Thank you all for the feedback so far. I appreciate it.

I just went back and looked at her grades since freshman year, and I actually underestimated her grades.

In ninth grade, she had 3 A- and a B+ in math. (She also had an A+ in Art and an A in PE, but I assume those don’t count).

In 10th grade, she had a B+ in English, A in Chem, and A- in math, Spanish, and history. (again, As in art class plus physical education, but I assume those don’t count.)

It’s just 11th grade where the grades dropped – we haven’t received final grades yet but in her mid-year report card, she had two Bs, 2 B+, and one A-.

Very rigorous and well-regarded DC private school.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Some of these are already on her radar, but some are not, so it’s good to have other places to research.

+1 for UMass, but be ready to pay close to sticker unless you qualify for fin aid.

It does not have major cities close by (under 45 mins), but it's not in a middle of nowhere (like UConn) either. Good reputation academically, great food (I did try it myself), lots of good kids and easy to find your group.

U South Carolina would be perfect

Submit her scores they are better than her grades for most high school distributions of grades vs SAT. ED tulane may work, it works well for that profile at ours. Or syracuse.

Test prep, if one can afford it, often can raise a SAT score by 50-100 points. Try that if one can.

PP is correct to suggest taking the ACT also. It is not unusual for some students to perform better either on one test or on the other. Take ACT test prep, if affordable, before taking the ACT.

Plenty of schools that are great will take a 1250. But you may have to be more realistic about your list.

Your daughter’s problem is more her grades than her test scores. The rationale for not submitting test scores is when they’re inconsistent with grades, but here the grades are no better than her test scores. Not submitting the test scores will make zero difference. She does not have a prayer at any of the schools you just listed or any in that category and you need to look lower. But it doesn’t matter. There are plenty of good schools out there for her.

Has she considered taking the ACT? My B+ student had <1200 on the SAT and scored 30 on the ACT.

Anonymous wrote:My child has same SAT with more As, A-s with a B or B+ here and there, but may have less rigor as we are outside DC and DCUM rigor is beyond wild.

Looking at UVM, Syracuse, Umass, Penn State, U Del plus some smaller schools which I won't mention as it sounds like she wants larger. If she's into STEM maybe RIT? Maybe Pitt, UConn, Ohio State, Minnesota, or University of Arizona?

Again, your child might have a stronger school/more rigor so maybe these would be more safeties?

This poster has many great suggestions, and the poster who suggested community college is unkind - unless your kid wants to start there, there is no need for her to do so with that profile.

Marquette for Wisconsin, Loyola for Tulane, Tampa for Miami.

CU Boulder
UVM

My dd had a 1250 and took 3 times. Max rigor with 3.96 wgpa, 3.5 uw. Applied ea to Miami, deferred to rd then waitlisted and didn’t get in.
Wisconsin may be possible but Tulane unlikely.

Imo, if you are white or parents went to college, test optional is not good for your profile…schools use it to game their diversity/upward mobility numbers to increase rankings. If you can get the score up to 1350 it opens up a whole another group of possibilities.

My child has same SAT with more As, A-s with a B or B+ here and there, but may have less rigor as we are outside DC and DCUM rigor is beyond wild.

Looking at UVM, Syracuse, Umass, Penn State, U Del plus some smaller schools which I won't mention as it sounds like she wants larger. If she's into STEM maybe RIT? Maybe Pitt, UConn, Ohio State, Minnesota, or University of Arizona?

Again, your child might have a stronger school/more rigor so maybe these would be more safeties?

Maybe she can do community college for two years and then transfer.

My kid has taken the SAT twice and can’t seem to top 1250. Her school does not calculate GPA, and her her grades are mostly Bs and B+, with a few As and A-. Some rigorous classes. Nice ECs. We are looking for more test optional schools. She does not want a small school. She liked Wisconsin, Miami, and Tulane, but we don’t know it she would have a shot at any of those. Ideas?