Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. I appreciate your input. Really not trying to brag. We don't have a school in mind so haven't checked test scores, gpa's, etc. that get you in. Just have heard NOVA talk on what GPA kids from our area need to get in to UVA, Tech, etc.

What GPAs (or ranges) have you heard are needed for those schools?

4.0 plus. My DD scored a 32, but her 3.8 GPA cut her out of UVA and W&M. She didn't apply to Tech. We ended up OOS with a generous merit aid package that makes the OOS option much cheaper than in-state Virginia.

My DC got a 31 ACT and got into Oberlin with merit money. It wasn't their top award but we were happy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a 31 is fantastic. Still, I'm struck how many prior posters respond that such a score (and even a 30) gets you merit aid and a lot of schools. At my kid's private school, a 30 would be considered to be on the lower end. Still good. But definitely on the average side. Is this a private school v public school difference?

http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Multiple_Choice_STEM_Ranks2016.pdf

A composite score of 30 is at the 94th percentile of test takers nationwide. A 31 is at the 96th percentile.

Not in this area. UMD's mid 50% is 29-33 which means 33 is 75%tile. 25% of kids got higher than 33.

Not in this *area?* I think what you mean is that 31 is not the 96th percentile at *UMD.* But enrolled students at one of the top schools in the area are not representative of the entire area.

Anonymous wrote:Two points lower than I got walking into it cold. I had no idea what the test was when I took it.

I suppose you are better than the rest of us then? Glad to know it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a 31 is fantastic. Still, I'm struck how many prior posters respond that such a score (and even a 30) gets you merit aid and a lot of schools. At my kid's private school, a 30 would be considered to be on the lower end. Still good. But definitely on the average side. Is this a private school v public school difference?

http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Multiple_Choice_STEM_Ranks2016.pdf

A composite score of 30 is at the 94th percentile of test takers nationwide. A 31 is at the 96th percentile.

Not in this area. UMD's mid 50% is 29-33 which means 33 is 75%tile. 25% of kids got higher than 33.

You really don't know much about stats, do you?

You do realize most can't get in to UMD? So the fact that this score is kinda middling at the state flagship shows that it is a plenty good score.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a 31 is fantastic. Still, I'm struck how many prior posters respond that such a score (and even a 30) gets you merit aid and a lot of schools. At my kid's private school, a 30 would be considered to be on the lower end. Still good. But definitely on the average side. Is this a private school v public school difference?

http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Multiple_Choice_STEM_Ranks2016.pdf

A composite score of 30 is at the 94th percentile of test takers nationwide. A 31 is at the 96th percentile.

Not in this area. UMD's mid 50% is 29-33 which means 33 is 75%tile. 25% of kids got higher than 33.

Two points lower than I got walking into it cold. I had no idea what the test was when I took it.

Anonymous wrote:My kid with a 3.4 weighted GPA (2 APs, a bunch of honors classes, lots of Bs, some As, couple of Cs) and 30 ACT got into schools like University of Minnesota, Indiana University, etc. DC got generous merit from a College That Changes Lives School and a small merit scholarship from the OOS public university that he now attends.

Can I ask what field he is interested in?

Anonymous wrote:What about for good OOS Flagship universities?

If they want your kid, they will provide some money. Most likely you are on your own. That's pretty much what they said at Wisconsin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's in the 96th percentile.

Huh, really? I'm surprised it's so low. This was my score yet I had over a 99th percentile LSAT.

Now that sentence isn't even a humble brag. My grad tests were better than my SATs. Big whoop.

OP - I'm so sorry the harvard crazies took over with their worries. They take over all the threads about very good kids.

Hey OP -

I get ya. It is really impossible to find out the information a person needs.

Here's what I believe.
It is a good enough score for a decent engineering school. Might not be good enough for your state flagship if you live here. There will be kids who did better. Most will do worse. I believe that's the median score for UVA.

My kid with a 3.4 weighted GPA (2 APs, a bunch of honors classes, lots of Bs, some As, couple of Cs) and 30 ACT got into schools like University of Minnesota, Indiana University, etc. DC got generous merit from a College That Changes Lives School and a small merit scholarship from the OOS public university that he now attends.

If you can score over a 32 (DC had a 34, retook and got a 36), colleges you have never heard of may call you and offer your child free tuition, which, coincidentally was identical ($28,000) for two colleges that did that. They were small colleges you have never heard of which had bought the lists from ACT/SAT. It was clear they wanted boys with high test scores. However, those institutions which called out of the blue didn't offer the program DC wanted. They also were still more expensive than UVA even with the $28K merit and travel costs, room and board figured in, so DC went to UVA and is very happy.

Anonymous wrote:I think a 31 is fantastic. Still, I'm struck how many prior posters respond that such a score (and even a 30) gets you merit aid and a lot of schools. At my kid's private school, a 30 would be considered to be on the lower end. Still good. But definitely on the average side. Is this a private school v public school difference?

http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Multiple_Choice_STEM_Ranks2016.pdf

A composite score of 30 is at the 94th percentile of test takers nationwide. A 31 is at the 96th percentile.