<p>Our son does very well in school and attends one of the top H.S. in CA.
He did take a prep course for the SAT and has taken it twice. Did worse the second time but did well on the practice tests.
He plays soccer and is being recruited by about 10-15 schools. Many of them he is higher on the GPA but significantly lower on the SAT.
How does admissions look at this? Should we eliminate schools like U. of Rochester?
Very frustrating.
Thank you!</p>
<p>I’m assuming you mean 1000 on a 1600 scale.</p>
<p>Being recruited by schools for soccer is a big plus. His GPA is excellent, but yes, clearly standardized tests aren’t completely up to par with many top schools.</p>
<p>However, I think the soccer thing is going to be a big leg up. Schools like the University of Rochester are definitely achievable reaches. Also, look at some other near-Ivy schools. I’m sure if he wants to, he can get into at least one.</p>
<p>The coach at U. of Rochester said if he didn’t get his scores up that he probably wouldn’t get in. Yes, 1600 scale. 530 Math 470 Reading. Last time he got 540 Math, 490 Reading.</p>
<p>The coach is right – those SAT scores are way too low for UR (and many other top schools too). Has your son tried taking the ACT? Many students do much better on that standardized test since it is more knowledge-based, whereas the SAT is more intuitive.</p>
<p>This parent mentioned on another thread that her son is looking at Div 3 schools and needs merit scholarships to pay for them.</p>
<p>Can anyone think of any Div 3 schools that would give an ACT 22 (or about similar SAT) a good merit scholarship? I can’t think of any. yes, his GPA is high, but we all know that also have a high test score is what will determine merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Since those that give merit scholarships usually give them to their applicants who are in the upper 25%, I can’t think of any where an ACT 22 would work.</p>
<p>You might want to concentrate the college search on schools that are score-optional. Off the top of my head, i can think of Washington and Jefferson and Wittenberg as good schools that would give merit $$$ to a male who plays soccer. A boy from my son’s soccer team was a good student but horrible test taker and got very generous merit aid offers from both schools. He might also look at Muhlenberg.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Some “score-optional” schools require submission of SAT/ACT scores for those students who desire scholarship consideration. </p>
<p>Perhaps those mentioned schools don’t, but some do. </p>
<p>Since none of those scholarships are guaranteed and may not be for a lot of money, if much or most of a school’s cost is not affordable, then you need to include some financial safety schools.</p>
<p>Which Calif schools would be financial safety schools for your son? (these are schools that you know are affordable and that he’ll get accepted to.)</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies. We are actually going to visit Muhlenberg in a couple of weeks.
He will get merit aid from Cal Lutheran and Linfield. He is being recruited by both of them. I don’t know about U. of Puget Sound who has shown the most interest in him.
No Calif. safety schools. He wants to play soccer and with Calif. being so broke we don’t think the quality will be very good.</p>
<p>Regarding Muhlenberg:</p>
<p>[Muhlenberg</a> College | 'Berg at a glance](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/bergataglance.html]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/bergataglance.html)</p>
<p>^SAT Scores
The Middle 50% of students enrolled in the freshman class had SAT Critical Reading scores approximately between 560 and 660, SAT Math scores approximately between 560 and 660, and approximately between 560 and 660 on the Writing SAT.</p>
<p>[Muhlenberg</a> College Financial Aid - Muhlenberg Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/finaid/applyingForAid/merit.html]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/finaid/applyingForAid/merit.html)
^
In recent years, students receiving merit award from Muhlenberg typically have ranked in the top 10% of their high school classes, taken a very strong junior and seniors course schedule, earned over 1250 combined on the SAT-I, (combined critical Reading and Math score) and made outstanding extracurricular contributions to their school or community. While Muhlenberg does not require that the SAT or ACT be submitted for admission, students wishing to be considered for merit awards or honors program must submit SAT or ACT scores.</p>
<p>look into some score-optional schools, College of the Holy Cross in worcester,mass and Union college in schenectady come to mind, both are also div 3 i believe</p>
<p>*
First test 540 Math, 490 Reading.
Second test 530 Math, 470 Reading. 540 Writing. </p>
<p>He will get merit aid from Cal Lutheran
*</p>
<p>Cal Lutheran scholarships</p>
<p>Oaks - $9,000 per year - $36,000 Total for Four Years - (B+) average -
1100 - 1150 SAT - 25 ACT </p>
<p>Mount Clef - $5,000 per year - $20,000 Total for Four Years - (B) average - 1000 - 1100 SAT - 23 ACT </p>
<p>[CLU</a> Scholarships - Undergraduate Financial Aid | CLU](<a href=“http://www.callutheran.edu/financial_aid/grants_scholarships/undergraduate/clu_scholarships.php]CLU”>http://www.callutheran.edu/financial_aid/grants_scholarships/undergraduate/clu_scholarships.php)</p>
<p>How much merit aid do you need? I may have misunderstood, but do you need more merit aid for a school that has an annual Cost of Attendance of $46k per year (about $42k per year in direct costs)? Do you know if the school allows superscoring for scholarship purposes?</p>
<p>If you need more merit aid than that, how much do you need? Or, maybe an easier question is, how much can you pay each year?</p>
<p>First test 540 Math, 490 Reading.
