A-/B+ Student from Big 3 - Admission chances at popular state schools

[Anonymous]

Our DD is a junior at one of the Big 3 schools. After visiting colleges she is leaning heavily towards the big state universities that have strong academics and school spirit. She says she would love to attend something like UMich, UVA, UCLA, UNC Chapel Hill. There is no clear preference within that list. We are D.C. residents so no in-state preference for UVA. We would be full pay.

We will start meeting the counselors next semester and will get their feedback and naviance information. In the meantime it would be great if other parents whose kids graduated from a similar private and are attending one of the above colleges could let me know whether a solid B+ student (most grades are B+s with several As and A-s and one C) would be competitive at the public ivies. We don't have any test scores as yet but practice tests indicate that she will be in the 50th percentile for accepted student test scores. It's the GPA that concerns us because with a B+ average, her unweighted GPA is probably around 3.4.

I'm asking now because if Michigan, UCLA, UVA are out of her reach then we'd like to spend some time over Christmas exploring other options and visiting more schools.

TIA.

[Anonymous]

Those schools sound like reaches for a B+ student, but what does your college guidance office say? Or Naviance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those schools sound like reaches for a B+ student, but what does your college guidance office say? Or Naviance?

Did you even read OP's post, or are you just jumping in with your wisdom?

We will start meeting the counselors next semester and will get their feedback and naviance information

[Anonymous]

They probably aren’t out of reach but she is probably on the bubble. Need to find more options where he stats are closer to 75 not 50.

Studying more for the entrance exams seems like it would be a good use of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD is a junior at one of the Big 3 schools. After visiting colleges she is leaning heavily towards the big state universities that have strong academics and school spirit. She says she would love to attend something like UMich, UVA, UCLA, UNC Chapel Hill. There is no clear preference within that list. We are D.C. residents so no in-state preference for UVA. We would be full pay.

We will start meeting the counselors next semester and will get their feedback and naviance information. In the meantime it would be great if other parents whose kids graduated from a similar private and are attending one of the above colleges could let me know whether a solid B+ student (most grades are B+s with several As and A-s and one C) would be competitive at the public ivies. We don't have any test scores as yet but practice tests indicate that she will be in the 50th percentile for accepted student test scores. It's the GPA that concerns us because with a B+ average, her unweighted GPA is probably around 3.4.

I'm asking now because if Michigan, UCLA, UVA are out of her reach then we'd like to spend some time over Christmas exploring other options and visiting more schools.

TIA.

Since state flagships have a mandate to admit a certain percent of in-state students, and that percent varies from state to state, it is more competitive to get admitted for OOS applicants. You can't look at overall admitted Freshman statistics since your DD will be OOS. If you can get the stats for OOS admitted students, then it will be a better indicator of what it will take for your DD to have a fair chance of getting admitted. Also, the stats vary for different schools within a university (eg., it is more competitive to get into business, engineering, etc., than some other majors.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

SAT/ACT scores will help you explore chances using Naviance data

UNC is tough for out of state applicants unless you are legacy.

[Anonymous]

At an out of state flagship being a full pay student is an advantage, but those schools are in demand. Widen the circle, aim for strong grades the rest of the way and try to get test scores higher.

[Anonymous]

If she likes that flavor of schools, there are many second tier equivalents. Those could be her targets and safeties. The top tier (of large, state universities with strong reputations) could be her reaches and targets.

I think she will find a place to be happy. It is good that she knows what she wants.

[Anonymous]

50 percentile? No way. Look into Indiana, Ohio State, Miami of Ohio, Penn State and Delaware. Very good schools, school spirit, very nice campuses.

[Anonymous]

Look at UW. Make sure DC has a strong liver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at UW. Make sure DC has a strong liver.

+1 to the first part - plus Wisconsin is a bit cheaper out of state than Michigan!

[Anonymous]

Old Dominion. Good fit.

[Anonymous]

Might have a shot at Christopher Newport. P

[Anonymous]

I live in Philadelphia (we used to live in DC before we moved). DD#2 is a junior at a Big3-type private in the area. I have noticed state flagships are increasingly popular with the kids who are just outside the tippy top of the class ie kids who wont get into ivies but are smart, have taken rigorous classes. Even though OOS I am sure it doesnt hurt that they apply early and parents are full pay. Last year's graduating class sent 1 to UCLA and 1 to Michigan, 2 to UNC, and 3 to Wisconsin (1 recruited athlete).

Our school has honors classes but does not weight GPAs so the max of 4.0. A student with a 3.5 in honors classes would be very competitive for those types of colleges.

[Anonymous]

Even if your formal meetings with your counselors don’t start until spring, they are usually still willing to answer questions before that.