S/O Schools for the B Student - NON-Northeast Edition
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Spinning off from another thread that is currently active on this forum
Our 11th grade DD is also starting to look for colleges. GPA is in the 3.2 range, with a couple of APs. Not sure about PSAT yet but will find out today. She's currently being tutored for the upcoming ACT/SAT, as she is not a strong test-taker. No LD's. Emotionally and socially very solid. Her criteria includes any school that is NOT anywhere near MD or in the Northeastern corridor. She is actually most interested in schools in the South (think Auburn), Mid-West, West. She wants to be in a larger university setting such as what you'd find at most State schools. Also with a lively campus that's either surrounded by or close to a lot of off-campus activities - so probably not a school in too rural of a setting. She is very independent and has already done her research on which schools she wants to or should apply to, that said I would like to get input from parents in case there are schools she hasn't thought of or considered. TIA! |
Anonymous
The key for all of these IMO is to look at 4 and 6 year graduation rates. Less selective schools don't coddle/help students nearly as much as more selective schools (in general). Look for the schools that over perform WRT graduation rates. Here's a good place to start: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2012/11/01/examining-predicted-vs-actual-college-graduation-rates |
Anonymous
|
University of Tampa
Coastal Carolina Radford ODU Alabama Tennessee Florida State (they have a campus in Spain so she could do a year in Spain) Elon NC State University of Georgia Clemson Reach Schools: University of Richmond University of South Carolina (if she really like this school, i know kids that apply for 2nd semester and get in after being denied in regular admission) |
Anonymous
| I'd look at any flagship school like University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin, depending on SAT. |
Anonymous
| Elon. |
Anonymous
| South Carolina for sure. |
Anonymous
|
Thanks PPs!
What about Auburn? She really seems to like the school - and plan to visit over break. 8:22 thank you for that graduation rate insight! I had no clue to look at that as one of the criteria in choosing a school. 8:26 - great list - thank you 
|
Anonymous
| So, she's mentioned large school, state school ok and open to the south. To me that = football. Familiarize yourself with the football conferences. Sounds like SEC is a good place to start. I'd have her apply widely. There will be the issue of "fit", feeling comfortable out-of-state, likelihood of sorority acceptance, maybe final cost if that is a consideration. Great honors college possibilities at some of these schools, thought even if she doesn't qualify (though you might be surprised), there might be other "residential" communities which require separate acceptance. After choosing some big-football-schools, you might want to throw in a few quieter, smaller options incase she goes in a different direction. Oh, and I almost forgot - - do not forget transportation. How does she get there. That was actually one of the questions I always asked. You don't want to assume she will always drive back and forth. Where is the nearest airport? Does the school have transportation to the airport? Flight service to DC/BWI area. |
Anonymous
|
Michigan State
Indiana University University of Kansas University of Oregon University of South Carolina University of Georgia You want comfort being from out-of-state (enough other out-of-state students) You want ease of transportation. You want likelihood of acceptance, good graduation rates |
Anonymous
| Greek participation. Know the % at the university. If it's 20-30%+ it needs to be considered. Know if your DC is open to participating or wants to avoid it. It's no fun going to a college with a huge greek influence and not being part of it - especially from out-of-state. Not weighing in as good or bad, just saying it's an important part of the selection criteria. |
Anonymous
Agree. Know a couple of kids from this area who transferred from Alabama because of the dominance of Greek life, even though they were in good sororities. |
Anonymous
|
George Washington University
USF FSU |
Anonymous
|
A lot of these big football schools are harder to get into than commonly assumed. If a B average is a 3.0, most of these schools are going to be a reach (unless you can throw a football).
FSUs website shows 3.8-4.3 GPA for their middle 50 percent of freshman profiles. That's not a B average, unless weighted. http://admissions.fsu.edu/freshman/requirements/ |
Anonymous
| Big, state schools aren't necessarily great for B students. If you can get the financing together, a nice SLAC, that isn't too selective might be the best. Big state schools tend to be impersonal, making it easy for an unmotivated student to fail. |
Anonymous
I don't think its fair to say that a B student is an unmotivated student. Kind of a a leap on your part. |