<p>OP, my one son had test scores well in the lower quarter of most of the schools to which he applied, including a number of state flagships. I knew that head on, he would get rejected, as many state school process apps based on test scores and GPA/class rank. My son’s Academic Index so calculated was not going to get him any of the OOS schools on his list even applying early in the season when the chances are better. </p>
<p>I took what was considered a bad calculated risk and had him apply LATE in the season, rather than early at those schools that I found out did more careful screenings than “plug the #s in the computer and let’er rip” He had a consistent upward trend in grades which we highlighted and he applied as A &S major on a bit of an offbeat area and he was taking an intro college course in that subject first term and he aced the course. We then crossed our fingers and he did get into UMD, UDel, and some other flagship schools as well as privates schools liken Northeastern, Drexel, Gettysburg, Dickinson that were all high reaches based on his stats. He did not have a 3.5 average either.</p>
<p>In your case, I would work with your son and help him get great grades this year. Each QUARTER those grades should be sent to IU with a note how he’s keeping it up, how well he’s doing that senior year. Upward trend is great. Believe me, senioritus hits hard and there will be a lot of kids who will be falling off, including those superstars who were accepted early, and someone on the WL who has chugged on like the Little ENgine Who Could, and really wants to go there, starts looking mighty good by second semester. </p>
<p>If that still doesn’t work, consider transferring. For schools that take a lot of transfers, by far the most important thing is the first year college grades. The test scores pretty much go out the window. Where transfers are not good options are at schools that simply take very few transfers since they don’t have the seats, and when financial/merit aid is an issue. But schools like IU get massive drop outs and transfer outs, and someone who has shown good first year college work looks mighty good to them. </p>
<p>I also got the feeling, nothing certain, and I hesitate to even write this because I have no proof, that low ACT scores are less damning than low SAT scores. I did not report my son’s low SAT scores to ANY schools. NONE. ZIP, ZERO , ZILCh. The reason I did not , other than my “feelings” about this, was the concrete fact that if a school has those scores, they have to be reported, and they bring down the averages for the schools in all kinds of ratings. A below 1500 SAT1 isn’t going to enhance anyone’s profile. ACTs do not seem to have as much of an impact. Looking at admissions info at a number of schools where the students only used ACT info, it seemed to me that it was easier to get into schools with a low ACT than with a low SAT. I didn’t look at your old post, so I have no idea what kind of numbers we are talking about but my son did not crack 1500 on his SAT1 or 1000 for that matter on the 2 part. His ACT was considered equivalent to his SAT1 score. </p>
<p>Oh, and he’s doing well at a top 50 university, on track to graduate. Think he has a shot at departmental honors, in fact. Doing a lot better than kids who flushed out in the top 25% test wise. A few of his good friends and relatives who did not get into their first choice schools, are in them after strong first years, and transfers. What a difference a year could make. </p>