<p>cyclistsmom - I was just wondering, does your son ride a bike? :) Here is another vote for "Colleges That Change Lives" especially if your son (or you) are getting discouraged. I was very discouraged, and this book totally changed my outlook on the college search. </p>
<p>We didn't make it to western PA, but we toured Moravian, Muhlenberg, and recently looked at Susquehanna University. Our midwest stops were College of Wooster, Ohio Weslyan and Earlham. All of these schools had attractive aspects to them and were worthwhile trips. None are highly selective and in fact some have been accused unkindly of accepting "anyone with a pulse," which even if true doesn't necessarily make it a bad college. (Beware of the schools that are easy to get into but hard to stay in!)</p>
<p>NJRes- you have mentioned several times beware of schools that are easy to get into but hard to stay in. Do you happen to have any sort of list going? That is something I am concerned about with Jr son.</p>
<p>Knewyork, that depends on your definition of "name brand."</p>
<p>If you're talking about schools like Harvard, Cornell, Yale, etc....well, "B" students are unlikely to get into that type of name brand. "B" students will also face a tough road at schools like NYU, Colgate, Wesleyan, Boston U.</p>
<p>However, "B" students do just fine at many very good public universities (the SUNY system, Towson State, Indiana U, Purdue, for instance), at many very good private universities (many departments at Syracuse, for instance), and many very good liberal arts colleges (Franklin & Marshall, Randolph Macon, Goucher, etc.) </p>
<p>However, if I had a "B" student --- or an "A" student for that matter! --- I'd focus less on "Brand name" and more on finding a school where the student could thrive, succeed, and be happy. You don't need a "brand name" for that.</p>
<p>I can't agree with you more on post #28 (well one tiny exception...but just picky exception)! My best friend from grade school who graduated 4th/483 in my class, NMSF, etc. attended Millersville over Gettysburg due to the enticing full academic scholarship. Though she opted out of the honors program (didn't think it was worth it in college, and I agree), she got an excellent education at Millersville, graduated summa cum laude (3.97 overall GPA; highest graduate from Lancaster County and top 5 of her class) and now teaches 8th grade history in Maryland. Though she doesn't care for teaching middle schoolers (I think she'd be happier going to grad school for history and teaching college...but off-topic), Millersville was a much better choice for her than Gettysburg, though Gettysburg is more 'prestigious'. </p>
<p>I also agree that the state schools are getting more competitive in Pa, especially the better known ones (i.e. West Chester, Millersville, Slippery Rock, IUP, etc.). Though, I don't see the B+ students having a more difficult time getting in as of yet at least. There is also no way a student needs a 1200 SAT to get in (heck...I got into Pitt with a 1120, 6 years ago)...I have many friends who got in with sub 1000 scores (again, 6 years ago, standards have risen but not to the 1200 range by any means).</p>
<p>As for scholarships at the Pa state schools...they seem to be hit-or-miss to me...My sister was accepted to Millersville, I'm not exactly sure of her HS GPA (she had medical issues senior year that caused a GPA drop and half-day schooling) but her SAT score was 1300 (screwed up verbal since she fell asleep, again due to her medical issues), plus she was a recruited athlete (lacrosse, they had used up scholarship allottment for the year on seniors) and received no scholarship money. Regardless of her GPA issues, I would have thought a recruited athlete with such a high relative SAT to her peers at Millersville would have been offered some merit scholarship money.</p>
<p>carolyn:</p>
<p>I would highly doubt a B student would be a match for F&M without excellent SATs or the likes. I grew up very close to F&M and as a 'B' student in high school, I was discouraged about even thinking about F&M as an option as it was reserved for the students with higher statistics. Things may have changed, but to my knowledge its not a good solid option for the 'B' student.</p>
<p>ophiolite, glad someone agrees with me once in awhile - I meant that you need about 1200 to get into one of the honors programs at WCU or Millersville. As for Fand M, it's highly selective and very expensive. There are some schools "B" students can get into, but may want to think twice about. Some have grad rates in the 60% range. Wooster, unless your seriously into academics, you're going to struggle. Allegheny may well be similar. Schools in remote or distant locations can get old after awhile, Hendrix, St Lawrence, Juniata. Also schools that have are primarily single sex seem to lose students, Sweet Briar, Sarah Lawrence, Goucher, VMI etc. Colleges with high grad rate are Muhlenberg, Gustavus Aldophus, may be the real deal. By the way, Muhlenberg (Penn Lite) takes a large percentage of students ED, and is quite difficult to get into. Also gives decent aid to kids on the higher end of the list. Moravian is similar, but a step below except for music majors. anyway</p>