Is a 3.59 gpa fine for my 10th grade teen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are URMS (black American) does this change things?

Nice try, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are URMS (black American) does this change things?

Nice try, troll.

I don’t even understand which way you think this trolled. It’s obviously up to debate in the year of our dear leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are URMS (black American) does this change things?

Nice try, troll.

Not a troll. Someone mentioned how that could help with admissions. So I wanted to touch base on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that weighted or unweighted?

Weighted.

Weighted 3.59 in MCPS? That's really bad. Start at Comm College?

What should it be if you don’t mind me asking?

Honors classes get a 1.0 bump in MCPS and they’re basically on-level classes. A 3.59 weighted implies a decent number of Cs in honors classes.

Fixed typo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are URMS (black American) does this change things?

Are you poor and downtrodden (but still at Churchill)?

What's in the application packet that is more attractive for admissions than the poorer black students in PG County?

My son volunteers and is part of a few organizations. Though we are upper middle class.

That's good but not standout. Your zip code carries higher expectations than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as you have money, then yes he will have lots of options in the T50-T150 range,

In MD, College Park is really the only in state option. The other lower level state options are pretty bad while the community colleges are even worse. It’s the one area where I really think VA is the only viable in state school system in the DMV.

So focus on searching for scholarship options, saving more, preparing for loans etc

OP's kid isn't going to College Park from the bottom half of the class at Churchill. OP's kid can attend a different fine state college

a 3.6 gpa--a B+ average-- is bottom half of the class?

At Churchill, 58% of the class of 2020 had an unweighted GPA of 3.51-4.0. 85% of the class of 2025 had a weighted GPA of 3.51 or higher. (This is from the school profile shared with colleges.)

OP-- we are also at Churchill and I have some older kids who've gone through the application process (and are URM) so I have some knowledge. I honestly think College Park is out of the question unless junior year looks a lot different from prior years. I know a lot of kids who I think were good students (I don't know their details but I know they were in several AP classes and I think got As for the vast majority of classes) who were not admitted to College Park. Several parents' expressed shock because they just assumed that's where their kid would be going. (And now this makes me stressed about my youngest -- she aspires for an Ivy and I'm nervous about her even getting College Park.) Don't look at the generic UMD admissions numbers-- it is far harder to get in from Churchill (and other W's) than the majority of schools in the state.

I currently have a college freshman who went through the process after affirmative action was struck down and an older kid who benefitted from it. And it seemed clear to me that schools are really not considering race. I thought they would. I thought that essays/activities that clearly identified the kid as black would help schools curate a class that included a lot of minorities. I can't speak for all universities, but comparing the experiences of the two kids, I'm confident that most schools haven't been doing that and frankly, I think they'll be even more careful given the current political environment. I tracked admissions numbers and many, many had # of admitted minorities plummet. I think a lot of universities are replacing 'race' with 'income' as they try to get a diverse class. And 'income' isn't based on your family's actual income (which they don't have access to when reading applications) but rather on the sociodemographics of the neighborhood, which is I think by zip code. So instead of being put into a 'minority' bucket, we at Churchill are put into an 'upper middle class' bucket based on zip code. (FWIW, I don't think they disadvantage high earners particularly, but it puts us far away from getting the URM bump that once existed).

My recommendation is that if your kid can succeed in AP classes, get them in to AP classes next year (and work on GPA also). And also take a look at the various public schools in MD (UMBC, etc) to see what they're like. But also look closely at out of state publics. A lot of kids last year got into non-Maryland state universities (like Ohio State or University of South Carolina) and did not get into UMD. (UMD wants to give a chance to students at HSs all over Maryland whereas other state universities don't give the same Churchill 'penalty.). And there are also a lot of small liberal arts schools that are pretty well regarded and have lower admissions standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as you have money, then yes he will have lots of options in the T50-T150 range,

In MD, College Park is really the only in state option. The other lower level state options are pretty bad while the community colleges are even worse. It’s the one area where I really think VA is the only viable in state school system in the DMV.

So focus on searching for scholarship options, saving more, preparing for loans etc

OP's kid isn't going to College Park from the bottom half of the class at Churchill. OP's kid can attend a different fine state college

a 3.6 gpa--a B+ average-- is bottom half of the class?

At Churchill, 58% of the class of 2020 had an unweighted GPA of 3.51-4.0. 85% of the class of 2025 had a weighted GPA of 3.51 or higher. (This is from the school profile shared with colleges.)

OP-- we are also at Churchill and I have some older kids who've gone through the application process (and are URM) so I have some knowledge. I honestly think College Park is out of the question unless junior year looks a lot different from prior years. I know a lot of kids who I think were good students (I don't know their details but I know they were in several AP classes and I think got As for the vast majority of classes) who were not admitted to College Park. Several parents' expressed shock because they just assumed that's where their kid would be going. (And now this makes me stressed about my youngest -- she aspires for an Ivy and I'm nervous about her even getting College Park.) Don't look at the generic UMD admissions numbers-- it is far harder to get in from Churchill (and other W's) than the majority of schools in the state.

