NP. Can someone clarify what a 3.8 unweighted means in real terms? My DC’s high school only provides weighted GPA. A 3.8 would mean As and A-s, right? Not even Bs?

UVA
VA TECH
Tennessee
Rutgers

For business, calculus matters. What math is she taking in 12th?

Also her application could be strengthened by submission of 5s and 4s on her APs, and similarly weakened if she doesn’t have those to submit.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think she's narrowed down her list to these schools. Are these realistic for someone applying as a business major? We have a tutor to help her with SAT scores which is her biggest issue. Ohio State, IU Kelley, and UTK require SAT scores.

Reach: UVA, Vanderbilt (I know these are major reaches)
Target: Ohio State, UMD, IU (Kelley will be a reach as a direct admit), Penn State, Clemson, UTK, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
Safety: Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Delaware

What are her ECs? Does he have strong accomplishments?
Vanderbilt HOD major in Peabody for ED - likely won't work as its a MAJOR reach, but shoot your shot? If she has leadership in community organizations (incl sports), she can spin her 10 ECs and the 1 supp to be responsive to HOD (she really needs to work her narrative though to stand out in the pool). Make sure you sign up for Pre-VU at Vanderbilt this month.
https://myappvu.vanderbilt.edu/portal/prevu

I'd suggest other schools too:

BU
BC
Villanova
Wisconsin
Iowa
Alabama
Auburn
Northeastern (make sure to show real interest)
Babson
Bentley
Richmond
Wake (make sure to show real interest)
Elon (make sure to show real interest)

If you are applying for business, she should have a few ECs that align with business. Does she have that?
Find niche majors in business schools to apply to (supply chain management, business analytics/data science, rick mgnt, real estate, or sports business).

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think she's narrowed down her list to these schools. Are these realistic for someone applying as a business major? We have a tutor to help her with SAT scores which is her biggest issue. Ohio State, IU Kelley, and UTK require SAT scores.

Reach: UVA, Vanderbilt (I know these are major reaches)
Target: Ohio State, UMD, IU (Kelley will be a reach as a direct admit), Penn State, Clemson, UTK, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
Safety: Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Delaware

I think IU, Penn State and VT out of state with her stats should be moved to the Reach category. My 2025 grad had lots of friends (FCPS) with higher stats not get into PSU or VT (in state). UTK is getting very popular from this area and was hit or miss for similar-stat kids, but seems to be closely aligned with what your kid is looking for. Mine got into UTK with enough merit from their standard chart to make it cheaper than any VA state school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think she's narrowed down her list to these schools. Are these realistic for someone applying as a business major? We have a tutor to help her with SAT scores which is her biggest issue. Ohio State, IU Kelley, and UTK require SAT scores.

Reach: UVA, Vanderbilt (I know these are major reaches)
Target: Ohio State, UMD, IU (Kelley will be a reach as a direct admit), Penn State, Clemson, UTK, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
Safety: Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Delaware

I think these expectations are pretty realistic. (As in, I think she'll get into all the targets and safeties.)

Vanderbilt? It's a high reach for her. GPA is on the lower side.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think she's narrowed down her list to these schools. Are these realistic for someone applying as a business major? We have a tutor to help her with SAT scores which is her biggest issue. Ohio State, IU Kelley, and UTK require SAT scores.

Reach: UVA, Vanderbilt (I know these are major reaches)
Target: Ohio State, UMD, IU (Kelley will be a reach as a direct admit), Penn State, Clemson, UTK, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
Safety: Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Delaware

I think these expectations are pretty realistic. (As in, I think she'll get into all the targets and safeties.)

OP here. I think she's narrowed down her list to these schools. Are these realistic for someone applying as a business major? We have a tutor to help her with SAT scores which is her biggest issue. Ohio State, IU Kelley, and UTK require SAT scores.

Reach: UVA, Vanderbilt (I know these are major reaches)
Target: Ohio State, UMD, IU (Kelley will be a reach as a direct admit), Penn State, Clemson, UTK, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
Safety: Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Delaware

Anonymous wrote:In-state DD applied to UMD with a 3.9/4.7 TO with strong performing arts ECs. Rejected. Her counselor said UMD really likes test scores despite being TO. At her W school, the GPA cut off was around 4.8 this year. She was accepted at GWU with good merit ($29K) and W&M.

The problem is that she is from a W school. UMD will compare her to other kids at the W school who probably have high test scores, so they would've expected her test scores.

University of South Carolina. It works for your budget. Great school, pretty campus. Checks a lot of boxes.

Isn’t a 3.9 in MCPS something lots of kids have?

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what the other ECs are but a varsity sport - even 4 years, even captain - is not a big deal at all.

Okay

Not sure what the other ECs are but a varsity sport - even 4 years, even captain - is not a big deal at all.

Anonymous wrote:UMD Honors Program
UCSB
U or Miami

Except she had a 3.9 unweighted

UMD Honors Program
UCSB
U or Miami