Second test 530 Math, 470 Reading. 540 Writing. </p>
<p>“He will get merit aid from Cal Lutheran”</p>
<p>According to the Cal Lutheran website, he didn’t meet the criteria for their Merit Based Awards. </p>
<p>Mount Clef $5,000 Annual Amount
1000 - 1100 SAT (B) Average
23 ACT</p>
<p>At most schools, one must meet BOTH the GPA and test score criteria for Merit Awards.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is Division 1</p>
<p>*According to the Cal Lutheran website, he didn’t meet the criteria for their Merit Based Awards.</p>
<p>Mount Clef $5,000 Annual Amount
1000 - 1100 SAT (B) Average
23 ACT</p>
<p>At most schools, one must meet BOTH the GPA and test score criteria for Merit Awards. *</p>
<p>Yes, but he doesn’t have to meet BOTH test score criteria. the school will just use his SAT and GPA. </p>
<p>However, the concern is that $5k per year in merit money won’t be enough to help pay for a school with a COA of $46k per year.</p>
<p>Scholarships have been changed/reduced/eliminated at many schools within the last year, so no one can depend on what someone received during a prior year. Websites must be checked to find out current info and to find out if posted scholarship info will still be available for the Fall application season.</p>
<p>*No Calif. safety schools. He wants to play soccer and with Calif. being so broke we don’t think the quality will be very good. *</p>
<p>Yes, Calif has money issues, but don’t exclude one or two from being possible safety schools. If your son doesn’t get any affordable offers from his favorite pics, he’ll have no choice but to go to a Calif school and their app season ends in the Fall.</p>
<p>Don’t assume that just because Calif is broke that you can’t get a good education at a Calif public. That is just not true. I have a nephew at UCI, a niece at Cal Poly SLO, a nephew at UCLA, a cousin at CSU Long Beach, and a niece at UCSD. They are all getting a fine education.</p>
<p>My son is in a similar boat… being actively recruited for football, is a hard worker with solid GPA from rigorous/respected high school, but doesn’t test well. We are not counting on merit aid or needs-based aid …but a recent spin with the EFC calculator indicates there is a gap.</p>
<p>I haven’t considered that his GPA/SAT disparity might garner some merit funds…even if nominal. Hmmmmm.</p>
<p>Have you considered any D-II schools…where your son may be eligible for either athletic and/or merit scholarship?</p>
<p><a href=“http://web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir/exec/sponsorship?sortOrder=0&division=2&sport=MSO[/url]”>http://web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir/exec/sponsorship?sortOrder=0&division=2&sport=MSO</a></p>
<p>We had the opposite (higher ACT than GPA). Son’s LAC would not budge on the merit even though he was only off about .05.</p>
<p>MaryOC</p>
<p>*My son is in a similar boat… being actively recruited for football, is a hard worker with solid GPA from rigorous/respected high school, but doesn’t test well. We are not counting on merit aid or needs-based aid …but a recent spin with the EFC calculator indicates there is a gap.</p>
<p>I haven’t considered that his GPA/SAT disparity might garner some merit funds…even if nominal. Hmmmmm.*</p>
<p>Would your son consider Div I? He could get more scholarship money that way. </p>
<p>What are your son’s SAT scores and GPA?</p>
<p>“Yes, but he doesn’t have to meet BOTH test score criteria. the school will just use his SAT and GPA.”</p>
<p>Obviously, he doesn’t have to meet BOTH test score criteria but the OP’s son didn’t meet either of the test score criteria. He needed an ACT of 23. School’s don’t budge on meeting the minimum criteria when it comes to these types of merit scholarships. Why?–because it’s not fair to the other students who were in the same boat of missing the scholarship by 1 point.</p>
<p>The ACT score of 22 is going to limit his college choices drastically (unless he applies to schools using the test optional approach for admission). Even when applying to “test optional” schools, many still require submission of the ACT/SAT for merit scholarship consideration. The ACT of 22 will not put him into the “merit scholarship” range at most schools. </p>
<p>To the OP: Have your son prep all summer for the September ACT test date. Register for the Sept. ACT test date and give it another try. Hopefully he can raise his ACT composite to around 24 or 25.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What, on some minimal standard they posted on their website? Things are much more fluid than that as a school is dependent on alum contributions which also depend greatly on the economy. Additionally, in high supply application years (like we currently are in) merit standards become higher. </p>
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<p>I wondered about this as well. If he is good enough to be a Division I or II scholarship athlete - this would be the path of least resistance regarding scholarship money.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids</p>
<p>My S1 has a 3.53 GPA uw and 1700 SAT’s/24 ACT. He will take both tests again in the fall. He is a far better athlete, than student… with respect to both natural ability and discipline.</p>
<p>He isn’t big enough to play DI-A/FBS ball… at 6’1" 250…he is an undersized offensive lineman and an oversized inside linebacker… those are the positions he plays in HS. He’d be perfect as a DI-A FB…but isn’t fast enough (his forty ranges from 4.9 - 5.1). </p>
<p>A handful of DI-AA schools and many D-III schools have expressed what appears to be sincere interest in him as a student athlete… likely as a DE. We are targeting NESCAC’s, Patriot League and one Ivy as BIG <em>reaches</em> for him… a bunch of less slective D-III schools as <em>matches</em> (North Coast, Centennial and Liberty Leagues)…and a handful of local D-II’s as <em>safeties</em>. He has been performing well at a bunch of camps/showcases this summer (he is at Brown this week, reportedly getting some great feedback). We are realistic…but hopeful. I believe he has a pretty diverse net cast …so he <em>shoud</em> be okay.</p>