3.4 uw (no APs) & 1300 SAT - where can he get in?

[Anonymous]

Schools often don’t disclose relative rank anymore, and if they all get As relative rank doesn’t matter. A lot of public schools had GPAs shoot up in the pandemic and teachers could not fail kids. You think admissions did not notice?

That is why people are asking about public or private. 3.4 uw in a competitive private will have options that a 3.4 won’t have otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? Vassar, F&M and Skidmore, Bucknell? Do these seem realistic to people? I had thought those were out of reach for my son, who has a higher gpa and higher scores based on Navisnce.

Does your kid go to public school? If so, they probably are out of reach.

Why would these be out of reach for a public school kid with those stats but not a private school kid?

Covid grade inflation in publics. Private schools weren’t as susceptible. It means lower GPAs from privates can get in where they can’t from public.

Your credible evidence/data for this sweeping generalization? But what any one person thinks on this subject doesn't matter -- colleges will see the profile for each applicant's school with overall grade distribution, and will thus know to what extent a particular public OR private has grade inflation.

Well, we had to pass everyone for the last two years even when they didn't attend school (online or in person). My DS worked his ass off for his two C- grades at his private school. He wasn't cut any slack at all and yet he still ended up with the same grades as kids in my public school who never attended class. I couldn't have picked these students out if they were standing right on front of me.

I don't doubt what you wrote above and I'm sure it was very frustrating, understandably, for your child to see kids in the public school where you work get grades that they didn't deserve while he studied really hard. But when the admissions offices at colleges see that you child's C- was not a "bad" grade at his private school because high grades there were VERY hard to come by, he will be viewed much more positively than an applicant with a higher GPA from a public whose grade information shows that, for example, no one failed and most kids got As and/or Bs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools often don’t disclose relative rank anymore, and if they all get As relative rank doesn’t matter. A lot of public schools had GPAs shoot up in the pandemic and teachers could not fail kids. You think admissions did not notice?

That is why people are asking about public or private. 3.4 uw in a competitive private will have options that a 3.4 won’t have otherwise.

What you wrote doesn't change the fact that it depends on the individual school in question. Yes, of course an applicant from a rigorous private where a 3.4 uw is a "good" (i.e., above the mean and/or average) GPA in that school's grade distribution range is in better shape than a kid with, say, a 3.8 uw from a public school at which that GPA is about average. (Even without disclosing rank, high schools still provide grade data/ranges to colleges.) And yes, colleges know that Sidwell and other elite privates have, per capita, more very talented kids than found in most publics. But not every private is Sidwell or is stingy in giving As to students -- far from it. And not every public schools gave out As to more than half the class. Each applicant and her/his school will be reviewed individually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools often don’t disclose relative rank anymore, and if they all get As relative rank doesn’t matter. A lot of public schools had GPAs shoot up in the pandemic and teachers could not fail kids. You think admissions did not notice?

That is why people are asking about public or private. 3.4 uw in a competitive private will have options that a 3.4 won’t have otherwise.

What you wrote doesn't change the fact that it depends on the individual school in question. Yes, of course an applicant from a rigorous private where a 3.4 uw is a "good" (i.e., above the mean and/or average) GPA in that school's grade distribution range is in better shape than a kid with, say, a 3.8 uw from a public school at which that GPA is about average. (Even without disclosing rank, high schools still provide grade data/ranges to colleges.) And yes, colleges know that Sidwell and other elite privates have, per capita, more very talented kids than found in most publics. But not every private is Sidwell or is stingy in giving As to students -- far from it. And not every public schools gave out As to more than half the class. Each applicant and her/his school will be reviewed individually.

Sure? I mean obviously this depends on the individual schools in question for the actual admissions committee. But this is DCUM and we don’t know the specific schools and we aren’t an admissions committee. Therefore people are making recommendations to OP based off generalizations, which is also fine. “Competitive private” 3.4 uw is going to get different DCUM recommendations than “large suburban public” 3.4 uw, for instance. OP is asking for recommendations/possibilities and those will change depending on the high school profile her DS fits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are full pay, try to visit and make a solid decision on a realistic reach (F&M, Holy Cross, Kenyon, Bucknell, Dickinson - lots of good suggestions here) and apply ED. Work on a great essay this summer. Full pay, being a boy and ED might get him in. Also strategize for an ED2 if ED1 doesn't work out. There are plenty of good options that will accept him RD, you don't have much to lose by aiming a bit higher ED.

I agree with the above post if you are "full pay".

The University of Denver might be of interest.

Really need to know more about your son. Does he prefer a small school such as an SLAC ? Or does he prefer to be in a larger, university environment ?

If full pay, then consider ED to Kenyon College. Small, rural, beautiful campus, lots of well off students, excellent writing instruction. But, not really much to escape to for the great outdoors.

If he likes hiking & snow skiing, then consider-one-course-at-a-time Colorado College or the University of Denver. Both schools have a lot of upper middle class students & wealthier students.

My recommendations are based on very little information, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son worked hard for his 3.4 gpa at his Maryland private school. He didn’t take AP classes. His SAT score was 1300 (650 in both math and verbal). He thinks he wants to major in economics but he would like to explore other options. He is looking for a college with other students near his academic level. He is leaning towards staying within a 4 hour drive but would consider a school across the country. He feels overwhelmed in the city and he feels relaxed in green spacious environments. Do you have suggestions for where to look (both public and private)?

Rollins College, St. Lawrence University, Denison, Colorado College, Kenyon College, University of Denver, University of Richmond, are some to consider. He will be pushed academically at Kenyon College, in my opinion.

