Anonymous
05/16/2025 12:20
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't want to come across as harsh, but a lot of the posts in this thread feel negligently optimistic to me. There is absolutely absolutely a great school for OP's kid (many, in fact!), and I think they can find a fantastic school where they'll thrive. But I don't see how people are encouraging them that certain schools (like WashU) are realistic, even for ED.
OP's kid's verbal SAT is 670, and WashU's 25th percentile verbal is 730. Chicago's is 740.
Kid's math SAT is 730, and WashU's 25th percentile math is 770, as is Chicago's.
Almost 70% of WashU's students had a 4.0, with, presumably, a good chunk in the 3.91–4.0 range as well.
Is admittance with those stats possible? Sure! It could happen! And, yes, Classical Studies and ED will both help. But it's wild to me that there aren't more cautionary voices in this thread.
So, OP, what to do? I think, first, off, don't approach this with a "here are my kid's stats; where can they get in" mindset. Again, there are tons of schools that could be great for your kid. But better to think "okay, what schools are known for classics, and then where can my kid get in?" … and you very well might end up with a list that looks nothing like what people in this thread have suggested. The University of Wisconsin / Washington / Iowa. Pitt. CU Boulder. Or smaller schools, like Whitman, or Occidental, Dickinson, Union, Franklin & Marshall.
There are excellent schools out there, and I'd strongly encourage building a list up from the targets / likelies.
In our private school, students with 1300 score got in UPenn last year when it was still TO. A 3.9 GPA is very difficult to achieve at a rigorous high school.
Same for Northwestern TO at ours.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 12:17
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't want to come across as harsh, but a lot of the posts in this thread feel negligently optimistic to me. There is absolutely absolutely a great school for OP's kid (many, in fact!), and I think they can find a fantastic school where they'll thrive. But I don't see how people are encouraging them that certain schools (like WashU) are realistic, even for ED.
OP's kid's verbal SAT is 670, and WashU's 25th percentile verbal is 730. Chicago's is 740.
Kid's math SAT is 730, and WashU's 25th percentile math is 770, as is Chicago's.
Almost 70% of WashU's students had a 4.0, with, presumably, a good chunk in the 3.91–4.0 range as well.
Is admittance with those stats possible? Sure! It could happen! And, yes, Classical Studies and ED will both help. But it's wild to me that there aren't more cautionary voices in this thread.
So, OP, what to do? I think, first, off, don't approach this with a "here are my kid's stats; where can they get in" mindset. Again, there are tons of schools that could be great for your kid. But better to think "okay, what schools are known for classics, and then where can my kid get in?" … and you very well might end up with a list that looks nothing like what people in this thread have suggested. The University of Wisconsin / Washington / Iowa. Pitt. CU Boulder. Or smaller schools, like Whitman, or Occidental, Dickinson, Union, Franklin & Marshall.
There are excellent schools out there, and I'd strongly encourage building a list up from the targets / likelies.
But if the kid has a strong application in terms of grades, activities, recs, etc., and goes TO, it doesn’t matter what the test percentiles look like. So if WashU is a favorite and remains TO, there’s no reason not to consider it an option.
Agree 💯
WashU admits 40% + TO. Ask your local rep. They’ll be honest.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 12:03
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:I don't want to come across as harsh, but a lot of the posts in this thread feel negligently optimistic to me. There is absolutely absolutely a great school for OP's kid (many, in fact!), and I think they can find a fantastic school where they'll thrive. But I don't see how people are encouraging them that certain schools (like WashU) are realistic, even for ED.
OP's kid's verbal SAT is 670, and WashU's 25th percentile verbal is 730. Chicago's is 740.
Kid's math SAT is 730, and WashU's 25th percentile math is 770, as is Chicago's.
Almost 70% of WashU's students had a 4.0, with, presumably, a good chunk in the 3.91–4.0 range as well.
Is admittance with those stats possible? Sure! It could happen! And, yes, Classical Studies and ED will both help. But it's wild to me that there aren't more cautionary voices in this thread.
So, OP, what to do? I think, first, off, don't approach this with a "here are my kid's stats; where can they get in" mindset. Again, there are tons of schools that could be great for your kid. But better to think "okay, what schools are known for classics, and then where can my kid get in?" … and you very well might end up with a list that looks nothing like what people in this thread have suggested. The University of Wisconsin / Washington / Iowa. Pitt. CU Boulder. Or smaller schools, like Whitman, or Occidental, Dickinson, Union, Franklin & Marshall.
