best colleges for B students

<p>Thanks Ophiolite- What you said is all very encouraging. Good luck with your PhD admissions process. I've always categorized my d as a solid and dilligent student. Though her interest in "academia" was never great, she knows what needs to be done, has a mature attitude and would follow through conscientiously. So I think she'll be ok wherever she decides to go.</p>

<p>Ophiolite, I love stories like yours --- and Marny, a B+ average is nothing to sneeze at, so your daughter should do fine in any of the colleges on her list. (By the way, I was a B+ student way back when who went to SUNY Oneonta for two years way back when before transferring to Syracuse U.)</p>

<p>My daughter is a strong B+ student and has applied to:</p>

<p>Northeastern Uni.
Loyola Chicago
St. Louis University
Suffolk University
Syracuse University
Emerson College
University of Connecticut</p>

<p>Her unweighted GPA is a 3.6 and her ACT score was a 25. In your opinion are the schools mentioned above good matches for her? I would greatly appreciate the help. We live in Wisconsin if that makes any difference.</p>

<p>It's difficult to estimate a student's chances based solely on test scores and a GPA, so give us a bit more information Sprklplnty -
What was her high school curriculum like? Did she take any honors or AP classes? How many years math, science, foreign language? Class rank? Is that GPA weighted (extra points for AP/honors) or unweighted? Can you tell us more about her major activities outside of school?</p>

<p>Since she has Syracuse and Emerson on her list, am I right to assume she's interested in journalism? If so, keep in mind that the Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse is more selective than the university as a whole.</p>

<p>Based solely on her grades/test scores, I'd say she has a very good chance at SLU, Loyola, and Suffolk. Syracuse-Newhouse, Emerson, and Northeastern will be reachier, but not necessarily out of range. I am not familiar enough with how UConn looks at out of state applicants to guess her chances there. As I said, however, this is just looking at her grades/test scores and, of course, colleges look at much more than just those two datapoints, so if you give us some more info. we can get a better sense of things.</p>

<p>Additional stats on my daughter are as follows;</p>

<p>Unweighted gpa 3.66 on a 4.67 scale. Weighted gpa is 4.4 on a 5.83 scale.
Rank: 111/316
Extracurriculars: Spanish Club, Cheerleader, Vocal Jazz (audition required), Chamber Singers, Theater, Musical.</p>

<p>Worked past two summers full time as a lifeguard at a local private country club.</p>

<p>Her first choice is Northeastern but I think would be happy at SLU, Loyola or Suffolk. Emerson is probably a stretch and UCONN I'm not sure she would go if accepted. Very interested in any comments about her chances at her list of schools.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>sorry...forgot to mention that she applied to Syracuse for the college of arts and sciences as undecided.</p>

<p>ophiolite - it is a pleasure to read your story. The "glide" approach to high school and attempts to carry it into college will be trumped by motivated effort every time. I hope many "B student" families will be inspired by your perspective.</p>

<p>Bump - Really would appreciate any feedback.</p>

<p>Additional stats on my daughter are as follows;</p>

<p>Unweighted gpa 3.66 on a 4.67 scale. Weighted gpa is 4.4 on a 5.83 scale.
Rank: 111/316 - 35% percentile
Extracurriculars: Spanish Club, Cheerleader, Vocal Jazz (audition required), Chamber Singers, Theater, Musical. </p>

<p>Merit Award every year so far, Honor Roll and Dean's List every semester so far. </p>

<p>Worked past two summers full time as a lifeguard at a local private country club.</p>

<p>Her first choice is Northeastern but I think would be happy at SLU, Loyola or Suffolk. Emerson is probably a stretch and UCONN I'm not sure she would go if accepted. Very interested in any comments about her chances at her list of schools.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I'd go with Hapden-Sydney in VA.</p>

<p>sprklplnty - I know that I have felt unable to give valuable feedback, as I am totally unfamiliar with that type of GPA scale. I don't know how to "interpret" a 3.66 on a 4.67 scale or the 4.4 on the 5.83 scale. I'm not sure if that is what is stopping others from responding, but maybe you could help us understand it. Is it a solid B+ in both cases - can you "recalibrate" for us on a 4.0 or 100 point scale, so that we don't reach the wrong conclusion</p>

<p>That said, having spent some time on SLU's website recently, I'd say her scores and its acceptance rate make it a match-safe/match for her. Her GPA and class rank are not high for them, but they do accept 80%. Northeastern might be a little reach-y, but not a terrible reach. I'm not familiar at all with the others.</p>

<p>Nicolet High School's unweighted and weighted gpa scale is a mystery to everyone including parents of the students.</p>

<p>If you were to look at it as a 3.66 unweighted and a 4.4 weighted as other schools weighted scales go how do her stats look that way. </p>

