Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 22:15     Subject: Re:Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:My average kid goes to school in Arlington. 2.9 GPA, some Ds that were brought up to Bs in summer school, gradual improvement over the four years but never stellar.

Took three APs junior year, got two 3s and a 4, 33 composite ACT. No meaningful extracurriculars (no leadership roles, etc). Took a class at NOVA last summer and got a B, which counted (weighted) in his GPA and shows as dual enrollment on his transcript.

Has gotten into Longwood and Allegheny. Waiting to hear from Mary Washington and ODU.

Is likely to defer a year from 4-year residential (but put down a deposit, so won’t have to reapply) and stay home/take classes at NOVA/work, and basically get another year to mature.

A 33 on the ACT is way above "average" though. Does your child do bare minimum and not turn assignments in?
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 20:21     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oldest son had a 3.3 or 3.4. Went to Indiana University. Failed out.

No light switch goes off at college. You know how you ride him now for the 3.3? Well, you can't at college, he can do literally anything he wants at college. And will. The 3.3 tells me your son hates school.

If we could do it over again we would have encouraged him to go into the military for a few years. He was smart but way too immature, zero discipline, and didn't appreciate anything.


OP, this is some of the worst advice I have read of all the years I have been on DCUM. First, the 3.25 - 3.4 GPA is not an indicator of failure. Some kids bloom late. That was me. I had a low to average GPA and struggled the first year to get my footing but was determined to stay and by sophomore year, my grades improved and I had adjusted to the college rigor. I graduated with honors and got into a top law school. Just make sure the college has good support services available. Some colleges have a pre-college or summer bridge program the summer prior to the start of freshmen year. If you think your child may need that, he/you should factor that into your college search. It is an extra fee but if it will help your child have a smooth transition, it is worth it.


This. I was a C+ student in high school - was bored out of my mind in high school. First in my class in a CTCL school. Harvard yaw grad. [/quote

Harvard law, stupid autocorrect
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 20:20     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oldest son had a 3.3 or 3.4. Went to Indiana University. Failed out.

No light switch goes off at college. You know how you ride him now for the 3.3? Well, you can't at college, he can do literally anything he wants at college. And will. The 3.3 tells me your son hates school.

If we could do it over again we would have encouraged him to go into the military for a few years. He was smart but way too immature, zero discipline, and didn't appreciate anything.


OP, this is some of the worst advice I have read of all the years I have been on DCUM. First, the 3.25 - 3.4 GPA is not an indicator of failure. Some kids bloom late. That was me. I had a low to average GPA and struggled the first year to get my footing but was determined to stay and by sophomore year, my grades improved and I had adjusted to the college rigor. I graduated with honors and got into a top law school. Just make sure the college has good support services available. Some colleges have a pre-college or summer bridge program the summer prior to the start of freshmen year. If you think your child may need that, he/you should factor that into your college search. It is an extra fee but if it will help your child have a smooth transition, it is worth it.


This. I was a C+ student in high school - was bored out of my mind in high school. First in my class in a CTCL school. Harvard yaw grad.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 19:02     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:I recently graduated, so this data is 4 yrs late. I had a 3.25 but was the first out of my family to finish high school(across the board), let alone attempt college, epileptic (had about 50% attendance), and exfoster.

This was weighted by the way with 4 APs and the rest of my general courses in honors.5 years of language, 5 math classes, and hundreds of various volunteer hours, plus working a job. I enjoyed school I took 9 classes on average at all time, and could've graduated by junior year. So the presumption of 3.25 kids is just wrong.

UCF - where I went.
Fordham
Flagler

I make above average for New Grads. OP your kid has options.


Nice of you to share.

And congratulations on all you have achieved. You are a great role model 👍
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 18:47     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:I'm not bitter. I was asked to share an update, so I did. Covering all the bills doesn't elevate anyone's life. He's not achieving any adult milestones, no girlfriend, no assets, there's no room for advancement at his current job.

More teens like my son should consider military service after high school. My husband and I just didn't know enough about it for it. It's not like 4 years of service automatically means frontline canon fodder, which is what we naively assumed.


Also, for those reading, perhaps Americorps.

I’m curious because I think you said he went to Indiana? My ds was very similar but we knew he needed a small environment where he would be known by name, could not hide in a big lecture hall, etc. I knew just enough to steer his direction ( worked in higher ed early in my career.) He is a junior and it is working for him. He will always be a b/ c student but that is ok with us. If he had showed interest in a trade that would have been ok with us but he did not. I did not see him as military nor did he.

