My kid had very similar stats, plus five years of foreign language (AP), also a humanities kid. Wanted to major in foreign affairs, but was more interested in the intelligence gathering/analyzing aspect. Discovered the National Security and Foreign Affairs major at VT, chose that, and has been so very happy and busy there. Lots of study abroad programs to choose from, as well as complimentary minors. Highly recommend.

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an either/or question. They can “reach big” as long as they identify targets and safeties that they also like.

My humanities kid has a 4.0 uw with 10 APs, top 7% of class, TO. Has gotten into a top 30 LAC (target) with top merit and a few 50%+ admit rate state schools with top merit or honors. Rejected from two top 25 universities, still waiting on a few top 20 SLACs (all of them varying degrees of reaches).

This

Best advice I found was to really focus finding
a safety your kid would love to attend. For my kid it was Pitt. And it’s rolling. If the floor had caved in he would be happy to attend Pitt.

Play safe AND reach big.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an either/or question. They can “reach big” as long as they identify targets and safeties that they also like.

My humanities kid has a 4.0 uw with 10 APs, top 7% of class, TO. Has gotten into a top 30 LAC (target) with top merit and a few 50%+ admit rate state schools with top merit or honors. Rejected from two top 25 universities, still waiting on a few top 20 SLACs (all of them varying degrees of reaches).

I am new to this with a junior as well. Wouldn’t 4.0 uw mean top 1% of class and valedictorian? I mean, there is no better gpa than perfect.

No, weighted GPA tied to rigor of classes considered. 7% sounds about right for 10 APs. My kid has a 4.95 weighted GPA and is not in the top 1% of his class. 3-5% probably.

Thanks for clarifying. Our HS doesnt do weighted grades (we are not in the dmv). This will help me gauge where my child stands

If I had a kid interested in the humanities with those grades, I would really push them to consider a top SLAC. If in Virginia, you should also add W&M to the list.

Mine is at a top SLAC and applied ED. I think their grades were slightly higher and their SAT was a 1520.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an either/or question. They can “reach big” as long as they identify targets and safeties that they also like.

My humanities kid has a 4.0 uw with 10 APs, top 7% of class, TO. Has gotten into a top 30 LAC (target) with top merit and a few 50%+ admit rate state schools with top merit or honors. Rejected from two top 25 universities, still waiting on a few top 20 SLACs (all of them varying degrees of reaches).

I am new to this with a junior as well. Wouldn’t 4.0 uw mean top 1% of class and valedictorian? I mean, there is no better gpa than perfect.

No, weighted GPA tied to rigor of classes considered. 7% sounds about right for 10 APs. My kid has a 4.95 weighted GPA and is not in the top 1% of his class. 3-5% probably.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an either/or question. They can “reach big” as long as they identify targets and safeties that they also like.

My humanities kid has a 4.0 uw with 10 APs, top 7% of class, TO. Has gotten into a top 30 LAC (target) with top merit and a few 50%+ admit rate state schools with top merit or honors. Rejected from two top 25 universities, still waiting on a few top 20 SLACs (all of them varying degrees of reaches).

I am new to this with a junior as well. Wouldn’t 4.0 uw mean top 1% of class and valedictorian? I mean, there is no better gpa than perfect.

No. A 4.0 unweighted means no grade lower than A in all of HS (about 5% of the kids graduate with an unweighted 4.0). Rank is based on weighted GPA, so how many AP classes you take has a huge effect. All of the kids ahead of mine have taken more than 10 APs.

Top SLACs

Last year, my history-loving kid with 4.6 wgpa, 12 APs, 35 ACT but weak on ECs, wanted an international affairs major and his top 3 choices were:

1. Georgetown School of Foreign Service (did not get in).
2. International affairs major in the Dual Degree Programme offered by W&M and St Andrews in Scotland (got in, but declined).
3. George Washington Elliott School of International Affairs (got in, loved it, is attending).

He was accepted at others (McGill, UMD, St John's College in Annapolis) and got in, but they were not specialized in his major, so they were safeties of sorts.

He worked really hard on his essays, BTW. I feel that for a Humanities major, that's a must. The Dual Degree Programme required a separate 1500 word essay on an international affairs topic.

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an either/or question. They can “reach big” as long as they identify targets and safeties that they also like.

My humanities kid has a 4.0 uw with 10 APs, top 7% of class, TO. Has gotten into a top 30 LAC (target) with top merit and a few 50%+ admit rate state schools with top merit or honors. Rejected from two top 25 universities, still waiting on a few top 20 SLACs (all of them varying degrees of reaches).

I am new to this with a junior as well. Wouldn’t 4.0 uw mean top 1% of class and valedictorian? I mean, there is no better gpa than perfect.

It’s not an either/or question. They can “reach big” as long as they identify targets and safeties that they also like.

My humanities kid has a 4.0 uw with 10 APs, top 7% of class, TO. Has gotten into a top 30 LAC (target) with top merit and a few 50%+ admit rate state schools with top merit or honors. Rejected from two top 25 universities, still waiting on a few top 20 SLACs (all of them varying degrees of reaches).

I have two similar kids. Both went to big state Us . One on a full ride.

looking at if they have a 3.8, 1490 and attend public school? 10 AP’s including Calc BC (B’s in math, A’s otherwise). I have a junior and no idea what’s in range or off the table. I’m not looking for recommendations, I’m just curious where similar kids are applying. Playing safe or reaching big?