school counselor. Only one college has rolling admissions and it was on the “match” list. Wait listed. Very concerned DC won’t get in to college. Has anyone else been in a similar grade/SAT situation? If so, where did your child get accepted? Wondering whether DC should apply to a couple more safeties RD. DC needs a small nurturing college with good supports (tutoring, writing center, approachable professors). Thank you. Please no snarks. And please no suggestions for community college. Thank you.


The key missing fact is whether you are seeking financial aid. If not, it will work out. DC was a 2.9 GPA with 26 ACT. Admittedly case a wide net - about 20 schools. But, in the end, got in to more than 3/4, even getting "merit" at a NESCAC (probably because of gender imbalance). Worried as well at the start, as things began with getting rejected ED but shortly thereafter got into big state school with rolling admissions and that took most of the pressure off.



Your DS got into a NESCAC school with those stats?
Anonymous
OP please don't be discouraged by the process, and certainly not by the jerkfaces who replied so unhelpfully. They are sad and pathetic and they know it, which is why they spread the joy.

Go on college confidential, you'll get (slightly) more thoughtful help there.

Yes, community college is a good option, but if you want a residential college experience your student might be perfect for state directionals. If he views it as a new start he could easily excel and get accepted to someplace more competitive; but that might not even be necessary.

Most importantly, remember only it's only in lake wobegon where "all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."

And one more time to you negative-posters: go poop in your hats.
Anonymous
Anonymous




Have you considered University of Lynchburg? Certainly a beautiful campus with a nurturing environment. Unless something changed, it's a free, rolling app with guaranteed merit.


+1 for this school. Featured in "Colleges that Change Lives." A truly supportive environment.
Anonymous
I wonder if you have explored whether he also has inattentive ADHD? Several things you have shared seem to be consistent with inattentive ADHD. Many smart kids can fly under the radar and get by until high school and the increased organizational skills it requires. I say this as a parent to a younger child with similar challenges and significant anxiety and inattentive ADHD.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:OP again. We are full pay.


And, is money an issue, or not? Would affects reccs.
Anonymous
I am assuming you student won’t have any more decisions prior to your current high school’s Christmas break thus missing the Jan 1 deadlines for additional schools. I would talk to your GC and get some frank advice. A few more applications might allow everyone to relax. Good luck to your DC. You could also check the College Confidential site for each school to see the stats of admitted students from the last cycle to get a better feel on what you child’s chances are. All you really want for your child is to have choices when you reach decision time.
Anonymous
What else is he isn’t rested in? Major? Sporty? Fine arts?

I’m grew up in he South, so those are the regional schools I know. . It’s hard to tell because grades and SAT are lopsided. Off the top of my head in small and nurturing: Wooster (not Southern) would be great, but might be a reach. Furman, Woffard, High Point U, Greensboro College (not UNC-G), Winthrop, Longwood, Bridgewater, Radford...

And I’m not being unkind. But I have an ADHD kid with anxiety issues. If your kid isn’t working with a therapist and EF Coach and making progress, college next year may not be a great idea. We’re in VA. I would absolutely have a kid with scores that lopsided do the NOVA to UVA/WM/VT route. We have a walkout basement, separate entrance, microwave and fridge, full bath. I’d let him move down there first year and live as independently as he wanted (assuming he isn’t keeping us awake all night). And help him get an apartment second year if his GPA was at a transferable level.


The only downside is “what will people think?” But honestly— people worth knowing won’t think less of your kid for starting at NOVA. And even if they did, so what. Is it worth having our kid get a degree from Winthrop vs UVA?

A gap year with a job and living somewhat independently might also work. A lot of EF problems are due to slower brain development in boys. The may need an extra year to a catch up.


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