How do we navigate this

[Anonymous]

Trying to navigate a problem that applies to a small number of people.
Freshman year at TJ, transfer out at the end of year to base. GPA average 3.2 that year. Couple of Cs, couple of Bs, couple of As. Mild ADHD.
3 years at base, steady improvement, multiple A's, some B+ (mostly for AP or honors classes), GPA 4.2, 4.7, and on track for another 4.6 senior year
Average GPA just about crossing 4.
SAT 1510
7-8 APs (3,4,5)
ECs, nothing outstanding, but some usual clubs & activities.
Problem is average GPA, and UW GPA, looking in the B+ range. How do we tell the schools this is not a B+ student but really a problem with attending a school that did tough grading.
Counselor suggested explain in essay, and we did. Will that improve chances? Do we mention ADHD, or not? It's overcompensated by higher IQ, so goes undetected. What is safety at this point?
Applying to STEM/Engineering. Male/Asian (I know )

[Anonymous]

You will get some actually helpful advice if you post on College Confidential.

[Anonymous]

Chances are, admissions will already be familiar with TJ and will have enough context to judge accordingly.

I think you need to focus on conveying why your student deserves to be accepted despite being a B+ student.

There are plenty of extremely bright students with average grades, but unfortunately, there are also plenty with perfect grades. A B+ student is a B+ student at the end of the day, despite some degree of variance in rigor.

There may be some degree of weight based on "tough grading," but the fact that many do achieve excellent grades under the same circumstances sort of negates the argument.

[Anonymous]

Rule 1...this isn't a "we" process. Let your kid navigate it.

Rule 2...see rule 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rule 1...this isn't a "we" process. Let your kid navigate it.

Rule 2...see rule 1.

I don’t have any advice, but I do cringe when I read responses like this.

I hope you are your child are able to figure out a good approach. And get support from others here who might have useful input.

[Anonymous]

+1. Avoid that “advice” if you care about your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to navigate a problem that applies to a small number of people.
Freshman year at TJ, transfer out at the end of year to base. GPA average 3.2 that year. Couple of Cs, couple of Bs, couple of As. Mild ADHD.
3 years at base, steady improvement, multiple A's, some B+ (mostly for AP or honors classes), GPA 4.2, 4.7, and on track for another 4.6 senior year
Average GPA just about crossing 4.
SAT 1510
7-8 APs (3,4,5)
ECs, nothing outstanding, but some usual clubs & activities.
Problem is average GPA, and UW GPA, looking in the B+ range. How do we tell the schools this is not a B+ student but really a problem with attending a school that did tough grading.
Counselor suggested explain in essay, and we did. Will that improve chances? Do we mention ADHD, or not? It's overcompensated by higher IQ, so goes undetected. What is safety at this point?
Applying to STEM/Engineering. Male/Asian (I know )

I went through something similar, with my kid writing an essay. Only helped at one Top 50 with a legacy connection. Kid is now somewhere where his stats put him in the top quarter of the class. It is really hard to get past the low GPA at big schools. Forget about UMCP. Try smaller programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rule 1...this isn't a "we" process. Let your kid navigate it.

Rule 2...see rule 1.

Rule 3: ignore the unhelpful assholes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to navigate a problem that applies to a small number of people.
Freshman year at TJ, transfer out at the end of year to base. GPA average 3.2 that year. Couple of Cs, couple of Bs, couple of As. Mild ADHD.
3 years at base, steady improvement, multiple A's, some B+ (mostly for AP or honors classes), GPA 4.2, 4.7, and on track for another 4.6 senior year
Average GPA just about crossing 4.
SAT 1510
7-8 APs (3,4,5)
ECs, nothing outstanding, but some usual clubs & activities.
Problem is average GPA, and UW GPA, looking in the B+ range. How do we tell the schools this is not a B+ student but really a problem with attending a school that did tough grading.
Counselor suggested explain in essay, and we did. Will that improve chances? Do we mention ADHD, or not? It's overcompensated by higher IQ, so goes undetected. What is safety at this point?
Applying to STEM/Engineering. Male/Asian (I know )

I don’t understand? What is wrong with a B+?

You already know the kid cannot cut it at an elite school, so why not just let him go somewhere he can thrive?

[Anonymous]

My kids go to a school like TJ on the west coast. The college counselors all know about TJ and that a GPA from there is not the same as a GPA from random HS.

Also, colleges tend to downplay 9th grade lower grades. Colleges like to see an upward trend. The same total range of grades, but lower in 11th than in 9th, would be more concerning.

Also your kid moved. So, I don't think you need to worry.

Also, a B+ situation is not so concerning anyways. My kid got sick for 6 weeks in 10th, and that put a dent in her GPA. I asked the dean if we should put in an explanation, and she said no, it wasn't enough of a dent.

[Anonymous]

Honestly Op, I would concentrate more on where he wants to go. His stats are wonderful for any school other than MIT and a handful of others. Apply widely. VT and UMD *should be* safeties.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I am not trying to finagle this, just looking for some real safeties, because everyone keeps telling us it is impossible to get admission without a A/A- average. We are applying widely, and by "we" I mean the parents are helping out to lower stress levels. We don't have problem going lower, if that is what it means, just wanted to get a feel for what is a real safety. I consider VT/UMD as match/high match just to be on safe side. Wondering where else, OOS?

[Anonymous]

Schools like to see that direction of trajectory. Don’t worry (or make him worry). He is doing very well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will get some actually helpful advice if you post on College Confidential.

College Confidential is the epitome of toxic caca.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to navigate a problem that applies to a small number of people.
Freshman year at TJ, transfer out at the end of year to base. GPA average 3.2 that year. Couple of Cs, couple of Bs, couple of As. Mild ADHD.
3 years at base, steady improvement, multiple A's, some B+ (mostly for AP or honors classes), GPA 4.2, 4.7, and on track for another 4.6 senior year
Average GPA just about crossing 4.
SAT 1510
7-8 APs (3,4,5)
ECs, nothing outstanding, but some usual clubs & activities.
Problem is average GPA, and UW GPA, looking in the B+ range. How do we tell the schools this is not a B+ student but really a problem with attending a school that did tough grading.
Counselor suggested explain in essay, and we did. Will that improve chances? Do we mention ADHD, or not? It's overcompensated by higher IQ, so goes undetected. What is safety at this point?
Applying to STEM/Engineering. Male/Asian (I know )

We find a noun?