Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting thread for me. My DC has a 3.3 UW GAP (4.0 weighted), interesting extracurriculars, 2400 (perfect) SATs, and a 5 on DC's NSL AP exam. (Other AP scores, from this year, not yet in.)

Given his GPA, we have been looking at mid-tier schools. Should I raise the bar?

The those SAT scores it's worth a try. He's clearly capable and if an admissions committee senses a well spring of motivation or is willing to take a gamble he might just score big.

11:18 here. DC has taken lots of AP and honors classes.

This is an interesting thread for me. My DC has a 3.3 UW GAP (4.0 weighted), interesting extracurriculars, 2400 (perfect) SATs, and a 5 on DC's NSL AP exam. (Other AP scores, from this year, not yet in.)

Given his GPA, we have been looking at mid-tier schools. Should I raise the bar?

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, OP. With a 3.6 unweighed and that SAT score, your kid should also look at SLACs and schools like Vandy and Emory.

Depends whether the kid is at public or private. My public school DC didn't get into Vandy with a 3.9 unweighted (with a heavy AP load) and scores just a bit lower than OPs. A B+ at a hard grading private might be somewhat more realistic. But Vandy's admit rate is down in the teens now so much more challenging than the old days.

Honestly, OP. With a 3.6 unweighed and that SAT score, your kid should also look at SLACs and schools like Vandy and Emory.

I'm curious, respectfully, about the backgrounds of the posters who are predicting with some certainty where OP's son can and cannot gain admittance. Are you parents who have done a lot research, admissions staffers, etc.

I ask because ny neighbor's son has the same credentials as OP's son and he is headed to Duke in the fall. I'm not so sure I would take every suggestion here as gospel and would certainly add at least one reach school to the mix.

There was a long thread along these lines on the independent school forum. The take-away was that B+ students go on to many, many different colleges of greater or lesser selectivity, depending on many, many variables including the rigor or ease of the the student's high school courseload, whether the high school is known for grade inflation or deflation, scores on standardized tests, strength of recommendation letters, strength of extracurricular honors, prizes and awards, and essays, as well as whether the student is "hooked" (i.e., an URM, athlete and/or legacy). FWIW, B+ student was accepted at the same highly-selective university (USNWR top 5) as his sibs with higher GPAs. He was unhooked, but had everything else going for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. At this point we're casting a wide net so will look at everything as far west as Illinois and as far south as Atlanta/New Orleans. Btw, any opinions on Tulane or Emory?

I think Tulane and Emory would be good choices. Bates had its most competitive class ever this year, I don't think a Bplus without super extras will cut it there.

With a 2270 on the SAT? That's a first tier school test score. I think OP's kid has an excellent chance at Tulane, a pretty good chance at Bates and a fair chance at Emory especially if the student in question is male. Good EC's are pretty much a requirement at all first and second tier schools although the very top schools are probably looking for some kind of national recognition.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. At this point we're casting a wide net so will look at everything as far west as Illinois and as far south as Atlanta/New Orleans. Btw, any opinions on Tulane or Emory?

I think Tulane and Emory would be good choices. Bates had its most competitive class ever this year, I don't think a Bplus without super extras will cut it there.

Thank you. At this point we're casting a wide net so will look at everything as far west as Illinois and as far south as Atlanta/New Orleans. Btw, any opinions on Tulane or Emory?

If the student has averaged an unweighted B+ in tough AP/IB classes at a competitive high school, almost all the state schools in VA and MD should be an option. The PP's suggestions look good and your school counselor should know how many students from your high school typically get in. If the alumni do well at those schools, the likelihood of admission is stronger.

Smaller liberal arts schools should be an option, from Bates to Connecticut College to F&M to Davidson.

Boston College, Wake Forest, Colgate, Bucknell, Trinity, Conn College, U Wisconsin, Maryland, etc.

What does the college counselor suggest? The search engines? Does your child have preferences on size, location, SLAC v university, etc? B+ isn't much to go on.

Hi -- the SAT scores are good -- 2270 with subject tests in low 700's.

Depends heavily on SAT/ACT scores.

I guess the title is self -explanatory other than to add that the b+ GPA is in relatively tough classes.