3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?

[Anonymous]

The thing is you never know if they need a classics major in ED. At that point you just may have to shoot your shot. And you might get lucky.

If applying test optional and aiming for these kinds of selective schools, I would recommend casting a very wide net. And close to 20 applications - if you go all the way to regular decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At fairly rigorous/prestigious private school but the SAT isn’t working out. Any suggestions? What schools realistically accept TO kids for RD?

Aim in the T40-50 range or below the top 15 LACs. Think Tulane, Colby, Bucknell. Or test blind lower UC schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At fairly rigorous/prestigious private school but the SAT isn’t working out. Any suggestions? What schools realistically accept TO kids for RD?

Aim in the T40-50 range or below the top 15 LACs. Think Tulane, Colby, Bucknell. Or test blind lower UC schools

Hmmm. 3.9 at a rigorous private? Why aim there? For ED?
This classics major kid can be compelling at much more competitive colleges, if the high school is a well regarded feeder.

Kid needs to be thoughtful about ED though. Great suggestions earlier: WashU; UChicago. Vanderbilt may be harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I think 1400 is do-able for Georgetown! And Chicago admits 25% with no SAT score. Michigan seems like the hard one TBH.

OP: I just checked and their 25th percentile score is 1400 - surprising!

The 25% is usually hooked (athlete, faculty, donor, etc)….just remember that.

You really should go by the 50th percentile as the guide unless you are hooked or have something really special

My sense is it is better to submit at 25th percentile that go TO and the assumption might be the score was even lower. Middle 50% puts you in range.

It really depends on the school. There is no blanket statement like that is true.

For example, if you submitted a score like that at Vanderbilt, it would hurt you. Absolutely. The AO will tell you if you ask (go to their summer pre-VU and city college tours and chat with AO - we found them very forthcoming about TO - also at WashU).

At other “test optional “schools your guidance might be right.

OP: yes I have heard this as well. Idk abt WashU. Vandy is another possibility for TO ED2 although I think dc prefers WashU so far. Would either be possible in RD though?

Probably not RD TO at our school. In RD Vandy likes tippy top stats or national level ECs/fame. ED2 at Vandy is notoriously hard too - with a lot of T10 ED1 rejections redirecting. But again, your schools data may show something different - and more positive.

RD is possible if deferred from ED though? Look at your high school’s data? See which kids are going /were admitted to those 2 schools this year? Were they TO? Can your kid ask them?

OP: no, I was wondering if WashU would be possible in RD, or if ED2 is required if dc is TO.

[Anonymous]

OP: it looks like USC and Wake Forest are more than 50% admitted TO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: it looks like USC and Wake Forest are more than 50% admitted TO.

Here an old list of high % of admitted TO private colleges:

UChicago 
WashU 
Vanderbilt 
USC 
Pomona
Claremont McKenna 
NYU 
BU 
UMiami 
Wesleyan
Davidson
Northeastern 
Villanova 
Middlebury 
BC 
Lehigh 
Wake 
Tufts 
Tulane

[Anonymous]

Aim for schools that have a pre-TO median for matriculated students around 1350-1400 so your kid can be average to above average if they put the work in. Yes percentiles have changed slightly so a 1400 today is more like a 1360 in 2019.

It makes no sense to send your kid to a college where 75% or more are better scorers, especially for any major that is curved based on other students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 1400 is do-able for Georgetown! And Chicago admits 25% with no SAT score. Michigan seems like the hard one TBH.

OP: I just checked and their 25th percentile score is 1400 - surprising!

The 25% is usually hooked (athlete, faculty, donor, etc)….just remember that.

You really should go by the 50th percentile as the guide unless you are hooked or have something really special

My sense is it is better to submit at 25th percentile that go TO and the assumption might be the score was even lower. Middle 50% puts you in range.

It really depends on the school. There is no blanket statement like that is true.

For example, if you submitted a score like that at Vanderbilt, it would hurt you. Absolutely. The AO will tell you if you ask (go to their summer pre-VU and city college tours and chat with AO - we found them very forthcoming about TO - also at WashU).

At other “test optional “schools your guidance might be right.

