Lots of threads on this on DCUM. Here’s one:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1210685.page

Definitely check out the FB group for parents of Awesomely Average kids.

Remember GPAs are hard to compare across school districts. Even in this area, MCPS gpas go up higher than FCPS grades.

I have a similar kid and there is a great FB group called College for Awesomely Average Kids. Lots of helpful suggestions in that group.

Anonymous wrote:Great question. I have a similar kid. He is bright but grades and tests are fine but nothing special. Nice kid who loves sports but I don't want him at a big sports/party school. Very charismatic so will do better in the real world than in school but needs a degree and I want college to be an incredible four years.

We all want a that, but it is not realistic as college should be a growth experience with growing pains,successes,and disappointments so that the student matures.

Anonymous wrote:Not a fan of JMU and Longwood. Both are not the best for outcomes - eg Roanoke is in the middle of nowhere.

JMU was ranked the best college in VA for getting a job in 2021 based on Department of Education statistics.

Elon
Drexel
Muhlenberg
Drew
Delaware
USC
Old Dominion

If you want SEC schools, then USC, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee

Anonymous wrote:I would look south west. where the jobs are. eg Arizona State and U Arizona, U Georgia, Clemson. VCU is great for med and arts.

My kid is also a mid-3.5 GPA. Already admitted to Oregon State, Penn State and U Pitt (SAT is high - zero EC's).

Not a fan of JMU and Longwood. Both are not the best for outcomes - eg Roanoke is in the middle of nowhere.

If the University is 'average' then atleast it must be in a location where jobs are..

Have you seen the recent EA stats for UGA in-state? UGA is reaching UVA level stats for out of state. It won’t be an option for an average student.

Anonymous wrote:I would look south west. where the jobs are. eg Arizona State and U Arizona, U Georgia, Clemson. VCU is great for med and arts.

My kid is also a mid-3.5 GPA. Already admitted to Oregon State, Penn State and U Pitt (SAT is high - zero EC's).

Not a fan of JMU and Longwood. Both are not the best for outcomes - eg Roanoke is in the middle of nowhere.

If the University is 'average' then atleast it must be in a location where jobs are..

NP. I’ve had two kids graduate from JMU. Both have had excellent outcomes - internships and early career placement. Their peers from JMU have had similar success. If you don’t have kids of your own at these schools, then you really don’t know what you’re talking about.

And FYI, neither JMU nor Longwood are in Roanoke… and Roanoke isn’t “in the middle of nowhere”.

I would look south west. where the jobs are. eg Arizona State and U Arizona, U Georgia, Clemson. VCU is great for med and arts.

My kid is also a mid-3.5 GPA. Already admitted to Oregon State, Penn State and U Pitt (SAT is high - zero EC's).

Not a fan of JMU and Longwood. Both are not the best for outcomes - eg Roanoke is in the middle of nowhere.

If the University is 'average' then atleast it must be in a location where jobs are..

Anonymous wrote:Depends on Major. And Financial Situation.

For STEM and Engineering, places like Iowa State, Oregon State, Clemson, RIT and quite a few other privates will admit a 3.0+ student.

In Virginia, ODU, GMU, VCU are very decent choices.

Its not just UVA/VT/UMD or bust.

Thanks, we are in NC and agree it’s not just UNC/NC State or bust. Some of our other in-state options might be a good fit but we are definitely open to VA state schools, have traveled around over the years and have seen JMU/Longwood etc.

Depends on Major. And Financial Situation.

For STEM and Engineering, places like Iowa State, Oregon State, Clemson, RIT and quite a few other privates will admit a 3.0+ student.

In Virginia, ODU, GMU, VCU are very decent choices.

Its not just UVA/VT/UMD or bust.

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the high school. If this were DC’s school (private, DMV), I would say Tulane, Villanova, University of Richmond, Bucknell, Syracuse.

The specific names come from the info (recent acceptances by GPA quintile) shared by college counseling.

Public school in one of the metro areas in NC—affluent / highly educated/intense area, once seen as “old money” but many newcomers (parents with T10 degrees common). Most kids stay in-stare or Sourheast

It really depends on the high school. If this were DC’s school (private, DMV), I would say Tulane, Villanova, University of Richmond, Bucknell, Syracuse.

The specific names come from the info (recent acceptances by GPA quintile) shared by college counseling.

Great question. I have a similar kid. He is bright but grades and tests are fine but nothing special. Nice kid who loves sports but I don't want him at a big sports/party school. Very charismatic so will do better in the real world than in school but needs a degree and I want college to be an incredible four years.

Where does the average kid end up at college? Gpa in the 3s, middle class rank, average range IQ. Perhaps interests and passions outside of school (or not) but those that don’t necessarily count for admission. In this case not a party kid.
Bright and curious. What schools are a good fit…mainly in mid Atlantic or southeast. Could see them at range of school sizes and many of the now hot SEC schools might have been a good fit (specific programs) 5+ years ago but likely out of reach.