She doesn't need a reach.

Right now my DDs list (a little bit higher stats than OP) is all safeties and matches. We're visiting W&M soon and she may add that as a reach but she isn't interested in any others. And that's all for the best since any other reach will be too expensive (you don't get good merit aid from a reach).

I think there are reaches - could be University of Miami or Emory or Wisconsin or something like those? Not Ivy league but still she has a shot. But try to figure out what she likes and then level up.

Reaches could be Pitt, VT, Ohio State, BU, UMass, UConn, Richmond, UMCP, Vermont.

Pitt, Miami, Minnesota

Anonymous wrote:Why would you care about applying to a reach just because it’s a reach?

Look for schools that have her major. Look for schools with people she likes, where she would be a fit, where she would be excited to learn.

Hobart and William Smith
St Mary’s of Maryland
Goucher
U Delaware
Juniata
Ohio State
Allegheny
College of Wooster

There are literally thousands of colleges in the US. Why pull this random of 7 or 8 out of your a$$? I'll never understand why posters do this. Ohio State and Hobart and William Smith in the same sentence? HUH???

What is her unweighted gpa, and what types of classes does she take - mostly on level, or honors, any APs?

Her gpa is good, there are probably reaches that will appeal to her if she applies test optional.


And her stats are no more a donut hole than any others - my kid’s are slightly higher but the matches and reaches where she’d stand a reasonable chance of admittance feel about the same. And my friend’s kid has a 4.7 and 1580 and she says that he has no good matches - it is all reach or safety. I think with the test optional randomness, what were once matches are no longer so everything but true safeties feels like a crapshoot!

Why would you care about applying to a reach just because it’s a reach?

Look for schools that have her major. Look for schools with people she likes, where she would be a fit, where she would be excited to learn.

Hobart and William Smith
St Mary’s of Maryland
Goucher
U Delaware
Juniata
Ohio State
Allegheny
College of Wooster

OP here. Thanks all. Yes, private and out of state are definitely options. I guess all the schools that qualify as "reaches" for her really seem to be about the same in caliber as her "matches." Meaning, there really are no "reaches" - there are just hard cut offs if you are sub 4.0. That is fine - it is what it is at this point - but the Naviance data really do not suggest there is even the possibility of a step up from her "match schools." If she had a 3.3W, let's say, then she would have reaches in GMU, Boulder, Elon, for example. It like the "donut hole" of GPAs (this is 3.8W BTW).

OP, your DD has worked very hard, clearly. How about options? How about lots of options? If you're willing to consider paying for out of state, have her apply widely. Geographic options. See where she gets in, know what the cost would be after merit aid and then visit. It's very empowering for the student to tour and ask quesion once they are in the driver's seat, have already been admitted. The pwer o choice. With those stats she's likely to get merit aid but you neve know until it happens (for most). Give her the luxury of choice (outside of the state of Virginia)

My DC was similar, but with engineering schools. It is totally ok to not have reaches

Maybe GWU? Do you want private or publication only?

My kid applied to VT with similar stats from NOVA in 2020 and got in as a non-STEM major. (keep in mind the Naviance stats are from end of senior year and most kids' GPAs go up senior year with AP classes)

My son is somewhat similar. He has a 3.9W/3.7UW and 1380 SAT.
I was thinking SMU might be a reach for him

She seems in range as a reach for VT non stem if she applies test optional.

What types of colleges does she like, and are there financial considerations?

My oldest will be applying to schools this year. Looking at Naviance at our FCPS school, it does not seem like there are any real "reaches" for a DD like mine who has a 3.8, 1300 SAT. Meaning, she def. is not getting into UVA, W&M, VT. (Naviance show no green checks obv. at UVA and WM and a few outliers for VT, but still not really an option). Then there seem to be plenty of matches for her stats - of the kind of schools you would expect - Penn State, VCU, Miami of Ohio etc. If your child had similar stats, what were their reaches that seemed reasonable? Of course she could submit an application to VT, sure, but she is stumped at where to apply as a viable reach - meaning a school she has a chance, but still definitely a reach.