Anonymous
01/29/2026 16:50
Subject: Re:ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:3.09 is low for high point thought the act is more inline. UNC Greensboro is an option.
3.09 is low for Highpoint? Hard to believe. They serve a lot of students who have struggled in school, and the parents have money. That's the simple truth. If you are full pay, they will love you.
Straight from their website:
1280 SAT - Average score for admitted students
27 ACT - Average composite score of all students who took the ACT
3.53 GPA Unweighted
Worth stressing as well that only around 30% of kids are submitting their test scores here, so her score is going to be well into the top quartile of students at High Point And this is basically what you want, at High Point or another college - given adhd is a struggle, you want somewhere she's going to be significantly smarter than the average student.
Anonymous
01/29/2026 15:03
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the freaking out about this. I had a 2.8 and a 27 on the ACT from a top private in Charlotte and I’m 30 now, and out earn many of my friends who went to Vandy/ Wake/ UNC. Got in Clemson, USC, TCU, UT, College of Charleston, Auburn , and went to one of their and had a great experience. Have things changed that much?
Things have changed dramatically since then. Now people would be pushing you towards community college. But I do think people are overreacting a bit. I’ve got a DC who is a terrible test taker as well and think it will be hard and I don’t think he will get into top school for sure, but I think there are still options.
Anonymous
01/29/2026 14:55
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
I don’t understand the freaking out about this. I had a 2.8 and a 27 on the ACT from a top private in Charlotte and I’m 30 now, and out earn many of my friends who went to Vandy/ Wake/ UNC. Got in Clemson, USC, TCU, UT, College of Charleston, Auburn , and went to one of their and had a great experience. Have things changed that much?
Anonymous
01/28/2026 17:41
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:Did you try an SAT? With the shorter length you can fit in practice tests more easily. As others have said I would concentrate on the GPA. Look at where adding a tutor could move the needle before the end of the year.
there is not much you can do to help your gpa with 50% or more of the classes behind you.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 17:20
Subject: Re:ACT 27 from top private
Does she have adhd or anxiety or any documented djagnosis to support an accommodation for extra time? If so, get it! Extra time can really help on the ACT.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 17:17
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Reposting this from a similar thread about academics in general….
Everyone in this area always recommends these small schools I’ve never heard of when a low or mid GPA or test score comes up, but I’d also look at the flagship state schools in the Midwest…Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and some schools in the south (although some of these southern schools seem to have been “discovered” more recently). They are quite easy to get into and offer such a fun college experience with lifelong friendships, great athletic fan bases and alumni networks, quaint college towns and an education that can compete anywhere. I know bc my husband and I are both graduates of these schools and went on to law school where we outperformed all of the fancy liberal arts students. We landed great jobs here in the DMV where we don’t understand the hand-wringing over college. There are hundreds of colleges and universities in this country, and a prestigious degree doesn’t matter or mean as much as you think.
Everyone in this area always recommends these small schools I’ve never heard of when a low or mid GPA or test score comes up, but I’d also look at the flagship state schools in the Midwest…Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and some schools in the south (although some of these southern schools seem to have been “discovered” more recently). They are quite easy to get into and offer such a fun college experience with lifelong friendships, great athletic fan bases and alumni networks, quaint college towns and an education that can compete anywhere. I know bc my husband and I are both graduates of these schools and went on to law school where we outperformed all of the fancy liberal arts students. We landed great jobs here in the DMV where we don’t understand the hand-wringing over college. There are hundreds of colleges and universities in this country, and a prestigious degree doesn’t matter or mean as much as you think.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 17:10
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:My Junior has taken the ACT now twice and gotten a 27 both times, even with lots of prep between. We’re at a top private and she completes her work on time and is an otherwise engaged student but test scores continue to be a problem and have been for a very long time. It is worth taking a third time in the fall?
Asking because our private makes it seem like these scores are abysmal and she will never get in anywhere. Alabama, TCU, and UGA are her top choices
switch to sat and see how she does and get he some testing prep asap
Anonymous
01/28/2026 16:15
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:Are you in VA? Even JMU might be a stretch with this GPA and test score. Look at CNU.
