If DC has no interest in activities…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Merit Scholarship can get free rides from several colleges if prestige and ranking doesn't matter.

OP said her kid has an 1100-1200 SAT score. Maybe switching to ACT would help; who knows. I had suggested she have her kid checked for possible processing issues. That could explain the difference between the high grades/rigor and low standardized test score.

Bottom line is OP’s kid realistically can’t expect to get a “large merit scholarship” at a “good school” unless the kid ups their standardized score or EC game. Alternatively, in-state schools often provide a good value and may be more economical than an OOS or private even with substantial merit. Good luck OP.

OP here. You’re exactly right. DC has issues with processing and doesn’t do well in big tests but has almost all As. What’s the ACT like? Is it really all that different?

OP, sounds like your kid could benefit from extended time. The ACT awards up to triple time depending on disability. Our DD has dyslexia and received triple time. Scored 33 with accommodations and was awarded a full tuition scholarship at a T50. Yes she also had and still has top grades and good ECs.

- the YMMV poster. Per the PP, feel free to ignore if you find my advice annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Merit Scholarship can get free rides from several colleges if prestige and ranking doesn't matter.

OP said her kid has an 1100-1200 SAT score. Maybe switching to ACT would help; who knows. I had suggested she have her kid checked for possible processing issues. That could explain the difference between the high grades/rigor and low standardized test score.

Bottom line is OP’s kid realistically can’t expect to get a “large merit scholarship” at a “good school” unless the kid ups their standardized score or EC game. Alternatively, in-state schools often provide a good value and may be more economical than an OOS or private even with substantial merit. Good luck OP.

What school is giving merit for any ECs? I would assume the ECs would also have to be something specific, like band or the like that the school offers. However, that is more like a stipend because you have to play in the college band.

Don’t the top merit scholarships (Stamps, presidential scholarships and the like) involve interviews? I believe in addition to academic rigor the schools look at the leadership traits and motivation of kids to which they award top scholarships.

Ok…I guess I separate merit aid where you don’t have to do anything special to get it vs scholarships requiring essays/interviews etc.

Those probably would not be top scholarships but like you said, a stipend for participating in activities like band, community service, Model UN and the like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL "large merit"
I would not count on that OP

When colleges give merit even if it is large the amount is still higher tuition than a instate school.

Apply to data only schools like UMD, UF, Univ of SC, Univerity of Michigan etc.. then the extra's do not matter much. DCUM won't agree with me.

UMD is not data only. Come to think of it, neither are the others you listed…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Merit Scholarship can get free rides from several colleges if prestige and ranking doesn't matter.

OP said her kid has an 1100-1200 SAT score. Maybe switching to ACT would help; who knows. I had suggested she have her kid checked for possible processing issues. That could explain the difference between the high grades/rigor and low standardized test score.

Bottom line is OP’s kid realistically can’t expect to get a “large merit scholarship” at a “good school” unless the kid ups their standardized score or EC game. Alternatively, in-state schools often provide a good value and may be more economical than an OOS or private even with substantial merit. Good luck OP.

OP here. You’re exactly right. DC has issues with processing and doesn’t do well in big tests but has almost all As. What’s the ACT like? Is it really all that different?

Maybe this is off the mark if you’re poor, your son has a physical illness, or there’s something else I’m missing, but it sounds as if your son is probably a pleasant, shy kid who’s middling bright and doesn’t have any amazing talent or passion.

If that’s true, what’s the point of pushing him to get merit aid at an out of state school, unless, say, he wants to go to school by a beach or by ski slopes and your state doesn’t have beaches or ski slopes?

If I’m right, a possible strategy:

1. See why the test scores are what they are. If raising them just takes a little tutoring, get tutoring. If, really, the scores accurately reflect your son’s intelligence level and are hard to improve, accept the scores and your son for what they are. It might be fun to have a son who’s a rocket scientist, but, if you don’t have a son who’s a rocket scientist, enjoy the son you have. If, say, he doesn’t have a rocket scientist mind, but he’s serious and hard-working, he might do better than a lot of people with much higher SATs.

2. Encourage your son to try to get an office job or other job in a field he could imagine working in, because his career may simply depend more than his high school jobs than on his degree.

3. If possible, encourage your son to learn about bookkeeping and accounting, so he has concrete skills in an area where no one expects people to be social dynamos.