There are excellent schools out there, and I'd strongly encourage building a list up from the targets / likelies.
But if the kid has a strong application in terms of grades, activities, recs, etc., and goes TO, it doesn’t matter what the test percentiles look like. So if WashU is a favorite and remains TO, there’s no reason not to consider it an option.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 12:01
Subject: Re:3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
If the 3.9 puts him at or near the top of the class, any TO school is within reach so pick ones he likes best. Although I do think going TO is harder at UChicago than WashU. If lower down in the class, skip UChicago and do ED1 to WashU or a school like it.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:56
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:I don't want to come across as harsh, but a lot of the posts in this thread feel negligently optimistic to me. There is absolutely absolutely a great school for OP's kid (many, in fact!), and I think they can find a fantastic school where they'll thrive. But I don't see how people are encouraging them that certain schools (like WashU) are realistic, even for ED.
OP's kid's verbal SAT is 670, and WashU's 25th percentile verbal is 730. Chicago's is 740.
Kid's math SAT is 730, and WashU's 25th percentile math is 770, as is Chicago's.
Almost 70% of WashU's students had a 4.0, with, presumably, a good chunk in the 3.91–4.0 range as well.
Is admittance with those stats possible? Sure! It could happen! And, yes, Classical Studies and ED will both help. But it's wild to me that there aren't more cautionary voices in this thread.
So, OP, what to do? I think, first, off, don't approach this with a "here are my kid's stats; where can they get in" mindset. Again, there are tons of schools that could be great for your kid. But better to think "okay, what schools are known for classics, and then where can my kid get in?" … and you very well might end up with a list that looks nothing like what people in this thread have suggested. The University of Wisconsin / Washington / Iowa. Pitt. CU Boulder. Or smaller schools, like Whitman, or Occidental, Dickinson, Union, Franklin & Marshall.
There are excellent schools out there, and I'd strongly encourage building a list up from the targets / likelies.
In our private school, students with 1300 score got in UPenn last year when it was still TO. A 3.9 GPA is very difficult to achieve at a rigorous high school.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:55
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
My kid with lower GPA (private and rigorous) and TO got into WashU RD (and Vanderbilt after ED deferral).
Similar niche major.
The private school matters and private school GPAs, which are not ranked are not included in the data that the previous person quoted.
Look at your school data. It’s much more important than anything anyone says here.
I have found that private schools have much better placement with these test optional schools for humanities majors, then large public schools.
Get to know your local admissions rep.
Similar niche major.
The private school matters and private school GPAs, which are not ranked are not included in the data that the previous person quoted.
Look at your school data. It’s much more important than anything anyone says here.
I have found that private schools have much better placement with these test optional schools for humanities majors, then large public schools.
Get to know your local admissions rep.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:51
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:TO, do Emory, BU, Northeastern, UMichigan, UC Irvine, NYU
With that 3.9 GPA, these schools are safties. Aim higher.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:50
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
I don't want to come across as harsh, but a lot of the posts in this thread feel negligently optimistic to me. There is absolutely absolutely a great school for OP's kid (many, in fact!), and I think they can find a fantastic school where they'll thrive. But I don't see how people are encouraging them that certain schools (like WashU) are realistic, even for ED.
OP's kid's verbal SAT is 670, and WashU's 25th percentile verbal is 730. Chicago's is 740.
Kid's math SAT is 730, and WashU's 25th percentile math is 770, as is Chicago's.
Almost 70% of WashU's students had a 4.0, with, presumably, a good chunk in the 3.91–4.0 range as well.
Is admittance with those stats possible? Sure! It could happen! And, yes, Classical Studies and ED will both help. But it's wild to me that there aren't more cautionary voices in this thread.
So, OP, what to do? I think, first, off, don't approach this with a "here are my kid's stats; where can they get in" mindset. Again, there are tons of schools that could be great for your kid. But better to think "okay, what schools are known for classics, and then where can my kid get in?" … and you very well might end up with a list that looks nothing like what people in this thread have suggested. The University of Wisconsin / Washington / Iowa. Pitt. CU Boulder. Or smaller schools, like Whitman, or Occidental, Dickinson, Union, Franklin & Marshall.