OP: yes I have heard this as well. Idk abt WashU. Vandy is another possibility for TO ED2 although I think dc prefers WashU so far. Would either be possible in RD though?

Probably not RD TO at our school. In RD Vandy likes tippy top stats or national level ECs/fame. ED2 at Vandy is notoriously hard too - with a lot of T10 ED1 rejections redirecting. But again, your schools data may show something different - and more positive.

RD is possible if deferred from ED though? Look at your high school’s data? See which kids are going /were admitted to those 2 schools this year? Were they TO? Can your kid ask them?

OP: no, I was wondering if WashU would be possible in RD, or if ED2 is required if dc is TO.

If you're going to do WashU, you should go ED 1. Same with Chicago. So, choose.

Vandy gets a lot of noise because it remains test optional. But if the kid isn't spectacular in some way, don't even think about it for a TO option in the early rounds. It's become a ridiculously difficult admit. Save that app for the RD lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aim for schools that have a pre-TO median for matriculated students around 1350-1400 so your kid can be average to above average if they put the work in. Yes percentiles have changed slightly so a 1400 today is more like a 1360 in 2019.

It makes no sense to send your kid to a college where 75% or more are better scorers, especially for any major that is curved based on other students

It’s classics. Not worried about curve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: it looks like USC and Wake Forest are more than 50% admitted TO.

Here an old list of high % of admitted TO private colleges:

UChicago 
WashU 
Vanderbilt 
USC 
Pomona
Claremont McKenna 
NYU 
BU 
UMiami 
Wesleyan
Davidson
Northeastern 
Villanova 
Middlebury 
BC 
Lehigh 
Wake 
Tufts 
Tulane

And all of the schools listed are good schools. No shame in TO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TO, do Emory, BU, Northeastern, UMichigan, UC Irvine, NYU

With that 3.9 GPA, these schools are safties. Aim higher.

Incredible lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 1400 is do-able for Georgetown! And Chicago admits 25% with no SAT score. Michigan seems like the hard one TBH.

OP: I just checked and their 25th percentile score is 1400 - surprising!

The 25% is usually hooked (athlete, faculty, donor, etc)….just remember that.

You really should go by the 50th percentile as the guide unless you are hooked or have something really special

My sense is it is better to submit at 25th percentile that go TO and the assumption might be the score was even lower. Middle 50% puts you in range.

It really depends on the school. There is no blanket statement like that is true.

For example, if you submitted a score like that at Vanderbilt, it would hurt you. Absolutely. The AO will tell you if you ask (go to their summer pre-VU and city college tours and chat with AO - we found them very forthcoming about TO - also at WashU).

At other “test optional “schools your guidance might be right.

Vandy and WashU are around 50% test optional, that's why. Even a 1500 should go TO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TO, do Emory, BU, Northeastern, UMichigan, UC Irvine, NYU

With that 3.9 GPA, these schools are safties. Aim higher.

In state, which is easier, almost all Michigan admits have a 3.8 or above.

3.9 is very average.

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/how-to-get-into%E2%80%93university-of-michigan

A boy interested in Classics might be appealing.

Look at the Residential College and Honors College to determine a fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TO, do Emory, BU, Northeastern, UMichigan, UC Irvine, NYU

With that 3.9 GPA, these schools are safties. Aim higher.

In state, which is easier, almost all Michigan admits have a 3.8 or above.

3.9 is very average.

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/how-to-get-into%E2%80%93university-of-michigan

A boy interested in Classics might be appealing.

Look at the Residential College and Honors College to determine a fit.

They don't include private schools' gpa in the stats. Private schools do not provide ranking or gpa.
The average gpa for Michigan admits is not meaningful for private school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: it looks like USC and Wake Forest are more than 50% admitted TO.

Here an old list of high % of admitted TO private colleges:

UChicago 
WashU 
Vanderbilt 
USC 
Pomona
Claremont McKenna 
NYU 
BU 
UMiami 
Wesleyan
Davidson
Northeastern 
Villanova 
Middlebury 
BC 
Lehigh 
Wake 
Tufts 
Tulane

OP: thank you!!