Reply to Above average GPA (just) and 1540 SAT at rigorous HS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]
These estimates are based on a very rough idea of what the US News rankings are and me obsessing over Chance Me and admissions results posts on College Confidential for about a year.

A possible s[/quote]

Continued - A possible solution, if you find these stats disappointing, and you can be full-pay for $40,000 to $60,000 per year, and your son is sane, well-organized and open to an unusual college experience, is to look at universities in Canada, the UK or Ireland, and, possibly, English-language bachelor’s programs in places like Belgium.

The disadvantage would be administrative issues, lack of U.S.-style student support and some suspense about how U.S. employers and grad schools will see the degree. The advantages are that your son might be able to get an affordable, fun, high-quality education, without a lot of admissions insanity.

So, if you see the arguments back and forth here about the  University of St. Andrews, that’s way. It would probably be a pretty good fit for someone like your son, and its admissions office wouldn’t make him feel like a worm.

But Scottish people who think of it as the Scottish version of Goucher might wonder why a high-stats student would go there.

The answer would be that, for some kids, going there would be more fun and cheaper than going to Goucher, and much less hassle than trying to get into Bates. [/quote]

Don't know why people bring up overseas colleges on this forum.

99% of U.S. families have absolutely no interest unless it's graduate school related. Even then, meh.

It's T50 USW&WR nationals and SLACs!

That's about it in DCUM world.[/quote]

DP:  the OP's kid is at one of the T20 private high schools in the US. Oxbridge, LSE, St Andrews, Toronto, etc are serious and viable prospects.

St Andrews sounds to me like they would love this kind of student.  They take the Common App, don't require AP scores from US students who attend private high school, and --if you get your application in in early September -- will probably give you a decision by October.  It's a good one to have in the pocket.

Oxbridge is more complicated.  They do require AP scores (at least five 5s), and, for most subjects, require a subject-specific standardized test for the first round.  My experience and data are limited, but it seems like many students who score above 1550 AND are in the top quartile of the required subject test are invited for interviews. After the (subject-based) interviews, about 1/3 are given offers.  Not easy at all, but for super-smart kids without national ECs/ sports, hooked parents, or a compelling personal narrative, Oxbridge may be the best opportunity for a top-tier admission.

Whether any particular kid would enjoy university outside the US is another story. .  . .

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