So of the SAT and ACT your son has done considerably better on the ACT. I know he may not want to hear this but I would recommend he take the ACT one more time. If the goal is larger merit awards or admission at elite schools every area where a student can distinguish themselves is meaningful.
There is a practice with standardized test scores that is fairly common. A student takes both the SAT and ACT once and which ever one that they did better on they take one more time. The exception with the ACT would be if they scored a composite 35 or 36.
A 34 is a fantastic ACT score and it is definitely high enough to not have that portion of his application hinder him in any way. When you are looking for admission at Elites or the largest merit awards at very good schools the competition is significant. There are a lot of students and families who are in similar circumstances trying to accomplish the same thing.
Hopefully that doesn’t strike you as extreme, but it is what I believe to be true.
GreatKid’s advice is good if you are looking for maximum competitiveness, but your latest list has plenty of great choices that are good matches for your son, so I don’t see any need to make him do it if he’s done with testing - from that list, he will get a good mix of acceptances and merit with his current stats, and he may even get a lottery ticket punched at a reach. He’s in a great spot, so it should just be up to him if he wants to make himself slightly better.
South Carolina has a strong International Business school, both grad and undergrad. The Darla Moore School is housed in a new building with emphasis on sustainability. With those scores, it is very likely you would receive some $.
Penn/Wharton would be a good option. If I recall, the rep said they don’t have loans as part of the FA they offer.
You’ve got some really good schools to review.
OP,
“Financially, we CAN pay for anything. It is possible” - Does it includes Grad. school. Kids with such high stats as your kid, usually consider going to Grad. School.
…“How do other parents look at this? These schools are massive $&,”
- We opted for free tuition college - Merit award (college name was not important for my D’s future aside from the fact that she was looking for a good personal fit, but in case of business major, college name may actually make a difference) and a very expensive private Med. school that we paid for, so D. is graduating from Med. School in May debt free. We could have not done paying for both, college and Med. School.
I haven’t read whole thread, but I just wanted to make sure that OP’s ds did take the writing portion with ACT …
Also, every year people on the Gtown forum report that they got in with no or fewer than the requested three Subject Tests. He could keep it on the list and give it a try.
Oh boy. Will ask him. Can you even take ACT without writing?
Yes, you can, unfortunately. So few schools accept it without writing that I don’t know why it remains an option.
S says yes, with writing. And I’m sure he rolled his eyes, but it was via text!!
I feel ya. 8-|
Given that your son has AS, It would be worthwhile checking out disability support services at the schools you are looking at–they vary widely.
He just got his scores last week but says the writing portion has not yet been released. Does that sound right?
Yes, that often happens @HRSMom.
The ACT score is excellent. Some schools look at the sub-scores. The first two are considerably better measures than the last two (which really only add error to the composite). So whether or not a 2nd administration makes sense may depend upon scores on the first two. I’ve known students who took the ACTs twice and although the composite did not change the way the scores were distributed did. For super-scoring schools it can help.
Is he good enough at any of his sports for that to be a factor? Meaning, is he likely to be recruited?
If he is a talented piano player, he can submit an arts supplement to the common app with a recording, resume, teacher recommendation.
I would suggest that he does not only have to rely on recommendations from academic teachers. The common app will ask for those but often a third reference, or even fourth, can make a big difference: for instance, the person at the soup kitchen who thinks so highly of him, a coach, piano teacher.
Fundraising in 8th and 9th is interesting but that was a long time ago, and would be relevant I think only if it continued.
It seems like his ACT is higher than his SAT’s: can he submit the ACT? Check websites about the subject tests.
Clark U. is one of the “Colleges that Change Lives” and gives merit, I know…in Worcester MA. Undergrad business used to be seen as limiting but now it is apparently one of the most popular majors. As you know many top schools don’t offer it (too vocational) but kids instead do economics.
My kids got into top schools and weren’t leaders in the slightest. Don’t worry about imagined superstars competing with your son, but do be realistic and help him avoid fixating on certain schools that are hard to get into . He certainly has more than a shot, but it’s a crap shoot for everyone.
@ S is not competitive. He has always run all sports just for exercise/something to do/comraderie since grade 7. He decided in 10th grade to commit and give his all. His time improvements are impressive, but not enough for colleges. he says he is looking forward to something new, maybe intermural rugby in college. So even tough not competitive, Im proud of him for sticking with it despite that fact:)
Piano, he is talented, but no more so than dozens of other kids.
Thanks for the advice. It helps to know that everyone isnt expected to be a super (duper) star!
Hello again all! update and time for a gut check…reminder 4.0 ish, 34 ACT, pretty good ECs, his essay will be good, not mindblowing tho. Not his thing. He’s looking at Applied Econ and Math. Thoughts on this strategy? too much? Too much opreach?
the list now is:
Duke or Cornell ED. ®
Michigan EA (M)
UVa EA ®
UNC EA ®
William & Mary EA ®
Miami U EA (S)
Tulane EA (M)
Depending on the results of the early round, he may apply to the following:
Amherst ®
Cornell or Duke ®
Wake Forest (M)
Boston U (M)
Northeastern
Tufts ®
Lehigh (M)
Bucknell (M)
Binghamton (S)
Just putting them all in, it seems like a lot of Earlies. But I’m hoping he gets some earlies that knock some off the lower list.
He has visited most of the schools that consider interest, except Tulane. I’m not sure when we can get down there.
Never mind. I found answer to my question.
Question:
Which school at Cornell? (Arts & Sciences, Hotel, Architecture, Engineering, ILR, Human Ecology, or Agriculture?)
Great list. A few comments:
UMich : Lately they have only been accepting legacies during the EA round and deferring the rest—not based on iffy credentials, but just because they have so many applicants that they can’t get to them all by the promised EA notification date. So they prioritize the legacies. If that happens, have his guidance counselor call and tell her contact there that UMich is a top choice for him and/or have your son email the regional rep to say the same. With that, plus his stats, plus your being full pay, he is likely to get in.
Tulane: This is a safety for him not only because of his stats, but because he is male (for some reason, they are 60/40 female/male) and because you are full pay. However, ironically, because of his high stats, he will have to make sure he shows a lot of interest in the school. Tulane is known to reject high-stats applicants who do not show interest. Make sure he does a great job on the Why Tulane optional question. If you don’t visit, be sure that he attends the session when the Tulane rep visits his school. Tulane also has full or near-full scholarships that he can apply for. If he applies for those – or at least states his interest in those scholarships – it will further demonstrate his interest in the school. If he gets in, and he will if he shows interest, he’ll get a lot of merit $$$.
Boston U: This is a safety/likely for him
Tufts: Very hard to get into during the regular-decision round. Tufts has ED2. If he likes Tufts and does not get into his ED school and does not like any of his EA options, he might want to consider applying to Tufts ED2.
Good luck!
Thanks @brantly
Re Cornell, CALS
thanks for the info on Mich. I will tell him not to be disheartened if he gets deferred!
I want to take him down to Tulane. Time is running short tho!
Tufts: when we were there they said ED doesnt help at all? thoughts?