Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 19:51     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:My 3.5, TO DC is accepted at Michigan state, u Mary Washington, Indiana, and Loyola Md with merit aid.

Delaware and Pitt have asked for 1st semester grades before deciding. Deferred at SC and TN. 2+2 option at Penn State.

Waiting on 1-2 more but, some great options in there.


Is the 3.5 weighted or unweighted? Asking because junior DS loved Delaware and Pitt and I’m wondering if he’ll be in a similar situation next year (3.6 UW/4.3 W, 1240 SAT the first time/will take again/may end up TO).
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 19:27     Subject: Where do average students land?
Univ of Dayton
Ball State
Texas State
Radford
Longwood
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 18:59     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Truly average students. 3.0-3.5 UW GPA, 1200-1300 SAT, regular EC like casual sports or a job. Motivated but not a striver. What 4 yr colleges do these type of kids attend and find success after attending dmv catholic hs?


That profile is WAY above average!


LOL. What is your def of average?? I think OP’s kid IS avg as OP described.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 18:46     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:The college admissions process seems much more enjoyable with an average student who’s open to a wide variety of options than with a top stats student who’s fixated on the T-20’s and top LAC’s. There seems to be this unspoken “rule” that a top students shouldn’t consider schools ranked below the top tier, if finances aren’t an issue, which is a dumb mentality .


Can confirm (although I would say that DC is above average, but not "top stats").
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 17:40     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:I think 3.5 is above average. my kid is 3.2 with no AP classes. he has great ECs. he is going to be fine. your kid will as well.



Everyone needs to remember: C’s earn degrees.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 17:36     Subject: Where do average students land?
Yeah, something may be going on with Penn State. Maybe the sports/social scene (lot of clubs) is getting a big draw; I haven't heard academics that competitive/strong but may be wrong.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 16:27     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:Penn State, Towson, Miami of OH


Not Penn State anymore! I was surprised my student did not get admitted to main campus with a 3.7 GPA and plenty of honors and 4 AP. Oh well. They have plenty of other good options and PS was not a top choice but still was surprised.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 16:17     Subject: Where do average students land?
Penn State, Towson, Miami of OH
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 16:14     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Truly average students. 3.0-3.5 UW GPA, 1200-1300 SAT, regular EC like casual sports or a job. Motivated but not a striver. What 4 yr colleges do these type of kids attend and find success after attending dmv catholic hs?


Depends on if you want/need aid. If aid is needed then you are looking at regional publics and less competitive privates. If aid isn't needed then it is possible to get into some OOS publics, like Penn State.


I'd add that an SAT score of 1300 helps a lot. Most average kids don't have one that they are submitting which limits their choices because some merit requires an SAT score.

Also, 8 AP classes is pretty good.



+1 Remember that there are kids with no honors or AP classes with the same GPAuw, and your kid is in a league above that due to the rigor of the class schedule. You can't go by GPA alone.


Are kids who aren't in any honors classes even applying to colleges though?

You need to get out of your UMC suburbs more often.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 16:12     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Truly average students. 3.0-3.5 UW GPA, 1200-1300 SAT, regular EC like casual sports or a job. Motivated but not a striver. What 4 yr colleges do these type of kids attend and find success after attending dmv catholic hs?


Depends on if you want/need aid. If aid is needed then you are looking at regional publics and less competitive privates. If aid isn't needed then it is possible to get into some OOS publics, like Penn State.


I'd add that an SAT score of 1300 helps a lot. Most average kids don't have one that they are submitting which limits their choices because some merit requires an SAT score.

Also, 8 AP classes is pretty good.



+1 Remember that there are kids with no honors or AP classes with the same GPAuw, and your kid is in a league above that due to the rigor of the class schedule. You can't go by GPA alone.


Are kids who aren't in any honors classes even applying to colleges though?


Most of my son’s HS classes were regular classes. He was only allowed to move up with an A in the previous level. That’s pretty typical in private schools.


My daughter’s private school requires even more than simply an A. She will have As in her regular classes (for which she has worked pretty hard) and still not move up to honors next year. The median number of honors is 3 through all of high school.

Also, she will take very few honors classes and will still take calculus, four years of foreign language, four years of science (including bio/chem/physics). Curriculum can be pretty rigorous without honors.


Same. It took two years of honors with an A to move up to AP.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 15:48     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Truly average students. 3.0-3.5 UW GPA, 1200-1300 SAT, regular EC like casual sports or a job. Motivated but not a striver. What 4 yr colleges do these type of kids attend and find success after attending dmv catholic hs?


That profile is WAY above average!


That’s SAT score is not average. I belong to a Facebook page called “College admissions for awesomely average kids” and they wouldn’t approve you to join with those test scores. There are thousands of colleges in the US. You’ll find one if you look broadly and keep an open mind.


A 1200 is above average. 74th - 76th percentile. Google it
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 15:37     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Truly average students. 3.0-3.5 UW GPA, 1200-1300 SAT, regular EC like casual sports or a job. Motivated but not a striver. What 4 yr colleges do these type of kids attend and find success after attending dmv catholic hs?


That profile is WAY above average!


That’s SAT score is not average. I belong to a Facebook page called “College admissions for awesomely average kids” and they wouldn’t approve you to join with those test scores. There are thousands of colleges in the US. You’ll find one if you look broadly and keep an open mind.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 15:32     Subject: Where do average students land?
I have a student with challenges who is coming from a non-traditional school with scores that aren’t super high. A few dual-enrollment classes and great ECs.

She was admitted to 3 smaller liberal arts colleges. She’s sorting through which one is the best fit.

This board skews heavy towards the rat race for an Ivy. Very successful average students exist.

The 2026 Acceptances thread a is good example.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 14:41     Subject: Where do average students land?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Truly average students. 3.0-3.5 UW GPA, 1200-1300 SAT, regular EC like casual sports or a job. Motivated but not a striver. What 4 yr colleges do these type of kids attend and find success after attending dmv catholic hs?


Depends on if you want/need aid. If aid is needed then you are looking at regional publics and less competitive privates. If aid isn't needed then it is possible to get into some OOS publics, like Penn State.


I'd add that an SAT score of 1300 helps a lot. Most average kids don't have one that they are submitting which limits their choices because some merit requires an SAT score.

Also, 8 AP classes is pretty good.



+1 Remember that there are kids with no honors or AP classes with the same GPAuw, and your kid is in a league above that due to the rigor of the class schedule. You can't go by GPA alone.


Are kids who aren't in any honors classes even applying to colleges though?


yes.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 14:41     Subject: Where do average students land?
I think 3.5 is above average. my kid is 3.2 with no AP classes. he has great ECs. he is going to be fine. your kid will as well.