Anonymous
11/26/2020 15:58
Subject: Re:How do we navigate this
Anonymous wrote:Ok, OP here. Applied or applying to so far the following list:
1. UVA (ED, maximizing the only chance)
2. VT
3. GMU
4. JMU
5. VCU
6. UMDCP
7. Penn State
8. UPitt
9. Clemson
10. U-Alabama
11. UW-Madison
12. UC's
Anything else we should consider? WVU or similar?
DC not interested outside of big state schools where everyone goes, especially schools where Asian kids don't go (sorry don't blame me, friends)
UCs recalculate GPA excluding 9th grade. Your son is a strong candidate there.
Anonymous
11/26/2020 15:40
Subject: Re:How do we navigate this
Anonymous wrote:Ok, OP here. Applied or applying to so far the following list:
1. UVA (ED, maximizing the only chance)
2. VT
3. GMU
4. JMU
5. VCU
6. UMDCP
7. Penn State
8. UPitt
9. Clemson
10. U-Alabama
11. UW-Madison
12. UC's
Anything else we should consider? WVU or similar?
DC not interested outside of big state schools where everyone goes, especially schools where Asian kids don't go (sorry don't blame me, friends)
He’ll probably get into JMU VCU PSU Pitt UAlabama with those stats..
I think a place like Pitt or Alabama would be perfect. He’ll be the top of the top in terms of SAT scores and if he focuses he’ll be a stand out.
The rest who knows? Not sure if he’d be interested in a place like Tulane but they are known to accept high SAT lower GPA kids.
Anonymous
11/26/2020 15:10
Subject: How do we navigate this
OP, I would include a wide range of schools. Bad grades freshman year may not be a dealbreaker, though predicting chances is especially difficult this year. It is often said that admission officers like to see a rising trend, which your son has. As long as he has low matches and safeties he'd be happy with, there's nothing wrong with including plenty of high matches and reaches.
I wonder what results may look like for the applicant with imperfect grades but good scores and how that app is evaluated in the context of the fact that applicant pool will contain a large chunk of applicants with better grades but no scores. (My kid is in a similar position with low grades/high scores, although my kid is a URM, and I have no clue how things will turn out.)
I wonder what results may look like for the applicant with imperfect grades but good scores and how that app is evaluated in the context of the fact that applicant pool will contain a large chunk of applicants with better grades but no scores. (My kid is in a similar position with low grades/high scores, although my kid is a URM, and I have no clue how things will turn out.)
Anonymous
11/26/2020 15:03
Subject: Re:How do we navigate this
Anonymous wrote:I'm not criticizing, I just don't understand. How is an unweighted 4 GPA a B? And how do you get a 4 unweighted GPA with Bs? Your child has excellent grades and an outstanding SAT score. Congratulations. I'm sure he'll get into some great STEM/Engineering schools. I know a child with a similar profile (super smart, had one bumpy year) who got a great package to RIT.
(not OP) Looks like the just-over-4 is weighted.
Anonymous
11/26/2020 14:41
Subject: Re:How do we navigate this
Add Purdue to your list. Strong school, but heavily Midwestern. East coast students bring diversity.
Anonymous
11/25/2020 19:53
Subject: How do we navigate this
Be proud of him. He's done well.
Anonymous
11/25/2020 19:34
Subject: How do we navigate this
I'd add Tennessee and South Carolina.
Anonymous
11/25/2020 18:06
Subject: Re:How do we navigate this
I'm not criticizing, I just don't understand. How is an unweighted 4 GPA a B? And how do you get a 4 unweighted GPA with Bs? Your child has excellent grades and an outstanding SAT score. Congratulations. I'm sure he'll get into some great STEM/Engineering schools. I know a child with a similar profile (super smart, had one bumpy year) who got a great package to RIT.
