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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What does his school profile about the distributions of GPA at your school?  I know that at my kid's public school 36% have GPA's over 4.0 and 12% have GPA's over 4.5, so a 4.1 would probably be about the 75th %ile.  According to their Common Data set, 91% of Notre Dame's freshmen are in the top 10th, so he'd be quite a bit lower.  However, your high school may have a different distribution of GPA's.

In addition, Notre Dame considers academic rigor to be the #1 factor when admitting students.  A kid who takes some honors, rather than all honors, might not make the cut.  I know the kids who go to ND from the school where I teach are kids who are in all honors, and lots of AP's and still near the very top of the class.

Given that, it sounds like the counselor is being realistic.  The 4 schools they mention are great schools, and not easy to get into either.  And there are plenty of great Catholic schools that can be safeties.  [/quote]

OP here.  I don't think any junior in his school has a 4.5.  I believe it would be impossible based on the course offerings and GPA weighting.  Also, the weighting in your DC's school is likely more aggressive (probably 5 for honors and APs) than my DS's which is only 4.5 for honors.  DS has lots of friends in our local public high school and they all took lots of APS in freshman and sophomore year.  That simply was not an option for my DS.  I am fairly certain DS is most likely in top 10% vs the top 25% you predict, but not sure how to find that out honestly.

Also to answer the question someone else asked, in the last four years, 18 students matriculated to ND from his school.  I imagine there were more acceptances than that, but that is how many actually ended up going there.

Thanks again.[/quote]

Here's the college profile for your kid's school (unless there's another Catholic high school that accepts boys and has had 18 kids matriculate to N.D..  Seems unlikely).

https://gonzaga.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/1021/download/download_2405506.pdf

Gonzaga does, in fact, give a whole quality point for AP's and courses considered "Advanced".

I can't find their grade distribution, but it's listed on kids' transcripts so you could just ask for one of those for your son.

Gonzaga has a reputation for great college counseling, so I would see what the counselor there says.

I'm not saying your kid shouldn't apply to ND.  I'm just saying that it's helpful to apply to a variety of schools, with a variety of different levels of stretch.   Having some true safeties, and some reaches, and a bunch in the middle makes sense.  ND is a reach.  Doesn't mean he shouldn't go for it, but his applications should be balanced.

[/quote]

You are right. 5 for AP but only 4.5 for honors. The public’s all give 5 for both honors and APs. I think that is what the OP was trying to convey. [/quote]

Our public school doesn't give a 5 for honors. It only gives it for AP and post -AP classes.[/quote]

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