4. When developing college lists, look for financially stable, pleasant places where the average SAT is 1100 or lower. Stop thinking about prestige. Maybe your son could get into a T100 school, but it doesn’t sound as if your son wants that. Your son’s behavior suggests that he needs a low-stress, supportive school, not selectivity or prestige. If anything, he needs a school that makes a point of requiring many group projects and helping shy kids connect, not prestige.

5. He should probably target schools in your state that are comparable to Norfolk State or friendly, stable Jesuit colleges. If he wants to go to school out of state, look for schools there that are comparable to Norfolk State or to Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and in the desired location. Some will probably be happy to see your son’s high GPA and will offer great merit aid.

6. If he wants to go to a school that’s more selective than Norfolk State (or your state’s equivalent), he has to want that to happen and help you make that happen. If you’re tight on cash, you can’t do much to boost him up to a higher college level. He has to get his SATs up, figure out a military-related strategy or come up with another idea.


Those schools might not be glamorous, but they’re perfectly good schools, and they educate a

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Merit Scholarship can get free rides from several colleges if prestige and ranking doesn't matter.

OP said her kid has an 1100-1200 SAT score. Maybe switching to ACT would help; who knows. I had suggested she have her kid checked for possible processing issues. That could explain the difference between the high grades/rigor and low standardized test score.

Bottom line is OP’s kid realistically can’t expect to get a “large merit scholarship” at a “good school” unless the kid ups their standardized score or EC game. Alternatively, in-state schools often provide a good value and may be more economical than an OOS or private even with substantial merit. Good luck OP.

OP here. You’re exactly right. DC has issues with processing and doesn’t do well in big tests but has almost all As. What’s the ACT like? Is it really all that different?

Maybe this is off the mark if you’re poor, your son has a physical illness, or there’s something else I’m missing, but it sounds as if your son is probably a pleasant, shy kid who’s middling bright and doesn’t have any amazing talent or passion.

If that’s true, what’s the point of pushing him to get merit aid at an out of state school, unless, say, he wants to go to school by a beach or by ski slopes and your state doesn’t have beaches or ski slopes?

If I’m right, a possible strategy:

1. See why the test scores are what they are. If raising them just takes a little tutoring, get tutoring. If, really, the scores accurately reflect your son’s intelligence level and are hard to improve, accept the scores and your son for what they are. It might be fun to have a son who’s a rocket scientist, but, if you don’t have a son who’s a rocket scientist, enjoy the son you have. If, say, he doesn’t have a rocket scientist mind, but he’s serious and hard-working, he might do better than a lot of people with much higher SATs.

2. Encourage your son to try to get an office job or other job in a field he could imagine working in, because his career may simply depend more than his high school jobs than on his degree.

3. If possible, encourage your son to learn about bookkeeping and accounting, so he has concrete skills in an area where no one expects people to be social dynamos.

4. When developing college lists, look for financially stable, pleasant places where the average SAT is 1100 or lower. Stop thinking about prestige. Maybe your son could get into a T100 school, but it doesn’t sound as if your son wants that. Your son’s behavior suggests that he needs a low-stress, supportive school, not selectivity or prestige. If anything, he needs a school that makes a point of requiring many group projects and helping shy kids connect, not prestige.

5. He should probably target schools in your state that are comparable to Norfolk State or friendly, stable Jesuit colleges. If he wants to go to school out of state, look for schools there that are comparable to Norfolk State or to Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and in the desired location. Some will probably be happy to see your son’s high GPA and will offer great merit aid.

6. If he wants to go to a school that’s more selective than Norfolk State (or your state’s equivalent), he has to want that to happen and help you make that happen. If you’re tight on cash, you can’t do much to boost him up to a higher college level. He has to get his SATs up, figure out a military-related strategy or come up with another idea.


Those schools might not be glamorous, but they’re perfectly good schools, and they educate a

YMMV poster here and I respectfully disagree. OP’s kid has nearly perfect grades with high rigor. He’s not phoning it in and and surely can aim higher than you suggest. He just doesn’t like ECs and has been focusing on his classes it seems rather than test prep at this point. If he gets accommodations it might also help a lot.

