If they are dissatisfied with VCU or GMU (which are excellent schools), there are still schools accepting applications. Probably not prestigious ones, but if GMU is too close or they want a less city campus than VCU there are options still open.

We toured Ohio University over spring break & they said they were still accepting applications for some majors (most competitive like nursing was full).

Sorry OP. I know it's tough but I think your kid should have applied to a bunch of true targets based on his GPA (not SAT score) since GPA is king. He might've gotten some good merit at his targets based on his SAT score, though. Also, I know it's surprising but a kid in a super high achieving high school is not at an advantage over a kid in an "average" school. In fact, it's the other way around because your kid is competing against the other kids at their school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having such a high SAT score with a relatively low GPA makes him look low effort.

I agree with this statement. It makes him look like a "good test taker" except that he likely didn't prepare for his tests in classes. Aren't there remedy pathways to correct low grades? I'm estimating that the OP's kid had a couple of Cs on his transcript to have a 3.58 gpa. I thought there's a way to fix these types of grades at nova high schools--am I wrong?

No, there is no way in public schools to travel back in time and magically fix a "C". Its not private school where the kids are coddled.

Anonymous wrote:he needed to take 4 years of a language for most schools in hs.

Nonsense. Only the very most selective schools care about 4 years of language.

Where was he waitlisted? Anyplace with a spring start option?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having such a high SAT score with a relatively low GPA makes him look low effort.

I agree with this statement. It makes him look like a "good test taker" except that he likely didn't prepare for his tests in classes. Aren't there remedy pathways to correct low grades? I'm estimating that the OP's kid had a couple of Cs on his transcript to have a 3.58 gpa. I thought there's a way to fix these types of grades at nova high schools--am I wrong?

A 3.58uw is a mix of As and Bs. Sure, there could be a C in there, but 3.58 is a solid A/B student, which is pretty good in most places outside of NOVA, MCPS "W" schools and other wealthy pressure-cooker communities. As one PP said, 95% of schools would've accepted OP's kid, but he only applied to reach schools + two safeties. No targets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here,

I think had his gpa been even 4.3 he could have gotten in to couple more… he has 4.1

He has top rigor classes like AP Physics C and Multivariable Calculus BC. But he never took 4 years of a foreign language.

Yes, he is also in a very competitive NOVA high school.

Just so baffled to see the string of rejections come in.

Maybe a waitlist will happen that is meant to be.

What were his grades in these 2 APs? These are hard. If scored a 5 in each then you didn't apply to enough colleges.

Sometimes (may not apply to your child) people try to take these hard APs for the sake of taking them. if you do well they won't hurt you, but if you bombed them they hurt you.

B- in the Calculus and A in the Physics.
He also got a medal in a science Olympiad.

I think as you and a pp mentions he didnt apply to enough of the middle ground colleges.
Regret not applying to JMU as well.

B- in FCPS is not good. I doubt the counselor supported a list of schools as selective as UVA. What did they recommend originally?

4.1 GPA means mostly Bs, maybe some As and Cs.

The results were consistent with what we know.

Anonymous wrote:Having such a high SAT score with a relatively low GPA makes him look low effort.

I agree with this statement. It makes him look like a "good test taker" except that he likely didn't prepare for his tests in classes. Aren't there remedy pathways to correct low grades? I'm estimating that the OP's kid had a couple of Cs on his transcript to have a 3.58 gpa. I thought there's a way to fix these types of grades at nova high schools--am I wrong?

Anonymous wrote:In complete surprise.

Ds got into 2 safeties, waitlisted at 2 and rejected at all other public schools in VA and OOS.

The safeties are VcU and GMU.

Yes they are good schools too. But the results of the rest truly came as a surprise.

He had 12 aps, top rigor 1540 SAT lower gpa but to get rejected across the board…

He isn’t saying anything about it but I know it must sting and he didnt expect
it either.

I wish all of this wasn’t that hard.
I am just venting… surprise to me too.

Sorry this is a rough time of the year. All I wills ay and from experience, if he is a good student, he will succeed and land ata great place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC had a 1590 SAT, 4.95 WGPA, stellar internships and recommendations. Accepted at just 1 Ivy, WL in 2 and rejects at others. flagship state schools were either a WL or acceptances. Surprised with the outcome.

We must have the same kid! Almost exactly stats and outcomes

lucky you . Mine at the same stats and great ECs, no acceptance, just 1 WL. The major CS across board may not help.

People need to stop referring to OP's kid as 3.5 when everyone else uses the weighted scale. It is very misleading. I agree that comparing different school system's weighted GPAs is comparing apples and oranges but referring to unweighted when all anyone hears otherwise is weighted is worse.

The kid had high rigor and a 4.1W from (I think you said? sorry not to reread) FCPS. That is definitely too low for UVA. It is a maybe for William and Mary. And if not Engineering or Business, last year would have been in at Virginia Tech. I am not surprised that OP's kid assumed a yes at Virginia Tech. From everything I have seen on DCUM and in real life, Tech got MUCH harder this year.

Another school that has gotten MUCH harder this year if you're from NOVA is Tennessee. It wasn't that long ago (last year?) that Naviance showed everyone with a 4.0 and above getting in. And a very misleading school on Naviance is Penn State. Naviance shows it as a sea of green at many GPAs but they seem not to distinguish among between satellite campus and University Park.

I am afraid, OPs kid counted on schools that would very recently have been Targets or even Safeties per Naviance and had very bad luck with everything moving quickly. This should be a lesson to all of us with younger kids.

Anonymous wrote:DC had a 1590 SAT, 4.95 WGPA, stellar internships and recommendations. Accepted at just 1 Ivy, WL in 2 and rejects at others. flagship state schools were either a WL or acceptances. Surprised with the outcome.

We must have the same kid! Almost exactly stats and outcomes

Is the student pursuing STEM/engineering? I agree that the list seemed to have too many reaches for a 3.5 GPA. Did he apply to Pitt?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here,

I think had his gpa been even 4.3 he could have gotten in to couple more… he has 4.1

He has top rigor classes like AP Physics C and Multivariable Calculus BC. But he never took 4 years of a foreign language.

Yes, he is also in a very competitive NOVA high school.

Just so baffled to see the string of rejections come in.

Maybe a waitlist will happen that is meant to be.

What were his grades in these 2 APs? These are hard. If scored a 5 in each then you didn't apply to enough colleges.

Sometimes (may not apply to your child) people try to take these hard APs for the sake of taking them. if you do well they won't hurt you, but if you bombed them they hurt you.

B- in the Calculus and A in the Physics.
He also got a medal in a science Olympiad.

I think as you and a pp mentions he didnt apply to enough of the middle ground colleges.
Regret not applying to JMU as well.

If it makes you feel better, JMU is becoming more unpredictable. I personally know two very high stats kids who were waitlisted and didn’t get in. One was last year and one so far this year. They both had excellent ECs too. Congrats on the acceptances your son does have. We know people who are happy at both schools.