There are excellent schools out there, and I'd strongly encourage building a list up from the targets / likelies.
OP's kid's verbal SAT is 670, and WashU's 25th percentile verbal is 730. Chicago's is 740.
Kid's math SAT is 730, and WashU's 25th percentile math is 770, as is Chicago's.
Almost 70% of WashU's students had a 4.0, with, presumably, a good chunk in the 3.91–4.0 range as well.
Is admittance with those stats possible? Sure! It could happen! And, yes, Classical Studies and ED will both help. But it's wild to me that there aren't more cautionary voices in this thread.
So, OP, what to do? I think, first, off, don't approach this with a "here are my kid's stats; where can they get in" mindset. Again, there are tons of schools that could be great for your kid. But better to think "okay, what schools are known for classics, and then where can my kid get in?" … and you very well might end up with a list that looks nothing like what people in this thread have suggested. The University of Wisconsin / Washington / Iowa. Pitt. CU Boulder. Or smaller schools, like Whitman, or Occidental, Dickinson, Union, Franklin & Marshall.
There are excellent schools out there, and I'd strongly encourage building a list up from the targets / likelies.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:49
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
TO, do Emory, BU, Northeastern, UMichigan, UC Irvine, NYU
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:38
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You're not giving a lot of context to help with suggestions. Do they want a big school? Small? Location? Specific majors?
Amazing how many people ask for suggestions and provide virtually no information...budget?
Private. Ed to UChicago.
Use your reasoning skills on budget.
Why didn't you include UChicago and schools of interest in your original post?Use your reasoning skills.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:38
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:At fairly rigorous/prestigious private school but the SAT isn’t working out. Any suggestions? What schools realistically accept TO kids for RD?
Posts like this make me sad. You have a kid in the top 3% as far as SAT, and you're describing that as "not working out". Your kid will have many choices, wonderful schools that might or might not be in the top 3% (That would be 80 schools) and should be choosing based on what they love, and what they want in life. But instead of describing your wonderful kid, to help us help you and them find what they deserve, you've only described this one thing that you think is a terrible weakness, not being in the top 2%.
You are dramatic. Its not sad.
Parent is trying to optimize outcomes for their high-achieving humanities kid with a lower math score.
I say - Kudos to them. They know that AO will like this kid - and push for this kid - over kids with "higher scores". did you not see that AO post on here a few days ago?
But they aren't trying to "optimize outcomes" because the best outcome for a kid is going to depend on what the kids loves, and where they excel, and where they want to live, and what they want in their life. The fact that OP thinks that 3% of the group of high school seniors who take the SAT is a more important feature of her kid, and more important to finding a college for them, than all those things, is sad.
Start with who your kid is, not with your hang ups over who your kid isn't.
And yes, this kid will have lots of great options.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:27
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You're not giving a lot of context to help with suggestions. Do they want a big school? Small? Location? Specific majors?
Amazing how many people ask for suggestions and provide virtually no information...budget?
Private. Ed to UChicago.
Use your reasoning skills on budget.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:22
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:You're not giving a lot of context to help with suggestions. Do they want a big school? Small? Location? Specific majors?
Amazing how many people ask for suggestions and provide virtually no information...budget?
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:17
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:At fairly rigorous/prestigious private school but the SAT isn’t working out. Any suggestions? What schools realistically accept TO kids for RD?
Posts like this make me sad. You have a kid in the top 3% as far as SAT, and you're describing that as "not working out". Your kid will have many choices, wonderful schools that might or might not be in the top 3% (That would be 80 schools) and should be choosing based on what they love, and what they want in life. But instead of describing your wonderful kid, to help us help you and them find what they deserve, you've only described this one thing that you think is a terrible weakness, not being in the top 2%.
You are dramatic. Its not sad.
Parent is trying to optimize outcomes for their high-achieving humanities kid with a lower math score.
I say - Kudos to them. They know that AO will like this kid - and push for this kid - over kids with "higher scores". did you not see that AO post on here a few days ago?
Looks like the kid did better in math than verbal.
Anonymous
05/16/2025 11:15
Subject: 3.9 GPA with 1400 or TO - where to apply?
Did DC try the ACT?