Can this child get into a top 30 university?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think it is sad that this is he ONLY criteria you asked about.

And the fact that you were apologetic about your kid's 4.8 GPA

I honestly feel sorry for him. Talk about pressure. From within the 4 walls of his house.

I suggest you figure out WHAT HE NEEDS, not what YOU WANT.

Bummed out PP here. Yes, this is what I think exactly. It makes me sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think it is sad that this is he ONLY criteria you asked about.

And the fact that you were apologetic about your kid's 4.8 GPA

I honestly feel sorry for him. Talk about pressure. From within the 4 walls of his house.

I suggest you figure out WHAT HE NEEDS, not what YOU WANT.

WTF are you talking about? I didn't see OP was apologetic about their kid's GPA (it's 3.8 not 4.8 in case you're blind).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior who scored 1500 on SAT assessment during his prep class and was in top 1% on PSAT. Will likely end up with 3.8 out of 4.0 by application deadline next year, because he didn't take studies terribly seriously until this year. Has leadership position on an academic team, solid but not top competitor in niche sport, is an Eagle Scout. Isn't taking as many APs as some seem to, but is taking most of the most challenging curriculum -- for example organic biochem instead of AP Chem, will follow AP Calc with linear algebra, etc. Not great in humanities but got a 5 on AP Euro test.

College counseling at his private school provided a first list that is pretty wide-ranging. Can he get accepted into a college that might rank in the top 30 (define that however you want)? If so, which ones? He'd be considered a legacy at two of them.

Thanks for feedback!

University of Florida is ranked #30 on the US News rankings. UNC is 28 or so. Both schools are possible with these stats.

[Anonymous]

UNC is really hard to get into. Florida is great school and highly ranked and kids in this area seem to have good success getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior who scored 1500 on SAT assessment during his prep class and was in top 1% on PSAT. Will likely end up with 3.8 out of 4.0 by application deadline next year, because he didn't take studies terribly seriously until this year. Has leadership position on an academic team, solid but not top competitor in niche sport, is an Eagle Scout. Isn't taking as many APs as some seem to, but is taking most of the most challenging curriculum -- for example organic biochem instead of AP Chem, will follow AP Calc with linear algebra, etc. Not great in humanities but got a 5 on AP Euro test.

College counseling at his private school provided a first list that is pretty wide-ranging. Can he get accepted into a college that might rank in the top 30 (define that however you want)? If so, which ones? He'd be considered a legacy at two of them.

Thanks for feedback!

This kid could get into a top 10 school. The people on this board are not your friends. Or maybe they're just ignorant.

Start researching how best to put together an application. This is very do-able. GL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Focus on a good fit school not the ranking.

Yes, there are lots of good places to go to school that will meet the kid's needs. Doesn't have to be in the top 30.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the replies, DCUM. I'll respond to a few of the comments here.

1. It's a 3.8 not a 4.8 and the top kids will have 4.3 or 4.4s from his school. Not sure of his class rank, but for sure it won't be cum laude at this point.
2. Yes, we know all about finding the right fit. He asked my advice about schools and I put post-its on the pages of 70 schools in one of those "best colleges" books. These are all schools that have the best programs for what he's looking for.
3. We've asked him about his goals and whether he feels pressured by us or others to set them so high. He says that "this is about me and what I want and it's just a fact that the grad school and career I want will be easier to get to by going to one of the best known programs for this major." I can't argue with his reasoning.
4. Yes, I know that an assessment isn't the test. I'm just asking for the sake of this exercise that you assume that score. These tests are fairly easy for him, so I don't doubt 1500ish.

He will be full-pay. He's white. I was hoping that ED would help, but his two cousins who applied this year have similar scores were denied their ED choices. The number of applicants has just shot up so high that ED is not longer an advantage, it seems.

I really appreciated the remark about looking for leadership within leadership (scouts, etc). He has managed to fill his summers with meaningful volunteer work within his area of career interest. He spent this pandemic doing service projects that show some initiative. He think he's a great kid who works hard. We just want to help steer him and to help him manage his expectations.

Basically, I don't want to discourage him from aiming at non-Ivy top schools, but if his stats made that unlikely, I want to help him manage his expectations. We'll see what Naviance says in another month or two. Any other feedback is very welcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it is sad that this is he ONLY criteria you asked about.

And the fact that you were apologetic about your kid's 4.8 GPA

I honestly feel sorry for him. Talk about pressure. From within the 4 walls of his house.

I suggest you figure out WHAT HE NEEDS, not what YOU WANT.

Goodness. Stop this nonsense. Feel sorry for people who need it.

Like the many teenagers who kill themselves every year?

Have you not heard about the mental health crisis going on in our country?

