Rigor with 3.3 UW/ 4.0 WGPA

[Anonymous]

Sorry? But my kid with a 4.75w from MCPS, with test scores that are on par with gpa, is not getting in to schools with 30% acceptance rates. You need to really recalibrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this competitive environment, I’m not sure that the rigor is helping my DS get into a decent top 50 college . 11 IB classes, 3 AP, full IB diploma expected. Will land with 27 B’s, 23 As, 5 Cs and 1 D. Lots of leadership and ECs coming from a large MCPS HS. Worked part time and matured alot through gradual leadership positions in HS. Test optional, prefers mid-Atlantic, Northeast urban school. Acceptances to schools with 20-30% acceptance rates are not coming in. He doesn’t want to do gap year but that might not be a bad option. He gets an A for effort on my book. Undecided major, not STEM oriented (his words). Any ideas of schools or gap year programs ?

Test optional was a big mistake. Is this Einstein? Counseling office is still encouraging this when the vast majority of kids need to be taking the SAT (and prepping for it in some way).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are those 27 Bs across all 4 years? Thats not how the grades are seen.

DP: MCPS graduation transcripts will show at least 56 grades over four years (7 classes per year * 2 semesters = 14 grades per year). I assume that the OP is predicting senior year final semester grades based on current performance. Therefore, OP's child's HS GPA is based on 42-56 semester grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are those 27 Bs across all 4 years? Thats not how the grades are seen.

DP: MCPS graduation transcripts will show at least 56 grades over four years (7 classes per year * 2 semesters = 14 grades per year). I assume that the OP is predicting senior year final semester grades based on current performance. Therefore, OP's child's HS GPA is based on 42-56 semester grades.

Forgot to add that maybe full IB students take 8 classes like the STEM magnet students? In that case, the OP reported total semester grades for 3.5 years of high school. In both cases, that is how grades would be evaluated with an MCPS transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this competitive environment, I’m not sure that the rigor is helping my DS get into a decent top 50 college . 11 IB classes, 3 AP, full IB diploma expected. Will land with 27 B’s, 23 As, 5 Cs and 1 D. Lots of leadership and ECs coming from a large MCPS HS. Worked part time and matured alot through gradual leadership positions in HS. Test optional, prefers mid-Atlantic, Northeast urban school. Acceptances to schools with 20-30% acceptance rates are not coming in. He doesn’t want to do gap year but that might not be a bad option. He gets an A for effort on my book. Undecided major, not STEM oriented (his words). Any ideas of schools or gap year programs ?

What happened with in-state options and safeties? I'm sorry, but that's a pretty low GPA (plus test optional doesn't help) for 20-30% acceptance rate schools. The reality is that your DS is competing with 3.8-4.0 UW students submitting good test scores for that level of school. Didn't his guidance counselor advise a balanced list of schools. You seem to be mentioning reaches more than targets or safeties.

This is correct. I find it hard to believe any counselor would have advised your DC he had a good shot at T-50 schools. The stats simply don't support it. "A for effort" has no play with admissions committees.

I don’t think you need a college counselor to tell OP and her kid that he won’t be getting into a T50 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with Pitt?

He’s thrilled about Pitt! Thank you.

Looking at more options because he’s not STEM- Pitt is a “medicine town” (strong in nursing, physical therapy, pre-med etc) so the focus of the majority of programs/ internships etc are for them.

At the end of the day, he said he’s really happy he challenged himself with IB as that will prepare him for college and life in general vs getting all As in fluff on-level high school classes. Plus no one takes rigorous courses thinking they’ll flop.
He refuses to let 1 D define him. I agree it builds character and is a huge life lesson.

It will be fine. Thanks for those of you who are sending positive vibes and good ideas. Good luck to all the seniors, it ain’t easy.

I just wanted to say good luck to your son! He has a great attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was very lucky to get into Pitt. Not going to beat that with any further maneuvers.

+1 I'm actually a little surprised he got in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with Pitt?

He’s thrilled about Pitt! Thank you.

Looking at more options because he’s not STEM- Pitt is a “medicine town” (strong in nursing, physical therapy, pre-med etc) so the focus of the majority of programs/ internships etc are for them.

At the end of the day, he said he’s really happy he challenged himself with IB as that will prepare him for college and life in general vs getting all As in fluff on-level high school classes. Plus no one takes rigorous courses thinking they’ll flop.
He refuses to let 1 D define him. I agree it builds character and is a huge life lesson.

It will be fine. Thanks for those of you who are sending positive vibes and good ideas. Good luck to all the seniors, it ain’t easy.

Pitt has one of the top Philosophy programs in the country. Pitt is not just stem. Go tour the Arts and Sciences school. It is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes we’ve adjusted expectations. Counselors at big high schools aren’t helpful but agree the list was not balanced - the inflated expectations were his, we’ve been trying to tell him to add more safeties since the summer and the reality is just now sinking in for him. Rejected from in-state UMD College Park, WL at Wisconsin Madison, IN at Pitt, thanks for the link on other schools still accepting applications.

This is not meant to be rude, OP. Curious of others know if Wisconsin WL everyone or if they reject EA? Surprised OP’s son was WL. Isn’t it a pretty hard admit?

My daughter has higher stats than OP’s kid and was outright rejected EA.

Sorry for your DD, PP. It is surprising a kid with a D is WL at Wisconsin. My DC was rejected from Wisconsin last year with a 33 ACT and a 3.4 from a big3 private.

It is a new world. My DC with a 3.87 UWGPA and a 35 ACT score was rejected from many schools.

[Anonymous]

I'd have a non STEM IB boy apply to the SLACs like Sarah Lawrence, Hampshire, and so on. Those kids are more "intellectual" leaning and he may be a better fit at places like that. Plus, those types of schools tend to get more female applicants and being a male applicant helps. They also truly do a holistic review, so they will note and like the fact that he challenged himself instead of just playing the GPA game.