Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 13:02     Subject: Re:Where are your average kids top picks?
Thank you for doing this thread. I tried last year and it ended up developing into a thread for kids with high stats.

Would love if this thread can keep at a ceiling of 3.5W and 1200 SAT ish. Would be helpful for so many.

Ithaca
UMW
Elon
Ursinus
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 12:32     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
1/2 the people on this thread have no clue what average is.

Let’s just say it’s below a 1300 Sat and below a 3.6 wgpa in a public school on a 4.0 scale.

Also schools like WM, UVA or with a less than 25% acceptance rate like some are naming are not targets for these students. They’re not even reaches, they are out of reach.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 12:29     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Our child is mostly interested in liberal arts colleges for writing, languages, and music.

Reaches (Vassar, Oberlin, Dickinson)

Targets (Sarah Lawrence, Muhlenberg, Emerson)

Safeties (Ithaca College, Loyola Maryland, VCU—for in-state option)

May add Elon and Marist, still finalizing.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 10:02     Subject: Re:Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:3.51 GPA, 1440 SAT (hoping the SAT will help offset the GPA). Son wants warm weather!

Reaches
Umiami
Tulane
UT Austin

Target
SMU
Trinity (TX)
Clemson

Accepted
Auburn


Clemson was a target for my kid with a 1430 sat and a 4.4 gpa


I heard the Clemson Dean of Admissions say on a podcast that out of state- if you are top 15% of your class- you have a good chance at acceptance to Clemson.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 09:59     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
We visited Shenandoah and it's a nice little campus. The outside town is a little boring.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 09:53     Subject: Re:Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:W&M
Tennessee
Miami

W&M is def not for average kids, esp. if coming from NoVa. You are tripping.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 09:46     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:My kid’s top choice right now is Shenandoah.


Shenandoah is a great school. Beautiful location
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 09:21     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
My kid’s top choice right now is Shenandoah.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 09:10     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Using an example outline from above for mine:
FCPS kid, 3.8w with 1300 SAT (mostly TO on applications), these are some applied to:
UVA
Pitt
Penn state
UDel
UMD
WVU
UNCG
College of Charleston
Bama
Auburn
UCF
Still may do other applications for VCU, Old Dominion, Randolph Macon, or Marymount, if needed.

Goal is to be under $30k after merit aid. I don't want to spend this even, but more merit or needs based grants are probably unlikely and this is a 4 year max I think we can live through on both pay as we go and repayment loan.


DCUM: Where are your average-stat kids applying to? Let's hear some suggestions for students who don't have a 3.8

Also DCUM: Here are the competitive schools my kid with a 3.8 is considering.


Right?! I thought this was a post for B (3.0) students.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 08:56     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
JMU
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 08:44     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Before I opened this thread, I said to myself “o guarantee someone says UVA for their average student”, so glad DCUM doesn’t disappoint!
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 07:53     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What are average kids? DCUM usually means something absurdly high, as in, a 1420 and a 3.85 with "only" 8 APs.


This. And honestly I'm really struggling with this. I feel like my kid is 'below average" because of his for real B average GPA (will be lucky to graduate with a 3.4UW), but SATs are in the 99th percentile, has taken 11 APs, and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. No one seems to know what to do with a kid like this.


Well, that was quite a humblebrag!

Your kid won't get into a Top 20, but I predict plenty of options in the top 40-60 range.


The kid wants a small liberal arts school. He's being steered to really low ranked regional colleges in the 200s (which we are ignoring).


Just based on schools I have explored with my DC that we really liked, I think your kid would certainly be in the mix at College of Wooster and Bard. They obviously don't have the name recognition of the top 20ish SLACs but they seem like great options with good outcomes and unique cultures. They both offer merit as well.


+1 Wooster.

To the PP, my kid had a 3.5 average, IB classes, lopsided SATs — 99th verbal, 80-something math. Looked at LACs ranked 40 - 100 and a bunch of them we really loved. Did very well admission, and got merit most places. Wooster, St Olaf, Lewis and Clark, those sorts of places. Lots of great options.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 07:41     Subject: Re:Where are your average kids top picks?
W&M
Tennessee
Miami
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2024 07:40     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My 3.3 DD (now a sophomore) had these on her list, with good results:

Marquette
Quinnipiac
St. Mary’s of MD
Xavier
Loyola New Orleans
Salve Regina


Nice list! Where did she end up going, if you don’t mind answering.


She chose Xavier, and is loving it. Really strong sense of community, very welcoming and supportive when she was a 1st year. (And we loved the merit award they gave, which brought her COA under $35k)


Glad she’s happy and doing well.
Anonymous
Post 11/09/2024 22:36     Subject: Where are your average kids top picks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My 3.3 DD (now a sophomore) had these on her list, with good results:

Marquette
Quinnipiac
St. Mary’s of MD
Xavier
Loyola New Orleans
Salve Regina


Nice list! Where did she end up going, if you don’t mind answering.


She chose Xavier, and is loving it. Really strong sense of community, very welcoming and supportive when she was a 1st year. (And we loved the merit award they gave, which brought her COA under $35k)