Angst over schools, great scores, ehh grades

Applying to College
61

<p>Post 59:</p>

<p>Wow. Unless things have really changed Beyond the Pond since our family investigated a few years ago (Oxford/Cambridge was being considered, though not due to any underperformance), they absolutely care about grades, along with test scores. It’s stat-dirven all the way. (And three of my daughter’s teachers, who were Oxford trained and recommended it, confirmed what we were told.) And, just like here in the States, there will be rock-solid candidates with all the credentials, with whom the candidate is competing. Stat-wise, it is more difficult than our U’s, not less so. They also care big-time about the content of the teacher (“tutor”) recommendation. </p>

<p>The time involved in the app is not a concern: it’s a short app, although as I remember, a submitted secondary school paper is also required. Everything is sent from the “tutor,” who signs off that your application is complete and who oversees it. (Another reason why it’s important to have a teacher behind you and sponsoring you.)</p>

<p>Yes they have an interview, but you have to make it to the interview in the first place.</p>

62

<p>Post 60:</p>

<p>Yes. From the CDS for 08-09 (most recent): </p>

<p>Acceptance rate for U of Miami is 38.62%. Matriculation rate, among those accepted, is just under 24%. Matriculation vs. number of applications (not as meaningful a ratio as the Yield figure) is 9.2%. Perhaps that’s where primetimekin obtained his single-digit number.</p>

63

<p>Epi, Regarding Oxford, I’m not sure who is correct. </p>

<p>According to the poster in </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/study-abroad/465440-applying-oxford-cambridge-us.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/study-abroad/465440-applying-oxford-cambridge-us.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>they don’t consider your grades. Your academic recommendations, yes, but not the course grades. </p>

<p>From the Oxford site
[International</a> Qualifications - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/international_students/international_qualifications/index.html]International”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/international_students/international_qualifications/index.html)</p>

<p>You need 32-36 on ACT or 700’s on each section of the SAT + 5’s in 3 APs. No mention of grades. </p>

<p>Also
[Frequently</a> Asked Questions - University of Oxford](<a href=“http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/international_students/information_for_international_applicants/frequent.html]Frequently”>http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/international_students/information_for_international_applicants/frequent.html)</p>

<p>The only mention of grades is in the phrase “predicted grades”, but from a British point of view, I think that they are referring to test grades. </p>

<p>I’m not saying that it’s really that easy to get in, but that the OP’s son may just meet the “entrance qualifications” to at least apply.</p>

64

<p>5 AP’s with all 5’s would be considered probably competitive. (It was when we were considering this option; I can’t imagine it would be less competitive now.) Obviously, additionally there would be SAT tests, in which this candidate seems to do quite well indeed. The October 1 deadline never changes year to year. The teacher rec, realistically, should be solicited at the end of spring semester 2010, since 4 weeks in the fall is cutting it extremely short, and in any case the rec will be better articulated if fresh. I guess only the OP and his son know whether he can count on one particular teacher in his area of interest, this year, who can recommend him as a scholar with proven potential in coursework as well as examination.</p>

<p>(We were told that a sophomore year rec would be considered not as valuable/accurate as a junior yr one.)</p>

<p>Alternatively, I suppose he could take a college-level course spring semester and/or summer school, and solicit a recommendation from that environment.</p>

65

<p>One thing is very clear. Getting into a school these days, just isn’t like it used to be.</p>

<p>On the note of UC schools, and all of you UC’er out there please don’t flood me with hate mail: My son is not right for them anyway. They are diploma factories, agreed good ones, but that’s what they are designed to do. The CA state public high schools teach to them. And, yes! There is an arbitrary formula for accepting students. The formula is designed to accept those students that can work well within “the system.” Period.</p>

<p>As an old LA grad from an Eastern, state “party school,” I am continuously floored by people that went to “Great” schools… and not in a good way. Many are only mildly interesting to talk to because they lack the ability to engage conversation on different topics. But that’s just me.</p>

<p>When my daughter went to school a few years ago I told her the following; a college doesn’t teach you anything unless you are going into a trade or specific profession. For the rest of us, it about growing up, thinking for yourself, finding your passion, and with eyes wide open, have some plan to achieve them when you get out. (And, do your own laundry and pick up your room.)</p>

<p>She now has her MS and is doing her thing.</p>

<p>I’ve heard over and over that I should have my son look at LAC’s. Which is exactly what I want him to be open to. I want to support his dreams and for him to be successful, and gasp! Acceptably within his own terms. We are, after all, each unique.</p>

<p>He is a Junior and has actually had some pretty bad stuff happen in his life since starting high school. His GPA can be somewhat explained. But, not totally. and he’s got positive grade progression. Blah Blah Blah.</p>

<p>I absolutely do not agree with CW that a kid with a 4.3 and 2200 is a shoe in for success. If anything, I question how much they actually did and how much the “propeller parent” had to do with that outcome. It certainly shows a disciplined mind, but not an exceptional thinker.</p>

<p>So, now that many of you hate me, I as his parent am the only one that knows where his mind truly is.</p>

<p>He will look at Reed.
He will look at CMC.
He will look at U of Chicago.
Maybe even Oxford.</p>

<p>And, I bet, he will get into one of them because they will see why I’m so afraid for him.</p>

<p>If not, there is a place waiting at my old Eastern state “party School.” I think my education paid off.</p>

<p>Regards…</p>

66

<p>I for one don’t blame you on the UC front. </p>

<p>As you say, getting into schools these days sure isn’t what it used to be. </p>

<p>In response to your list, I’d just say that what would concern me is the dramatic difference between his reach schools and his safety school. Wouldn’t a couple of LACs where he is a shoo in (and might even get merit money for those scores) make more sense as his safety?</p>

<p>And there’s also the issue of a financial safety unless you’re a full pay family.</p>

67

<p>Post 65:
Your state school doesn’t equal other state schools, necessarily. Some are diploma factories; some are not. Some students will treat any environment (including an LAC, including an Ivy) as a diploma factory; others will not. There are people who excel at state flagships, obtain Regents’ scholarships, honors, and more in them, and go on to contribute to research there and in grad school. Your decision not to suggest application to UC’s does not mean that UC’s are all diploma factories; that’s your prejudice, and you’re entitled to it, but we don’t have to buy it. (I disagree with hmom in that regard, obviously. It’s an effort to rise above the crowd at any large school, but distinctions are an aspect of UC just as they are at privates. In my position I interface in an ongoing way with students who have and are achieving distinctions at UC, and will continue to do so.)</p>

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<p>No one “hates” you, I suspect. However, it would probably a good idea for your son if you keep an open mind in general, rather than your defining for him what his school choices should or should not be based on your own life experience, from which you are drawing definitions. He’s a different person and his future is not predicated on your past. Yes, you are the only one who knows where his mind truly is, but his college acceptances will be based not on that but how he communicates that concretely.</p>

<p>Yes, if he has legitimate reasons for a dip in grades, he will be able to explain it and that will most likely be taken seriously, especially if confirmed by a teacher in a rec.</p>

<p>Who’s “CW” Is he/she on this thread? Maybe I missed that. Sorry.</p>