OP what state are you in, and what major does you son want to pursue? With high gpa he could probably get in to GMU (or similar) honors. Miami Ohio and Elon also offer good merit to high stats test optional applicants. Some lesser known schools will match in-state tuition if the kid has a certain GPA. There’s lots of possibilities like these; you have to look for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Merit Scholarship can get free rides from several colleges if prestige and ranking doesn't matter.

OP said her kid has an 1100-1200 SAT score. Maybe switching to ACT would help; who knows. I had suggested she have her kid checked for possible processing issues. That could explain the difference between the high grades/rigor and low standardized test score.

Bottom line is OP’s kid realistically can’t expect to get a “large merit scholarship” at a “good school” unless the kid ups their standardized score or EC game. Alternatively, in-state schools often provide a good value and may be more economical than an OOS or private even with substantial merit. Good luck OP.

OP here. You’re exactly right. DC has issues with processing and doesn’t do well in big tests but has almost all As. What’s the ACT like? Is it really all that different?

Maybe this is off the mark if you’re poor, your son has a physical illness, or there’s something else I’m missing, but it sounds as if your son is probably a pleasant, shy kid who’s middling bright and doesn’t have any amazing talent or passion.

If that’s true, what’s the point of pushing him to get merit aid at an out of state school, unless, say, he wants to go to school by a beach or by ski slopes and your state doesn’t have beaches or ski slopes?

If I’m right, a possible strategy:

1. See why the test scores are what they are. If raising them just takes a little tutoring, get tutoring. If, really, the scores accurately reflect your son’s intelligence level and are hard to improve, accept the scores and your son for what they are. It might be fun to have a son who’s a rocket scientist, but, if you don’t have a son who’s a rocket scientist, enjoy the son you have. If, say, he doesn’t have a rocket scientist mind, but he’s serious and hard-working, he might do better than a lot of people with much higher SATs.

2. Encourage your son to try to get an office job or other job in a field he could imagine working in, because his career may simply depend more than his high school jobs than on his degree.

3. If possible, encourage your son to learn about bookkeeping and accounting, so he has concrete skills in an area where no one expects people to be social dynamos.

4. When developing college lists, look for financially stable, pleasant places where the average SAT is 1100 or lower. Stop thinking about prestige. Maybe your son could get into a T100 school, but it doesn’t sound as if your son wants that. Your son’s behavior suggests that he needs a low-stress, supportive school, not selectivity or prestige. If anything, he needs a school that makes a point of requiring many group projects and helping shy kids connect, not prestige.

5. He should probably target schools in your state that are comparable to Norfolk State or friendly, stable Jesuit colleges. If he wants to go to school out of state, look for schools there that are comparable to Norfolk State or to Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and in the desired location. Some will probably be happy to see your son’s high GPA and will offer great merit aid.

6. If he wants to go to a school that’s more selective than Norfolk State (or your state’s equivalent), he has to want that to happen and help you make that happen. If you’re tight on cash, you can’t do much to boost him up to a higher college level. He has to get his SATs up, figure out a military-related strategy or come up with another idea.


Those schools might not be glamorous, but they’re perfectly good schools, and they educate a

YMMV poster here and I respectfully disagree. OP’s kid has nearly perfect grades with high rigor. He’s not phoning it in and and surely can aim higher than you suggest. He just doesn’t like ECs and has been focusing on his classes it seems rather than test prep at this point. If he gets accommodations it might also help a lot.

OP what state are you in, and what major does you son want to pursue? With high gpa he could probably get in to GMU (or similar) honors. Miami Ohio and Elon also offer good merit to high stats test optional applicants. Some lesser known schools will match in-state tuition if the kid has a certain GPA. There’s lots of possibilities like these; you have to look for them.

OP here. The PP above is right. He can be a little slow to process but is pretty intelligent. And I rechecked - he got 1250 on the first SAT attempt, still not a high score, and maybe it’s lower from anxiety. He’s not that social, has a close but small group of friends, and has never been a joiner. We’ll definitely do some test prep. Are there any good places to do that in person that aren’t a fortune?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, all. DC is interested in getting a job. Does it matter if it’s retail and not related to anything “rigorous”?

The point is it won't move the needle on merit aid, which is largely based on academic achievement.

