Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 12:34     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)


Agree and I’m addingUniversity of Scranton . I thought it was a great fit for my kid but she chose elsewhere ; Scranton was her second choice .
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 12:25     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Syracuse or Indiana
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:57     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Mine went to JMU.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:56     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Rutgers. DS, science major, 1300 SAT.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:55     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:I'm talking A-/B+ GPA and say 1300 SAT and some sports and other usual ECs but no leadership or cancer-curing research.


My DD had an unweighted B+/A- gpa - she did 7 APs so weighted was higher. She played varsity sports for all 4 years, did some clubs and a part-time job. She went test optional, and is happy and at Oxy.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:42     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:I'm talking A-/B+ GPA and say 1300 SAT and some sports and other usual ECs but no leadership or cancer-curing research.


This is my kid exactly. We are in New England and he applied to all six New England state flagships. Got in everywhere with merit. Chose UVM (not Honors) and so far so good.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:30     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)

I am wondering why DCUMers favor southern schools. There are lots of wonderful second/third tier state schools in the North. There are a bunch of New York state other than Stony Brook and Bing. Rutgers other than New Brunswick. They get no mention here.

Southern public schools are generally easier to get into.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:27     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)

I am wondering why DCUMers favor southern schools. There are lots of wonderful second/third tier state schools in the North. There are a bunch of New York state other than Stony Brook and Bing. Rutgers other than New Brunswick. They get no mention here.


Frankly, I think a lot of kids want decent weather September thru May. For New England or upper Midwest, it can be brutal for a DC-area kid used to mild winters & not into snow sports.

Also New England publics are pricy & southern ones are cheap so that OOS costs, even without merit, might just be within 5k of MD or VA in-state costs.


Due to climate change, new york at least the southern part now has "mild winters."

I believe at least Rutgers matches your state's tuition for at least some students.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:17     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)

I am wondering why DCUMers favor southern schools. There are lots of wonderful second/third tier state schools in the North. There are a bunch of New York state other than Stony Brook and Bing. Rutgers other than New Brunswick. They get no mention here.


Frankly, I think a lot of kids want decent weather September thru May. For New England or upper Midwest, it can be brutal for a DC-area kid used to mild winters & not into snow sports.

Also New England publics are pricy & southern ones are cheap so that OOS costs, even without merit, might just be within 5k of MD or VA in-state costs.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:17     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)

I am wondering why DCUMers favor southern schools. There are lots of wonderful second/third tier state schools in the North. There are a bunch of New York state other than Stony Brook and Bing. Rutgers other than New Brunswick. They get no mention here.


DC is south of mason dixon line and VA is in the south.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:14     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
DS is in at VT
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:13     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:that's not middle of the road

So what is it? But more importantly, where did such a student go to school? (Not OP. I just have one of these coming up and need to reset from the kid who had a terrible time with a 4.3/1430 and great ECs)

NP but I’d call OP’s description a good but not great student. Solid, but not a standout. I’d call “middle of the road” more solidly B/B- vs A-/B+.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 11:00     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)

I am wondering why DCUMers favor southern schools. There are lots of wonderful second/third tier state schools in the North. There are a bunch of New York state other than Stony Brook and Bing. Rutgers other than New Brunswick. They get no mention here.


Seriously, go visit second/third tier schools in NY and NJ and then go visit Ole Miss or ASU. I think you will understand.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 10:58     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
Anonymous wrote:You should look at the FB group College Admission Advice for awesomely average kids. The rules of the group are under 3.5 wgpa & 1100-ish SAT.

Often mentions in that group: second-tier state schools (Towson, West Chester U, CNU, Easteen TN, U Western Carolina, etc), OOS “second-tier” flagships (OOS U Kentucky, Ole Miss, WVU, ASU, etc) and small, private buyer schools (Susquehanna, Adelphi, St Joe’s, Loyola Marymount, etc)

I am wondering why DCUMers favor southern schools. There are lots of wonderful second/third tier state schools in the North. There are a bunch of New York state other than Stony Brook and Bing. Rutgers other than New Brunswick. They get no mention here.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 10:53     Subject: SO: How did your middle of the road student fare
My kid fits the OP’s description, she’s a senior at a LAC ranked between 50 and 100, and received $25K of merit aid.