Recommendations for schools within 3 hours of NoVa for my (below?) average kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dang you're organized! I think the list you generated is really good. My kid will have similar stats. Please don't call your daughter (below) average. Mine brings a ton of wonderful qualities to the table, and I'm sure yours does, too. Good luck!

For PP who suggested it, she's actually thought about teaching, but doesn't see herself as "smart enough" to teach. Her assumption is that all teachers were really good students. I've told her that is not the case, but who knows? I think she could be great at interior design or something in fashion, but she doesn't have a strong art background. She's not a kid who has ever devoted herself to anything yet to find "her thing" which is my only reservation about a smaller school for her, which otherwise I think would be a good fit.

Obviously she has a limited understanding of what it means to be “smart” - as is to be expected of a high school kid. You described her as “high emotional IQ”. So, she’s smart - very smart. And in a way that matters a lot. A real lot in most parts of life. Some academic high achievers can be sadly lacking in this area.

Regardless of what she pursues as a career, it would be valuable learning for her to understand multiple intelligences, how they apply to her, and how to build her self-esteem around the real facts of who she is rather than thinking of herself as “not smart enough”. Howard Gardner is the Harvard professor who developed the theory of multiple intelligences and he has a website at https://www.multipleintelligencesoasis.org with lots of resources. You might offer her the book, “You’re Smarter Than You Think: a Kid’s Guide to Multiple Intelligences”, by Thomas Armstrong. She apparently has talents that she either minimizes and undervalues or is not aware of. She will thrive to the extent that she builds on her strengths. To do that she needs to know what they are.

I wish you well with your search.

[Anonymous]

loyola marymount

[Anonymous]

Shepherd University! Great little school, often overlooked!

[Anonymous]

Juniata college

[Anonymous]

someone on here started a thread on Ursinius College in southeastern PA

[Anonymous]

All of the schools in the Landmark Athletic Conference.

[Anonymous]

Hood College in Frederick, Md

[Anonymous]

UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA

Yes if you go to NoVa first.

[Anonymous]

Loyola Maryland

Accepts students with low/moderate stats and doesn't have greek life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior in Northern Va with average grades (3.3 GPA) and some AP classes. Will test in the 1000-1100 range on SATs. We are looking for a school within driving distance of home, so ideally within 3 hours. Not expecting any financial aid, and not really worried about cost (though I prefer to spend under $50K year). No intended major or even a great sense of what to do, although it will be humanities/liberal arts and not science or math. Not a lot of "impressive" stuff on the resume -- some sports, some clubs, not a standout in anything. DD is an OK but not great writer, etc. Even typing this, probably not even average for this area, but would be average in most of the country.

Definitely a late bloomer. I'm not worried about her long-term. She's a grounded person who has good social skills, and high emotional IQ, but is not a great student. She's organized and conscientious, but does have some anxiety, which is why I think she will be happier not too far from home.

I'm looking for recs for places to apply. We are open on size of school, though there need to be enough majors in the humanities/liberal arts that she can find her thing. Maybe also graphic design, as she has a good eye, but never really pursued it. A lot of the colleges I've seen are 65% female or higher, and I prefer something with better gender balance. Also looking for a school where a good percentage of kids actually finish, and where kids coming out of the school go on to jobs/grad school. I also prefer a school where kids largely live on campus, and the school is good at helping freshman get integrated and find success. I prefer her not get lost, and go to a school that will really help her thrive.

All of this makes me think she may do better in the right smaller school. She's interested in a bigger school like JMU, though from what I've read here, I don't think she would get in. She would enjoy getting to cheer on sports teams, etc. I don't think Greek system would be a good fit, so ideally a school where you don't have to do that to make friends.

Also on the wish list is a place where she could have a single room as a freshman, but still live in a more communal space to make friends. Part of her management of the anxiety is control over her living environment, so not having to deal with a messy roommate would be good, but she also needs to be with the people, if that makes sense.

Thanks for any ideas!

has she taken the actual test yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loyola Maryland

Accepts students with low/moderate stats and doesn't have greek life

my dd ('21) goes to loyola marymount and got accepted with similar grades and ~1100 on the sat (can't remember the exact score)

[Anonymous]

I know for sure that University of Lynchburg will permit you to have a private room in one of their two freshman dorms. I would take a look here for sure. Nice campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is a junior in Northern Va with average grades (3.3 GPA) and some AP classes. Will test in the 1000-1100 range on SATs. We are looking for a school within driving distance of home, so ideally within 3 hours. Not expecting any financial aid, and not really worried about cost (though I prefer to spend under $50K year). No intended major or even a great sense of what to do, although it will be humanities/liberal arts and not science or math. Not a lot of "impressive" stuff on the resume -- some sports, some clubs, not a standout in anything. DD is an OK but not great writer, etc. Even typing this, probably not even average for this area, but would be average in most of the country.

Definitely a late bloomer. I'm not worried about her long-term. She's a grounded person who has good social skills, and high emotional IQ, but is not a great student. She's organized and conscientious, but does have some anxiety, which is why I think she will be happier not too far from home.

I'm looking for recs for places to apply. We are open on size of school, though there need to be enough majors in the humanities/liberal arts that she can find her thing. Maybe also graphic design, as she has a good eye, but never really pursued it. A lot of the colleges I've seen are 65% female or higher, and I prefer something with better gender balance. Also looking for a school where a good percentage of kids actually finish, and where kids coming out of the school go on to jobs/grad school. I also prefer a school where kids largely live on campus, and the school is good at helping freshman get integrated and find success. I prefer her not get lost, and go to a school that will really help her thrive.

All of this makes me think she may do better in the right smaller school. She's interested in a bigger school like JMU, though from what I've read here, I don't think she would get in. She would enjoy getting to cheer on sports teams, etc. I don't think Greek system would be a good fit, so ideally a school where you don't have to do that to make friends.

Also on the wish list is a place where she could have a single room as a freshman, but still live in a more communal space to make friends. Part of her management of the anxiety is control over her living environment, so not having to deal with a messy roommate would be good, but she also needs to be with the people, if that makes sense.

Thanks for any ideas!

has she taken the actual test yet?

No, based on PSAT and practice test. She's not a good test taker, and is working with a tutor. If we are extremely lucky she might hit 1200, but I think that's unlikely. Practice tests were right around 1000, but that was pre-tutor. She's taking it in May and June, and then we will decide if she needs to take it again. I know a lot of these schools are test optional, so will only submit if she's above the median score for the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA

Yes if you go to NoVa first.

OP here. I find it kind of charming that there are posters on here who think average kids can get into UVA. I mean that sincerely, I was a high achiever myself, and that's the kind of thing I probably would have thought, too, if my kid was Harvard-bound. But there is no way she would get into UVA. I think JMU is a long-shot, though she will likely apply. VCU she seems to have a good chance at.

I know community college route is one option, but I prefer her start at 4-yr. It takes her a while to feel settled, so I would prefer she not transfer. You all have been so helpful. Thank you! Like I said, I will update my list with the new suggestions and post again in a few days.