Loyola MD
Charleston
UNC Wilmington
Miami Ohio
Ohio University
Union College
Maybe Lafayette or Lehigh since you're at a top private
WVU
Lehigh is solidly 3.6+ at our top private. I just looked at the data. Lafayette goes down to a 3.4 but OP's kid is at a 3.0.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 16:12
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
JMU is a definite reach now. Especially for a DMV student.
Alabama is going back to test required and they are deferring and denying at a much higher rate this year. OP needs more solid back-ups.
WVU is a great option.
Alabama is going back to test required and they are deferring and denying at a much higher rate this year. OP needs more solid back-ups.
WVU is a great option.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 15:56
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Are you in VA? Even JMU might be a stretch with this GPA and test score. Look at CNU.
Loyola MD
Charleston
UNC Wilmington
Miami Ohio
Ohio University
Union College
Maybe Lafayette or Lehigh since you're at a top private
WVU
Loyola MD
Charleston
UNC Wilmington
Miami Ohio
Ohio University
Union College
Maybe Lafayette or Lehigh since you're at a top private
WVU
Anonymous
01/28/2026 15:55
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My Junior has taken the ACT now twice and gotten a 27 both times, even with lots of prep between. We’re at a top private and she completes her work on time and is an otherwise engaged student but test scores continue to be a problem and have been for a very long time. It is worth taking a third time in the fall?
Asking because our private makes it seem like these scores are abysmal and she will never get in anywhere. Alabama, TCU, and UGA are her top choices
She needs to get her ACT score to at least a 30 to be considered at UGA. Her current score would be ok for AL.
There's also a mindset aspect; my son initially got a 30, was disappointed, decided to retake and told me he'd get a 33-34 - he got a 33. He went into the ACT test with a strong attitude and had prepped. Also, some schools offer merit aid for high ACT/
SAT scores.
I don't know if you're posting from 2001 but a 30 ACT is not going to make a difference if they have a 3.0 and are lowest 10% in their class. UGA deferred and rejected kids with a 3.75/33 from the top DC privates this year and last. It's crazy.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 15:50
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:With a 3.09 this will limit her. Re-vamp the college list. Like PP have noted, there are plenty of great schools out there.
Look at Xavier, Miami OH, Coastal, Salisbury, St. Joe’s, Loyola MD, - if your kid is at Catholic school, lean toward the Catholic colleges bc they’re more likely to be accepted with that GPA.
UGA, Alabama and TCU are extensive reaches. [/quote
UGA and TCU but I think she's still ok with AL. UGA is definitely a no.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 15:48
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
Anonymous wrote:I find the reality of today’s college process insane. 30 years ago, I graduated from a random Midwest public school with a 25 ACT and 3.1 GPA. I attended a top 50 University, went on to law school, and make good money. It is sad that we act like kids are dumb with these stats and will never accomplish anything. Crazy!
100%. My son was deffered and then waitlisted at UVA with 4.4 GPA, 13 APs, 33 ACT, clubs. He was heartbroken. He was accepted, with merit aid, at flagship university and is thriving. He's where he was meant to be. I only have one child and college was a very long time ago for me but today's admittance process is over the top brutal. Expect the worst
Anonymous
01/28/2026 15:24
Subject: Re:ACT 27 from top private
Being full pay, ED and undersubscribed major can help too - college counselor can help find that major.
Anonymous
01/28/2026 14:29
Subject: ACT 27 from top private
With a 3.09 this will limit her. Re-vamp the college list. Like PP have noted, there are plenty of great schools out there.
Look at Xavier, Miami OH, Coastal, Salisbury, St. Joe’s, Loyola MD, - if your kid is at Catholic school, lean toward the Catholic colleges bc they’re more likely to be accepted with that GPA.
UGA, Alabama and TCU are extensive reaches.
Look at Xavier, Miami OH, Coastal, Salisbury, St. Joe’s, Loyola MD, - if your kid is at Catholic school, lean toward the Catholic colleges bc they’re more likely to be accepted with that GPA.
UGA, Alabama and TCU are extensive reaches.