PP, I share this only for those with similar dc. The smaller ( less than 5k) may be a better option. I do think the larger schools are easier to get lost in and check out. However, I do not know your son and he absolutely could have had same outcome in small setting.

I do relate though. I was very driven in HS, college, grad school, and love my job. My dh is laid back but good people skills so we do ok. Our dc above will struggle as he will likely have a b/ c job but he seems happy, has a gf who is similar, and does not seem to have big goals or wants.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 18:06     Subject: Re:Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
My average kid goes to school in Arlington. 2.9 GPA, some Ds that were brought up to Bs in summer school, gradual improvement over the four years but never stellar.

Took three APs junior year, got two 3s and a 4, 33 composite ACT. No meaningful extracurriculars (no leadership roles, etc). Took a class at NOVA last summer and got a B, which counted (weighted) in his GPA and shows as dual enrollment on his transcript.

Has gotten into Longwood and Allegheny. Waiting to hear from Mary Washington and ODU.

Is likely to defer a year from 4-year residential (but put down a deposit, so won’t have to reapply) and stay home/take classes at NOVA/work, and basically get another year to mature.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 11:32     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:I recently graduated, so this data is 4 yrs late. I had a 3.25 but was the first out of my family to finish high school(across the board), let alone attempt college, epileptic (had about 50% attendance), and exfoster.

This was weighted by the way with 4 APs and the rest of my general courses in honors.5 years of language, 5 math classes, and hundreds of various volunteer hours, plus working a job. I enjoyed school I took 9 classes on average at all time, and could've graduated by junior year. So the presumption of 3.25 kids is just wrong.

UCF - where I went.
Fordham
Flagler

I make above average for New Grads. OP your kid has options.


Congratulations to you! You had a tough road, but one that should follow!
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 11:25     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
I recently graduated, so this data is 4 yrs late. I had a 3.25 but was the first out of my family to finish high school(across the board), let alone attempt college, epileptic (had about 50% attendance), and exfoster.

This was weighted by the way with 4 APs and the rest of my general courses in honors.5 years of language, 5 math classes, and hundreds of various volunteer hours, plus working a job. I enjoyed school I took 9 classes on average at all time, and could've graduated by junior year. So the presumption of 3.25 kids is just wrong.

UCF - where I went.
Fordham
Flagler

I make above average for New Grads. OP your kid has options.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 10:53     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oldest son had a 3.3 or 3.4. Went to Indiana University. Failed out.

No light switch goes on* at college. You know how you ride him now for the 3.3? Well, you can't at college, he can do literally anything he wants at college. And will. The 3.3 tells me your son hates school.

If we could do it over again we would have encouraged him to go into the military for a few years. He was smart but way too immature, zero discipline, and didn't appreciate anything.


Can you tell us how your DS is doing now? (I'm worried that something like this will happen to my DS -- a current 12th grader.)


Never went back to finish. Has a full-time job that covers his bills and not much else. Single. Mid 20s but still acts 15 years old.

50% of all 12th graders in the nation have an A average GPA. This is a fact. So if your child has a low B average, they're in the bottom half of the nation. A fact. Another fact, about 50% of the kids who enroll in college never actually graduate. Guess who usually finishes on time -- and who doesn't finish and who takes 5 or 6 or 7 years to finish?

Again, every parent with a slacker teen boy knows you ride his a** for that low B average. At college you can't ride them. They do what they want, including skip most classes and do all the assignments last minute. Plus they eat garbage all day and of course many party or will pick up pot. Plus video games and whatever other dumb crap to squander their days and nights away.

There are so many red flags in your face telling you not to waste your money on a slacker boy, but nobody calls their baby ugly, your own slacker is special; the circumstances are unique. Delusional magical thinking.

Would you give an immature slacker a new Porsche 911 for his efforts? No, but millions of parents don't think twice about rewarding their slacker boy with a $25,000+ per year spring break trip to a college of his choice.


Setting aside your absolutely vile attitude towards your son, you make a lot of baseless claims here. Please cite evidence for the bolded “facts.”