<p>She is in the top 35% of her class being 111/316. The only thing I can tell you is that during her years in high school the majority of her grades were A's with a few B's scattered throughout. I don't know what to think anymore, when looking at the "big" college book by the Princeton Review she seemed to fall in to the criteria of most of the schools she selected. I'm hoping that since she is out of state for the most part at most of these schools that puts her at some advantage as far as diversity goes. What do you think? Her ACT isn't wonderful but it falls in them middle range of all the schools she applied. I'm so confused and terribly afraid that she won't be accepted anywhere. Should she look into more schools that have later deadlines?</p>

<p>Son is a B+ student with a few honors & AP's, 28 ACT, strong varsity athletics/leadership EC's and was accepted to Loyola Chicago's School of Business. If you'd like to add a safety to the list, how about DePaul also in Chicaco? Son accepted there as well to the College of Commerce. Also, you mentioned you're from Wisconsin. Did your D. consider Marquette?</p>

<p>BTW, DePaul's RD deadline is 2/1. Also, did your D. look at Indiana-Bloomington? Son accepted there and even given a faculty award with his stats!</p>

<p>Well, 3.66uw and 4.4w "weighted as other schools" scale things would be quite strong. But it would not usually go along with top 35%, but rather higher. There's nothing hard and fast, because of variations in grade inflation, strength of class, etc., but I would guess most often would be top 20% or better. So that is a hard assumption to make.</p>

<p>As to being confused and terribly afrait that she'll get in nowhere.... oh, don't we all know that feeling? Because we have all felt it deep in the pits of our stomachs. Since my S has to transfer this year, I am experiencing it all over again.</p>

<p>Do you have any "reading" from a GC who knows her well and knows her full package of essays, recs etc? Will you be waiting for 4/1 for all of the answers - because that is a crazy-making long wait, for sure. If so, finding a safe rolling admit school might get you a fast (3-4 week turnaround) for some relief from the anxiety. That is what I would recommend, if we can help you find one, or you already know of one.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, I'll take a look at Loyola, Syracuse, Emerson and Suffolk to see if I can give you an opinion that might relax you a bit. We don't often do the "chances" thing here on Parent Forum, because we know how unpredictable it can be. But we certainly do try to review college lists to find some real safety.</p>

<p>I am with you in spirit, sprklplnty. Helping each other through this is what the Parent Forum is for.</p>

<p>Loyola Chicago is rolling. Son heard back in less than a month. When did your D. apply? She should have a decision fairly soon. IMO, her stats look like a match.</p>

<p>My opinion on safe-match-reach from what you've said re ACT/class rank and trying to guess how they'll view her GPA:</p>

<p>Suffolk - Safe
Emerson- Match
SLU- Match/Safe-Match
Loyola-Chicago - Safe/Match
Syracuse-Match/a little reach-y
Northeastern-Reach/match</p>

<p>It's only one opinion, and I'm not the best at this here on cc. I'm relying mostly on USN&WR data on % accepted, % class in top 25%, ACT/SAT scores and average GPA. Hope it helps.</p>

<p>Oh, and I know SLU is rolling also. I think they say about 3 week turnaround from when the file is complete. Do you know when that was?</p>

<p>PS I do think it looks like a well-designed list. There is a fair amount of safety there. A rolling acceptance, which you may get soon, would make it a perfect list. Or, if you can add a rolling app to a school she likes which is ranked by USN as "Selective" or lower (not "More Selective" or higher), I think you would have the extra safety you might crave.</p>

<p>First and foremost, thank you very much for your encouragement and responses. In answer to some of the questions...</p>

<p>We did not send in her SAT scores because we weren't sure if they were good or not. Do you add all three scores together? Ex: Reading, math and writing? Then the essay is separate right? If that IS the case she scored 520V, 460M (low), 530W, and a 9 on her essay. I have no idea if these are good scores or not, would appreciate knowing though.</p>

<p>Applications were sent as follows:<br>
Emerson submitted 1/5/06
UConn submitted 12/10/05
Northeastern submitted 12/10/05
SLU submitted 12/19/05
Suffolk submitted 12/19/05
Syracuse University submitted 12/19/05
Loyola at Chicago submitted 12/19/05 received letter 1/4/06 saying file was complete and ready for review.
All files are complete.</p>

<p>Opinion? I was encouraged slightly by a letter we received dated 12/23/05 but received 1/10/06 which had an "Inside SLU" 2006 calendar enclosed. In the letter it also stated "I am also delighted that you have chosen to apply for admission to SLU. As you consider where to continue your education, I hope you find that St. Louis University is a place where you can learn and grow."</p>

<p>How would you read that?? Am I making too much out of it in a positive sense?</p>

<p>I would just like to say thanks.
I have similar stats as the OP’s S, so this thread gave me some ideas.
I saw the first reply said Boston U, aren’t the stats low for that school?
I’m only saying because I wanted to go there, but my SATs were too low.
And my guidance counselor said you need more than a 600 on each part.</p>

<p>EDIT: Sorry, I didn’t realize this thread was old.</p>

<p>it’s interesting to look at this and see the schools that a B students used to be able to get into. Things are really getting competetive!!!</p>

<p>It would be interesting to see what the outcome was (even though it was 4 years ago).</p>