So yes, I think this poster's child is very deserving of sympathy. It sounds like he is growing up in an unhealthy environment, in which his worth (and he may think his parents' love) are conditional upon external indicators.

[Anonymous]

You can manage his expectations with statistics.

If the school's acceptance rate is 8%, than make him state what the most likely outcome is for his application.

This is what I did with my child. I let her choose a few reaches, but I made sure she was clear on the fact that more than 90% of kids who apply there don't get in, so it would not be wise to bank on that option (literally or in her heart).

[Anonymous]

Based on where he seems to rank (your assessment) no I don’t think it’s something to focus on. The next tier would probably be a fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:99% if black,
80% if Hispanic,
40% if white and
5% if Asian.

10% if Asian female
0% if Asian male

This is just sad on so many levels. Dread my DC's (Asian male's) college admission, who is working really hard

[Anonymous]

Goodness. If this forum were to be believed the vast majority of bright kids in this country who don’t go to ranked probates shouldn’t bother looking beyond community college - OP, your will have plenty of options. Better to focus on what schools would be a good fit for him than their ranks. And if it’s your alma mater, you already know he has a hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the replies, DCUM. I'll respond to a few of the comments here.

1. It's a 3.8 not a 4.8 and the top kids will have 4.3 or 4.4s from his school. Not sure of his class rank, but for sure it won't be cum laude at this point.
2. Yes, we know all about finding the right fit. He asked my advice about schools and I put post-its on the pages of 70 schools in one of those "best colleges" books. These are all schools that have the best programs for what he's looking for.
3. We've asked him about his goals and whether he feels pressured by us or others to set them so high. He says that "this is about me and what I want and it's just a fact that the grad school and career I want will be easier to get to by going to one of the best known programs for this major." I can't argue with his reasoning.
4. Yes, I know that an assessment isn't the test. I'm just asking for the sake of this exercise that you assume that score. These tests are fairly easy for him, so I don't doubt 1500ish.

He will be full-pay. He's white. I was hoping that ED would help, but his two cousins who applied this year have similar scores were denied their ED choices. The number of applicants has just shot up so high that ED is not longer an advantage, it seems.

I really appreciated the remark about looking for leadership within leadership (scouts, etc). He has managed to fill his summers with meaningful volunteer work within his area of career interest. He spent this pandemic doing service projects that show some initiative. He think he's a great kid who works hard. We just want to help steer him and to help him manage his expectations.

Basically, I don't want to discourage him from aiming at non-Ivy top schools, but if his stats made that unlikely, I want to help him manage his expectations. We'll see what Naviance says in another month or two. Any other feedback is very welcome!

You need to find out his class rank. My child has around a 4.2 and is double-digits class rank. GPA doesn't matter if he's in the bottom 25%. The top kids are 4.4 but then is everyone else 4.-ish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it is sad that this is he ONLY criteria you asked about.

And the fact that you were apologetic about your kid's 4.8 GPA

I honestly feel sorry for him. Talk about pressure. From within the 4 walls of his house.

I suggest you figure out WHAT HE NEEDS, not what YOU WANT.

Goodness. Stop this nonsense. Feel sorry for people who need it.

Like the many teenagers who kill themselves every year?

Have you not heard about the mental health crisis going on in our country?

So yes, I think this poster's child is very deserving of sympathy. It sounds like he is growing up in an unhealthy environment, in which his worth (and he may think his parents' love) are conditional upon external indicators.

OP here. Have you never met a young person who had a big dream and was working hard to achieve it? My child knows every day that he is loved for who he is. He feels supported. It's why he has come to us to ask for advice. What advice would you give to such a child? Would you say "better give up those dreams, kid, because you're just not going to make it?" No, you'd help him gather information and navigate a course. The "external indicators" I gave you are those that colleges look for. I don't need to explain who he is in any more detail to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it is sad that this is he ONLY criteria you asked about.

And the fact that you were apologetic about your kid's 4.8 GPA

I honestly feel sorry for him. Talk about pressure. From within the 4 walls of his house.

I suggest you figure out WHAT HE NEEDS, not what YOU WANT.

Goodness. Stop this nonsense. Feel sorry for people who need it.

Like the many teenagers who kill themselves every year?

Have you not heard about the mental health crisis going on in our country?

So yes, I think this poster's child is very deserving of sympathy. It sounds like he is growing up in an unhealthy environment, in which his worth (and he may think his parents' love) are conditional upon external indicators.

Based upon the note from parents posted above, they sound pretty balanced. Which is good to hear. Still, they should try to him put in perspective that there is nothing magical about the number "30" (as in top 30). Great for him to choose a few top tier schools, but he should work hard to identify strong programs that would also be considered "matches" and "safeties."