Grades are the Be All and End All

[Anonymous]

^^I'll just add that I think OPs situation also suggests that GPA matters more than test scores. I've seen folks say on different threads that sometimes it is a red flag to have high test scores and lower GPA.

Right. Absent there being another explanation in the application, the assumption is that the kid was smart but not willing to work very hard. The elite schools would rather see someone (even if not as inherently intelligent) who will contribute more to their student body by being more academically invested and willing to throw themselves wholeheartedly into student life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With grade inflation being as rampant as it is, if you don't have at least a 4.0 W/GPA, you're not really trying.

This is so untrue, but thanks for making all of us parents with B students feel like crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With grade inflation being as rampant as it is, if you don't have at least a 4.0 W/GPA, you're not really trying.

This is so untrue, but thanks for making all of us parents with B students feel like crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true. They are NOT analyzing your kid's transcript to see how tough the classes are. GPA is the most important number on app.

+1

Have a sophomore with less than a 3.5 GPA? Better get them ready for community college.

This is BS. Our DS with a 3.25 GPA just got into Elon, Ithaca, JMU and University of Vermont.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

'

If your daughter is a Caucasian or Asian girl? That contributed to her rejection.

Not if your Caucasian/White girl is going into engineering. It's a bonus. - Parent of a Caucasian/White engineering undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true. They are NOT analyzing your kid's transcript to see how tough the classes are. GPA is the most important number on app.

+1

Have a sophomore with less than a 3.5 GPA? Better get them ready for community college.

This is BS. Our DS with a 3.25 GPA just got into Elon, Ithaca, JMU and University of Vermont.

But I would not pay for Elon, private or OOS rates - community college is a much better deal with a transfer to UVA. I'm not pay $47,000 a year for Elon.

[Anonymous]

^^ in other words, some LACS and lesser known colleges are just not worth the cost. Those are not great schools. If you are in-state, then JMU makes a lot of state. But I would not pay full freight for lesser known schools like Elon or OOS tuition at the Univ. of Vermont.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

And get ready to attend an Open House at Northern Virginia Community College. (There's one tonight in Annandale.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

Nah, one B will not ruin your GPA. Jesus, have you ever taken a Math class before? It might help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

And get ready to attend an Open House at Northern Virginia Community College. (There's one tonight in Annandale.)

Ridiculous. I have a DC just admitted to 2 colleges on OP's rejection list that had Bs in math thru 4 years of high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

And get ready to attend an Open House at Northern Virginia Community College. (There's one tonight in Annandale.)

Ridiculous. I have a DC just admitted to 2 colleges on OP's rejection list that had Bs in math thru 4 years of high school.

Did your DC go to private or public high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

I've never seen a middle school grade show up on high school transcript. Usually just get the credit applied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will not matter how rigourous your child's curriculum is, nor how stellar their ECs, how brilliantly written their essays or how high their SATs or ACTs. What will matter most is their GPA. And it won't matter whether, as the schools will tell you, whether that GPA has been on an upward trajectory or whether their is a solid explanation why you worked hard for that 3.7 GPA vs. someone with that 4.3. Looking at the stats of the schools that rejected my DD, she was easily above their average SAT/ACT scores, but below the apparently weighted GPAs of most of those accepted.

pull in a B from middle school algrebra or foreign language and your GPA is screwed.

but as others will say, you need to compete now, we import millions of people that are competing now for US college spots. too bad suckers.

I've never seen a middle school grade show up on high school transcript. Usually just get the credit applied.

It shows up as part of the GPA calculation in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Have a sophomore with less than a 3.5 GPA? Better get them ready for community college.

This is BS. Our DS with a 3.25 GPA just got into Elon, Ithaca, JMU and University of Vermont.

But I would not pay for Elon, private or OOS rates - community college is a much better deal with a transfer to UVA. I'm not pay $47,000 a year for Elon.

^^ in other words, some LACS and lesser known colleges are just not worth the cost. Those are not great schools. If you are in-state, then JMU makes a lot of state. But I would not pay full freight for lesser known schools like Elon or OOS tuition at the Univ. of Vermont.

I'd rather have my kid go to a "lesser school" (that's still ranked highly compared to about 3000+ other schools) than be unhappy in community college or be an insufferable snob. My 3.4 kid got into OOS schools ranked around 60 on the USNWR list which I suppose are also a waste of time and money, but there she is, working diligently toward her degree anyway.