Anonymous
11/25/2020 17:58
Subject: Re:How do we navigate this
Ok, OP here. Applied or applying to so far the following list:
1. UVA (ED, maximizing the only chance)
2. VT
3. GMU
4. JMU
5. VCU
6. UMDCP
7. Penn State
8. UPitt
9. Clemson
10. U-Alabama
11. UW-Madison
12. UC's
Anything else we should consider? WVU or similar?
DC not interested outside of big state schools where everyone goes, especially schools where Asian kids don't go (sorry don't blame me, friends)
1. UVA (ED, maximizing the only chance)
2. VT
3. GMU
4. JMU
5. VCU
6. UMDCP
7. Penn State
8. UPitt
9. Clemson
10. U-Alabama
11. UW-Madison
12. UC's
Anything else we should consider? WVU or similar?
DC not interested outside of big state schools where everyone goes, especially schools where Asian kids don't go (sorry don't blame me, friends)
Anonymous
11/25/2020 08:37
Subject: How do we navigate this
Anonymous wrote:Schools like to see that direction of trajectory. Don’t worry (or make him worry). He is doing very well!
+1
With TJ being the #1 public high school in the nation for most of the recent years, the more competitive STEM schools will know this when looking at that first year.
Anonymous
11/25/2020 06:40
Subject: How do we navigate this
Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP to look at colleges like Lafayette and Bucknell. Seek STEM opportunities at liberal arts colleges. They will be more understanding of his trajectory.
And Asian males are an underrepresented minority at many LACs, which increases his chances.
Anonymous
11/24/2020 21:00
Subject: How do we navigate this
Are the 3-2 engineering programs with SLACS still a thing? The first 3 years at a small LAC and then transfer to a big school with an engineering program for the last two years. I knew someone who did that back in the day and he loved the vibe and education he got from the LAC and then moved to the big state school to finish the engineering part of his degree. That might be an option, OP, if you think your kid might thrive in a smaller environment.
Anonymous
11/24/2020 16:36
Subject: How do we navigate this
At this point your kid can spend a lot of mental energy and time trying to make excuses or your kid can try to sell himself. I would advocate the latter. If your kid does not meet some grade cut off, an essay is not going to help (what's the essay going to say: "I am really smart, but I am not quite as smart or hardworking as the really accomplished kids"? ). Personally, I think it would be better for your kid to talk about his interests, strengths, and accomplishments.
As for school selection, I would apply widely and warn you against assuming a school is "safe". I know kids with much higher stats that were rejected from V-tech engineering.
As for school selection, I would apply widely and warn you against assuming a school is "safe". I know kids with much higher stats that were rejected from V-tech engineering.
Anonymous
11/24/2020 16:09
Subject: How do we navigate this
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Trying to navigate a problem that applies to a small number of people.
Freshman year at TJ, transfer out at the end of year to base. GPA average 3.2 that year. Couple of Cs, couple of Bs, couple of As. Mild ADHD.
3 years at base, steady improvement, multiple A's, some B+ (mostly for AP or honors classes), GPA 4.2, 4.7, and on track for another 4.6 senior year
Average GPA just about crossing 4.
SAT 1510
7-8 APs (3,4,5)
ECs, nothing outstanding, but some usual clubs & activities.
Problem is average GPA, and UW GPA, looking in the B+ range. How do we tell the schools this is not a B+ student but really a problem with attending a school that did tough grading.
Counselor suggested explain in essay, and we did. Will that improve chances? Do we mention ADHD, or not? It's overcompensated by higher IQ, so goes undetected. What is safety at this point?
Applying to STEM/Engineering. Male/Asian (I know)
I went through something similar, with my kid writing an essay. Only helped at one Top 50 with a legacy connection. Kid is now somewhere where his stats put him in the top quarter of the class. It is really hard to get past the low GPA at big schools. Forget about UMCP. Try smaller programs.
Why forget UMD if not directly admitted to Engineering he can try sophomore year.
UMBC is another good choice if you are from MD.
Anonymous
11/24/2020 09:46
Subject: How do we navigate this
I'm pretty sure admissions officers will see the school change and know what happened.