I currently have a college freshman who went through the process after affirmative action was struck down and an older kid who benefitted from it. And it seemed clear to me that schools are really not considering race. I thought they would. I thought that essays/activities that clearly identified the kid as black would help schools curate a class that included a lot of minorities. I can't speak for all universities, but comparing the experiences of the two kids, I'm confident that most schools haven't been doing that and frankly, I think they'll be even more careful given the current political environment. I tracked admissions numbers and many, many had # of admitted minorities plummet. I think a lot of universities are replacing 'race' with 'income' as they try to get a diverse class. And 'income' isn't based on your family's actual income (which they don't have access to when reading applications) but rather on the sociodemographics of the neighborhood, which is I think by zip code. So instead of being put into a 'minority' bucket, we at Churchill are put into an 'upper middle class' bucket based on zip code. (FWIW, I don't think they disadvantage high earners particularly, but it puts us far away from getting the URM bump that once existed).

My recommendation is that if your kid can succeed in AP classes, get them in to AP classes next year (and work on GPA also). And also take a look at the various public schools in MD (UMBC, etc) to see what they're like. But also look closely at out of state publics. A lot of kids last year got into non-Maryland state universities (like Ohio State or University of South Carolina) and did not get into UMD. (UMD wants to give a chance to students at HSs all over Maryland whereas other state universities don't give the same Churchill 'penalty.). And there are also a lot of small liberal arts schools that are pretty well regarded and have lower admissions standards.

This one is good. Honest and objective.

[Anonymous]

Assuming you can pay out of state, try the UC system. It’s a different application than common app but it applies to all and there are no supplementals per school. He should write about his race in his PIQs. His GPA needs to stay over 3.5. If he can take some dual or concurrent enrollment courses in your local community college that will bump him more than an AP course. In CA the concurrent enrollment courses at a CC are harder than an AP course at most public schools but in Montgomery County it’s reversed.

I’d forget about UCLA but try Cal as a long shot. Cal is far more likely to take a full pay OOS AA student with a 3.6 and a few DE courses than a perfect GPA, max APs, all 5s, president of everything wealthy white or asian kid from in state. Also try UCSD, UCD, UCSB, UCSC , UCR, UC Merced etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you can pay out of state, try the UC system. It’s a different application than common app but it applies to all and there are no supplementals per school. He should write about his race in his PIQs. His GPA needs to stay over 3.5. If he can take some dual or concurrent enrollment courses in your local community college that will bump him more than an AP course. In CA the concurrent enrollment courses at a CC are harder than an AP course at most public schools but in Montgomery County it’s reversed.

I’d forget about UCLA but try Cal as a long shot. Cal is far more likely to take a full pay OOS AA student with a 3.6 and a few DE courses than a perfect GPA, max APs, all 5s, president of everything wealthy white or asian kid from in state. Also try UCSD, UCD, UCSB, UCSC , UCR, UC Merced etc.

Anonymous wrote:We are URMS (black American) does this change things?

Anonymous wrote:Nice try, troll.

Just to put them side by side.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I really appreciate all the honest replies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weighted (honors?) it may be more.

But also, because of the way MCPS has calculated grades, they report card GPAs are not the same as the transcript GPA (which is what colleges see). The rc has quarter grades. The transcript averages semesters. Because A+B=A on the semester calculations (this ends this year) the transcript GPA is almost always higher unless his Bs are both quarters in a semester.

What do you mean this ends this year? How will grades be averaged going forward in your example?

See this thread and READ (as boring they may be) your emails that that Central office or Taylor sends out

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/495/1278710.page#30358099

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that weighted or unweighted?

Weighted.

Weighted 3.59 in MCPS? That's really bad. Start at Comm College?

What should it be if you don’t mind me asking?

Honors classes get a 1.0 bump in MCPS and they’re basically on-level classes. A 3.59 weighted implies a decent number of Cs in honors classes.

Fixed typo.

Yes, I meant weighted. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

many kids are going to UMBC.. it is a good option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as you have money, then yes he will have lots of options in the T50-T150 range,

In MD, College Park is really the only in state option. The other lower level state options are pretty bad while the community colleges are even worse. It’s the one area where I really think VA is the only viable in state school system in the DMV.

So focus on searching for scholarship options, saving more, preparing for loans etc

Montgomery College is consistently ranked in the top 10 community colleges in the country. Their MC to UMD pipeline is insane. Let’s stop bashing community colleges, especially if we don’t take the time to research them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you can pay out of state, try the UC system. It’s a different application than common app but it applies to all and there are no supplementals per school. He should write about his race in his PIQs. His GPA needs to stay over 3.5. If he can take some dual or concurrent enrollment courses in your local community college that will bump him more than an AP course. In CA the concurrent enrollment courses at a CC are harder than an AP course at most public schools but in Montgomery County it’s reversed.

I’d forget about UCLA but try Cal as a long shot. Cal is far more likely to take a full pay OOS AA student with a 3.6 and a few DE courses than a perfect GPA, max APs, all 5s, president of everything wealthy white or asian kid from in state. Also try UCSD, UCD, UCSB, UCSC , UCR, UC Merced etc.

UC schools are hella hard to get into if you live in CA…