Is there any hope for 4-yr college? (FCPS junior)

[Anonymous]

DC had poor grades in grades 9 and 10. Now seeing a doctor and a therapist to treat ADHD and anxiety and doing much better academically in 1st quarter grade 11.

Grades:
9th: 2.74 unweighted; 3.03 weighted (4 honors classes)
10th: 2.68 unweighted; 2.9 weighted (3 honors classes)
overall GPA 2.73 unweighted; 2.98 weighted

1st quarter 11th: 3.79 unweighted; 4.29 weighted (3 APs, 1 honors classes)

ACT: 32
SAT: 1360

Is there any hope for a 4-yr college, especially in-state (Virginia)?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely,

Mom whose kid has worse stats.

[Anonymous]

What I want to know is WHY a school would give 3 honors courses in 10th grade to a child struggling?

That said, there are definitely colleges. Use the essay to talk about her struggle and how she overcame it.

[Anonymous]

Junior year grades will count a lot in this scenario.

She can't look back - focus on what she can change and figuring out what she wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I want to know is WHY a school would give 3 honors courses in 10th grade to a child struggling?

That said, there are definitely colleges. Use the essay to talk about her struggle and how she overcame it.

Easy. She was struggling for reasons that were not related to ability.

The composition of students in honors v not is very different, and one or the other can be a poor learning environment depending on the kid.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe this isn't good for your child, but maybe it is: I wonder if your kid is a perfect candidate for a gap year. Apply where she can right now, and then only go if she wants to. Otherwise, do the aps again after having a set of good grades for senior year in place.

In any event, it is time for a serious talk with your kid about
a) where she really think she belongs
b) if the colleges that will accept her now are consistent with where she really thinks she belongs, and
c) what is a realistic plan for achieving a.

Life isn't over by any means, and tons of kids transfer or take a different route.

She's a different kid now, but it might take some effort to prove that.

Congrats to your child on overcoming a lot.

[Anonymous]

Those are great scores and she is a solid B student. Doesn't seem hopeless to me. I mean she probably won't get into and Ivy but there are many many other schools ...

[Anonymous]

Yes, but may not be a state school. I had ok grades in high school, went to a private for a year, not a fan and transferred to a big state school (not ours but a family school). I did great in college. Don't underestimate him.

[Anonymous]

What's the EC's?
Any sports hook?
DS is at a top school and (due to a terrible freshman year) he had worse stats, but a sports hook.

Plenty of good SLACs will take a decent (not even great) athlete with those numbers.

[Anonymous]

OP -- only EC is theatre (theatre tech and design). Has won awards for design work.

[Anonymous]

Maybe she can include her struggles and growth in a great application essay? Or interview?

[Anonymous]

My oldest graduated from high school with a 2.5 GPA. He was a horrible student and he had ADHD. He got into a decent state school and did great in college. He is out of college, makes 90,000 a year, and is doing fine. Another one of my kids graduated with a 4.45 GPA. National Merit Scholar. Full academic scholarship. She graduated, makes about 60,000 a year, and is doing great. Two kids. Dramatically different high school experiences. Both are successful, happy young adults. Our other kids fall somewhere between the two extremes. All are competent adults.

Your child will be great, OP!

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. But if she is trending strongly upward and struggling with ADHD and anxiety, with possible failure to launch issues, consider the 2 year at NOVA direct admit program to UVA or WM or VT. It is really designed for kids who need the extra time and slower transition (or less expense) and in the end you have a diploma from WM or UVA or VT to put on your resume. With no asterisk saying you started at NOVA.

Parent of ADHD/ anxious kids here, and transitions are tough. To ES. To MS. To HS. Every time we hit one it is a mess for the first coup,e of months. We are already planning the best way to transition our HS sophomore to college, and doing long term planning with an organizational tutor and a therapist, based on where he needs to be in 3 years.

It sounds like you kid has a miserable transition to HS. Which sucks. And it can be hard to hold your head up in this area and say you are going to NOVA when friends neighbors are going to top 25 schools. But your kid is more likely to be successful in the long run if they tackle college level work and mature some before they try living independently, rather than doing both at once. In a best case scenario, they can live at home for year one. Live in an apartment with a roommate year two. Transfer to UVA/WM year 3.

Hang in there mom and dad and play the long game. It will pay off.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the transition to high school for OP's kid was difficult because the student wasn't being treated for AHDH and anxiety. Now that the treatment is in place, and the kid is thriving, a community college doesn't seem like a necessary step, especially if the kid might be looking at B.F.A. programs.

It looks like this student is on track for a weighted 3.4 after 11th grade. My DC had the same GPA and a 30 ACT and was accepted everywhere she applied (large publics). . Colleges that Change Lives would be good options too.

[Anonymous]

This is perfect for VA Tech.