Where to aim for college search?

[Anonymous]

My DC did badly junior year (all Cs and an F). Should we aim really low in terms of applying to colleges (least selective) or do you think his As and Bs sophomore and freshman year help any? He got a 31 on the ACT. Are there any schools known for taking smart kids who under-achieve?
If he does well the fall of his senior year, how much will that help? TIA

[Anonymous]

Does he have a compelling reason that his grades plummeted, e.g., death in the family, outside problems? Some colleges could be more sensitive to this. But if he just tanked his junior year without a good explanation, aim low. It's the most critical year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he have a compelling reason that his grades plummeted, e.g., death in the family, outside problems? Some colleges could be more sensitive to this. But if he just tanked his junior year without a good explanation, aim low. It's the most critical year.

Also, if there is a good explanation, make sure that he focuses his essay on whatever this experience is, and I would submit a supplemental letter (from him) explaining the circumstances. Colleges always accept supplemental materials when offered.

[Anonymous]

I'd probably go the community college route for a year or two and transfer. Doing well senior year can't hurt of course, but probably won't make up for a bad junior year.

It also matters what his course load looked like and where he goes to school. If he got Cs but all AP classes that might be better than Cs in on level classes. Cs in public school would be more problematic than Cs in private school.

31 is a respectable ACT but not knocking it out of the park (my DC got a 31).

There are probably some schools that he can get into, but you have to decide if they are the right fit and worth the money.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that when they see high scores and low grades they see an underachiever which is a bad dynamic. Thats why you will see points on Naviance with high test scores who don't get into schools while student with lower scores, but similar grades, do.

However, this just sounds like one bad year and as the others have said he can probably explain it. he will have to bring his grades up senior year and he probably won't have access to the most selective schools but he can still do very well. The other things is that it is not at all uncommon for kids to start at a college they may find disappointing, do well their freshman year, and transfer.

[Anonymous]

A lot depends on the reason for his jr year grade and that he brings them up this summer and first semester sr year. He should start to work on his essays. I wouldn't bother taking the ACT again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably go the community college route for a year or two and transfer. Doing well senior year can't hurt of course, but probably won't make up for a bad junior year.

It also matters what his course load looked like and where he goes to school. If he got Cs but all AP classes that might be better than Cs in on level classes. Cs in public school would be more problematic than Cs in private school.

31 is a respectable ACT but not knocking it out of the park (my DC got a 31).

There are probably some schools that he can get into, but you have to decide if they are the right fit and worth the money.

Do you have any suggestions about places where he might be able to get in? He got Cs in mostly AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably go the community college route for a year or two and transfer. Doing well senior year can't hurt of course, but probably won't make up for a bad junior year.

It also matters what his course load looked like and where he goes to school. If he got Cs but all AP classes that might be better than Cs in on level classes. Cs in public school would be more problematic than Cs in private school.

31 is a respectable ACT but not knocking it out of the park (my DC got a 31).

There are probably some schools that he can get into, but you have to decide if they are the right fit and worth the money.

Do you have any suggestions about places where he might be able to get in? He got Cs in mostly AP classes.

St Marys of MD, WVU, University of Central FL, Salisbury, Towson, Shippensburg, York College, Frostburg State, etc. Maybe Delaware. What do the various search engines pop up? What does his college counselor say?

[Anonymous]

Do you know why he did badly? If you don't, you should find out because it could be a sign of substance abuse, depression, etc . . . Or, it could just be that the course load was too much for him. But you should know because that is quite a drop off.

[Anonymous]

To pp, I'd say its a no for U Del. It's competitive for OOS students. I agree a key is if the low grades can be explained away. If not, kid needs a solid first semester Senior year. Penn State has a published table that shows acceptances and high ACT scores can compensate for low GPAs. I think this is unusual but it exists. Best source may be the high school counselor.

[Anonymous]

What is his weighted gpa?

[Anonymous]

I'll show my roots here and suggest maybe UNC Wilmington, Appalachian State, or UNC Asheville. OOS tuition for NC satellite schools is really cheap and all 3 are in beautiful locations. Plus if your DC does well he could transfer to UNC or NCSU depending on what he wants to study. If your DC is interested in small private schools then perhaps High Point University or Guilford College (lived in the triad area and it's fairly nice).

I don't know if you're aware of it, but the site cappex.com has an admission scattergram that shows gpa/standardized scores and what got admitted, denied, or waitlisted. It also has a "chance me" feature. I don't know how accurate it is, but it might give you a ballpark to go by. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know why he did badly? If you don't, you should find out because it could be a sign of substance abuse, depression, etc . . . Or, it could just be that the course load was too much for him. But you should know because that is quite a drop off.

Thank you. This is a really important issue to focus on. I'm not sure he knows. I think it was a combination of lots of stress, tough course load, depression, not great study skills and using his laptop to procrastinate. It's hard to know how much to try to help him manage his schoolwork and how much to let go. He is 17 so I should be letting go, but I hate to see him blow his chances at a decent college, if he hasn't already.

[Anonymous]

Look at some mid-level LAC's -- St. Mary's, Washington & Jefferson, Marietta, Shepherdstown, McDaniel. These are still likely choices given his situation, and it sounds like he would benefit from small classes and individual attention. Obv to make this work he needs to do considerably better this year. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd probably go the community college route for a year or two and transfer. Doing well senior year can't hurt of course, but probably won't make up for a bad junior year.

It also matters what his course load looked like and where he goes to school. If he got Cs but all AP classes that might be better than Cs in on level classes. Cs in public school would be more problematic than Cs in private school.

31 is a respectable ACT but not knocking it out of the park (my DC got a 31).

There are probably some schools that he can get into, but you have to decide if they are the right fit and worth the money.

+1. Save some money, live at home, mature a little more and learn to handle the college level academics and life as a young adult. Then transfer to a much higher rated school and graduate with a degree from that school.