Why, so you can poke holes in them and spin the facts to rationalize why your slacker boy is unique and none of this applies to him? You'll do what you want. You'll send your slacker to college because otherwise you'll feel like a loser in your social orbit and your boy will be upset with you.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 10:50     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

2021 is not the same as the 70s, 80s or 90s when you were a kid. EVERY kid has As and Bs these days. You have to be a lazy midwit who hates school to have a low 3.25. And if the mother is posting on here, it means she's engaged and they're riding his *** for the 3.25 -- so if they didn't ride him he's a C student in an era when As are given to everyone. But sure, go ahead and send him to some expensive college and then act surprised when he's the same immature flunky -- but this time with nobody riding him and access to booze, drugs, netlix and video games all day.


JFC. My kid works hard and has almost no As - at a top FCPS HS. Live your own life and stop attacking kids you know nothing about.
DP


Where is this school everyone talks about where they just give out straight As to everyone who shows up?? Geez, my kids get a mix of As and Bs and they work for those grades.

Regardless of what grades a student is getting, if they are only getting there because of a lot of parental nagging and other involvement they are at risk of not doing well in college. And there are kids getting good grades in AP classes only because their parents are riding them all the time, it's not just an issue for a kid with a lower GPA.


USA Today detailed a couple years ago literally half of all 12th graders in the nation had an A average GPA, yet SAT scores were trending downward. Grades are meaningless without AP Exam and SAT scores to back them up.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2021 08:39     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

2021 is not the same as the 70s, 80s or 90s when you were a kid. EVERY kid has As and Bs these days. You have to be a lazy midwit who hates school to have a low 3.25. And if the mother is posting on here, it means she's engaged and they're riding his *** for the 3.25 -- so if they didn't ride him he's a C student in an era when As are given to everyone. But sure, go ahead and send him to some expensive college and then act surprised when he's the same immature flunky -- but this time with nobody riding him and access to booze, drugs, netlix and video games all day.


JFC. My kid works hard and has almost no As - at a top FCPS HS. Live your own life and stop attacking kids you know nothing about.
DP


Where is this school everyone talks about where they just give out straight As to everyone who shows up?? Geez, my kids get a mix of As and Bs and they work for those grades.

Regardless of what grades a student is getting, if they are only getting there because of a lot of parental nagging and other involvement they are at risk of not doing well in college. And there are kids getting good grades in AP classes only because their parents are riding them all the time, it's not just an issue for a kid with a lower GPA.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2021 23:56     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
~3.1 GPA/~1350 SAT

Shippensburg
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2021 22:32     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Harvard. You peasant.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2021 22:26     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oldest son had a 3.3 or 3.4. Went to Indiana University. Failed out.

No light switch goes off at college. You know how you ride him now for the 3.3? Well, you can't at college, he can do literally anything he wants at college. And will. The 3.3 tells me your son hates school.

If we could do it over again we would have encouraged him to go into the military for a few years. He was smart but way too immature, zero discipline, and didn't appreciate anything.


OP, this is some of the worst advice I have read of all the years I have been on DCUM. First, the 3.25 - 3.4 GPA is not an indicator of failure. Some kids bloom late. That was me. I had a low to average GPA and struggled the first year to get my footing but was determined to stay and by sophomore year, my grades improved and I had adjusted to the college rigor. I graduated with honors and got into a top law school. Just make sure the college has good support services available. Some colleges have a pre-college or summer bridge program the summer prior to the start of freshmen year. If you think your child may need that, he/you should factor that into your college search. It is an extra fee but if it will help your child have a smooth transition, it is worth it.


2021 is not the same as the 70s, 80s or 90s when you were a kid. EVERY kid has As and Bs these days. You have to be a lazy midwit who hates school to have a low 3.25. And if the mother is posting on here, it means she's engaged and they're riding his *** for the 3.25 -- so if they didn't ride him he's a C student in an era when As are given to everyone. But sure, go ahead and send him to some expensive college and then act surprised when he's the same immature flunky -- but this time with nobody riding him and access to booze, drugs, netlix and video games all day.


JFC. My kid works hard and has almost no As - at a top FCPS HS. Live your own life and stop attacking kids you know nothing about.
DP


All APs? Rigor is as important as grades so he or she is fine!
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2021 21:51     Subject: Where did your average (3.25-ish) student go to college?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Virginia Tech.


What? Recently?


Not now. Go read thread on Virginia Tech ED/EA.



Maybe 10 years ago, but certainly wouldn’t get in now.