If your kid has ADHD and low processing speed, or whatever, did you get jump though the hoops of getting him extended time? The College Board and ACT companies will required official documentation and it takes a bit of time. Generally, the SAT is more complex questions but more time for each answer, and the ACT is less complex questions but less time for each answer. Which means that for kids who have extended time, sometimes the ACT ends up being the easier exam. On the other hand, it has a science section the SAT doesn't have, which can required careful reading and occasional background knowledge. The only way to know is for your kid to take both mock exams and pick the one he feels more comfortable with.

If he has executive issues, I hope he's medicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Merit Scholarship can get free rides from several colleges if prestige and ranking doesn't matter.

OP said her kid has an 1100-1200 SAT score. Maybe switching to ACT would help; who knows. I had suggested she have her kid checked for possible processing issues. That could explain the difference between the high grades/rigor and low standardized test score.

Bottom line is OP’s kid realistically can’t expect to get a “large merit scholarship” at a “good school” unless the kid ups their standardized score or EC game. Alternatively, in-state schools often provide a good value and may be more economical than an OOS or private even with substantial merit. Good luck OP.

OP here. You’re exactly right. DC has issues with processing and doesn’t do well in big tests but has almost all As. What’s the ACT like? Is it really all that different?

Does DC have accommodations in place? Extra time on exams? Sounds like that should be happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The PP above is right. He can be a little slow to process but is pretty intelligent. And I rechecked - he got 1250 on the first SAT attempt, still not a high score, and maybe it’s lower from anxiety. He’s not that social, has a close but small group of friends, and has never been a joiner. We’ll definitely do some test prep. Are there any good places to do that in person that aren’t a fortune?

I’m the poster wondering if a lower-stress, less-selective school might be a better fit.

What does your son want to major in or do for work, and why would he want to go some place other than a Norfolk State-level school? What does he really think of as an appropriate school? Does he understand what he needs to have and do to get into what he thinks of as a suitable school?

Could it be he’d simply get what he wants and needs, with no fuss, out of a regional school?

If he thinks that kind of school would be poor fit and he wants to get his test scores up, so he can aim for more selective schools:

- He should start by going to his pediatrician and figuring out where to go to get diagnosed

- To improve math scores: I think Mathnasium does a great job and provides good value for the money.

- Verbal scores: The most important thing is that he should read the Washington Post or the Washington Times every day.

[Anonymous]

...DC gets a job.

I've got a freshman who has been sitting on the couch more than not this year. He's getting a job this summer and if he doesn't up his EC game he'll be getting a job next year too. IMO his job is to be a student and get involved, if he doesn't want to do that, he can work. Sitting around isn't an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The PP above is right. He can be a little slow to process but is pretty intelligent. And I rechecked - he got 1250 on the first SAT attempt, still not a high score, and maybe it’s lower from anxiety. He’s not that social, has a close but small group of friends, and has never been a joiner. We’ll definitely do some test prep. Are there any good places to do that in person that aren’t a fortune?

I’m the poster wondering if a lower-stress, less-selective school might be a better fit.

What does your son want to major in or do for work, and why would he want to go some place other than a Norfolk State-level school? What does he really think of as an appropriate school? Does he understand what he needs to have and do to get into what he thinks of as a suitable school?

Could it be he’d simply get what he wants and needs, with no fuss, out of a regional school?

If he thinks that kind of school would be poor fit and he wants to get his test scores up, so he can aim for more selective schools:

- He should start by going to his pediatrician and figuring out where to go to get diagnosed

- To improve math scores: I think Mathnasium does a great job and provides good value for the money.

- Verbal scores: The most important thing is that he should read the Washington Post or the Washington Times every day.

PP, this kid has high GPA and rigor. He also seems to have slow processing, but his intellectual ability and achievement seems to be high. Regional college doesn't seem to be the right match. OP said she'd like merit but hasn't indicated finances are such an issue that the kid would need to be out of the running for a competitive college, particularly if applying test optional. OP should strongly consider the competitive in-state options, especially if TO. And get him accommodations stat.

We've given OP a lot of info and hopefully it can help her in supporting her kid in this process.

[Anonymous]

Does your kid have any interests? You said he doesn't have any hobbies, which I would want to look into, because those are things that create personal fulfillment and sometimes connections to others. What does he do with his circle of friends? What does he like to do with the family or on his own time? Does he spend most of his time studying or have any favorite academic subjects?