If your son wants a larger school and would be interested in a business related major:

University of Arizona, University of Utah, University of Denver, University of San Diego, University of Vermont, Northern Arizona University, & Indiana University are some to consider.

When discussing these schools with your son, watch for any strong reactions/responses that might help to better refine his search by better defining his likes and dislikes.

If he can manage to get into the University of Arizona Honors College, the trek to Tucson will be worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools often don’t disclose relative rank anymore, and if they all get As relative rank doesn’t matter. A lot of public schools had GPAs shoot up in the pandemic and teachers could not fail kids. You think admissions did not notice?

That is why people are asking about public or private. 3.4 uw in a competitive private will have options that a 3.4 won’t have otherwise.

What you wrote doesn't change the fact that it depends on the individual school in question. Yes, of course an applicant from a rigorous private where a 3.4 uw is a "good" (i.e., above the mean and/or average) GPA in that school's grade distribution range is in better shape than a kid with, say, a 3.8 uw from a public school at which that GPA is about average. (Even without disclosing rank, high schools still provide grade data/ranges to colleges.) And yes, colleges know that Sidwell and other elite privates have, per capita, more very talented kids than found in most publics. But not every private is Sidwell or is stingy in giving As to students -- far from it. And not every public schools gave out As to more than half the class. Each applicant and her/his school will be reviewed individually.

Sure? I mean obviously this depends on the individual schools in question for the actual admissions committee. But this is DCUM and we don’t know the specific schools and we aren’t an admissions committee. Therefore people are making recommendations to OP based off generalizations, which is also fine. “Competitive private” 3.4 uw is going to get different DCUM recommendations than “large suburban public” 3.4 uw, for instance. OP is asking for recommendations/possibilities and those will change depending on the high school profile her DS fits.

What you wrote makes sense. It's just that several posts have not specified "competitive" private, but appeared to lump all private schools together (in addition to lumping all public schools together). And then there's the question of which privates should be considered "competitive" - some would be obvious, but most parents shelling out for a private school want to think their kid's school falls in that category, even when it's not even close to being in the same league as, say, the Big 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools often don’t disclose relative rank anymore, and if they all get As relative rank doesn’t matter. A lot of public schools had GPAs shoot up in the pandemic and teachers could not fail kids. You think admissions did not notice?

That is why people are asking about public or private. 3.4 uw in a competitive private will have options that a 3.4 won’t have otherwise.

What you wrote doesn't change the fact that it depends on the individual school in question. Yes, of course an applicant from a rigorous private where a 3.4 uw is a "good" (i.e., above the mean and/or average) GPA in that school's grade distribution range is in better shape than a kid with, say, a 3.8 uw from a public school at which that GPA is about average. (Even without disclosing rank, high schools still provide grade data/ranges to colleges.) And yes, colleges know that Sidwell and other elite privates have, per capita, more very talented kids than found in most publics. But not every private is Sidwell or is stingy in giving As to students -- far from it. And not every public schools gave out As to more than half the class. Each applicant and her/his school will be reviewed individually.

Sure? I mean obviously this depends on the individual schools in question for the actual admissions committee. But this is DCUM and we don’t know the specific schools and we aren’t an admissions committee. Therefore people are making recommendations to OP based off generalizations, which is also fine. “Competitive private” 3.4 uw is going to get different DCUM recommendations than “large suburban public” 3.4 uw, for instance. OP is asking for recommendations/possibilities and those will change depending on the high school profile her DS fits.

What you wrote makes sense. It's just that several posts have not specified "competitive" private, but appeared to lump all private schools together (in addition to lumping all public schools together). And then there's the question of which privates should be considered "competitive" - some would be obvious, but most parents shelling out for a private school want to think their kid's school falls in that category, even when it's not even close to being in the same league as, say, the Big 3.

This seems bizarrely nitpicky and defensive to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? Vassar, F&M and Skidmore, Bucknell? Do these seem realistic to people? I had thought those were out of reach for my son, who has a higher gpa and higher scores based on Navisnce.

Does your kid go to public school? If so, they probably are out of reach.

Why would these be out of reach for a public school kid with those stats but not a private school kid?

Covid grade inflation in publics. Private schools weren’t as susceptible. It means lower GPAs from privates can get in where they can’t from public.

Your credible evidence/data for this sweeping generalization? But what any one person thinks on this subject doesn't matter -- colleges will see the profile for each applicant's school with overall grade distribution, and will thus know to what extent a particular public OR private has grade inflation.

Well, we had to pass everyone for the last two years even when they didn't attend school (online or in person). My DS worked his ass off for his two C- grades at his private school. He wasn't cut any slack at all and yet he still ended up with the same grades as kids in my public school who never attended class. I couldn't have picked these students out if they were standing right on front of me.

I don't doubt what you wrote above and I'm sure it was very frustrating, understandably, for your child to see kids in the public school where you work get grades that they didn't deserve while he studied really hard. But when the admissions offices at colleges see that you child's C- was not a "bad" grade at his private school because high grades there were VERY hard to come by, he will be viewed much more positively than an applicant with a higher GPA from a public whose grade information shows that, for example, no one failed and most kids got As and/or Bs.

That is a really messed up mentality, as the smart kid at a public HS likely didn't have a choice to attend anywhere else, their family likely couldn't afford private HS. Getting a 3.98 UW Gpa and taking as many APs as offered (or at least 8-10) shouldn't penalize them over someone at an elite private school. Who knows if they'd get a C- like your son or an A/A-