Can Parents help me craft a list?

Parent Cafe
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<p>I've posted my stats in the 3.0-3.3 GPA thread, but figured I would post this for all parents now that I have more specifics.</p>

<p>I've gotten two C's and two D's (one pair Soph year, one pair Jr year). Not impressive, I know.</p>

<p>My GPA is roughly a 3.1. I'm very lopsided with 5's in every AP I've taken (English Lang, Euro, USH and Psych). My poor grades are me not doing homework, but acing tests. I hate making excuses, but due to some extenuating circumstances (that I wrote my CommonApp essay on), I simply didn't have time to do busywork. </p>

<p>I got a 28 on my ACT that I hope to be able to raise to a 30.</p>

<p>I feel like even if my GPA isn't absolutely abysmal, 2 D's will kill me anywhere I apply. </p>

<p>I'm in-state Virginia. Can you help me formulate a list?</p>

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<p>Well, it would help if we knew what you were planning to major it. The good news is that Virginia is loaded with good schools. Do you have a compelling reason to look OOS?</p>

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<p>Sorry for leaving that out. I plan to major in political science or something like that.</p>

<p>I’m open to OOS schools, but no compelling reason to look for such.</p>

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<p>Your GPA will hurt with schools like W & M and UVA (BTW, I live in Virginia). I would look at Christopher Newport University and George Mason for starters. My son had a friend who majored in political science at CNU and really enjoyed his four years. George Mason’s location could lend itself to internship opportunities in DC. Also, if you are interested in law, GMU has a nice law school.</p>

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<p>momreads, I am looking at GMU. My only concern is that it is known as a commuter school. Do you know anything specific about it? I’ve tried to look up exactly how many kids live on campus and it seems the majority of students either live in the dorms but go home often or live at home.</p>

<p>Also, will colleges take my GPA at the end of first semester or at the end of junior year?</p>

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<p>A kid with poor grades, extenuating circumstances (which implies they COULD get better grades) and lives in virginia.</p>

<p>Which is a better path - shoot for an easier to get into 4 year state U? Or (if you live in an area like NoVa where the comm college has guaranteed admissions deals) go to CC for 2 years, get good grades, and then transfer to a name 4 year state U?</p>

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<p>“Also, will colleges take my GPA at the end of first semester or at the end of junior year?”</p>

<p>for regular decision they will include first semester of senior year</p>

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<p>I just had dinner the other night with one of my son’s friends who attends GMU. He just loves it there. He came home for fall break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and summer. He told me that many students stay on campus. He’s in the honors program but has not decided what will be his major. He likes that he can have his car so if he wants to go elsewhere, he can. He’s met people from all over, has lots of friends, enjoys his classes and says his dorm life is good. </p>

<p>I do know that you can apply early action to GMU, and even with a 3.1 GPA, you may get in. One of my former students failed an AP class during his senior year, got a D in another and had subpar SAT scores – he got in. Your AP scores are very impressive, so they could tip admission in your favor.</p>

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<p>How much are your parents willing to pay each year for college? Get the answer to this question, which is essential to your knowing where to apply. No reason to apply to schools that you won’t be able to afford. Most schools aren’t able to meet students’ financial need. The ones that can, in general, are the places like Harvard. Even when schools say they meet 100% of students’ financial need, the schools, not your parents, determine what that financial need is.</p>

<p>I don’t suggest that you write your common app essay on how you didn’t have time to do “busywork.” College admissions officers aren’t likely to consider homework “busywork” even if it was.</p>

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<p>CIA, you aren’t the first really bright kid who failed to realize in time that high school is often more about obedience than about advanced learning. When you prove that you can get your useless homework in on time, you also prove you have the “maturity” to complete the random task that a boss in the workplace might assign to you, without arguing about the merits of said task.</p>

<p>The good news is that college grades are more about tests and less about homework. Many bright students really hit their stride in college. Try for the best college you can, of course, but don’t worry too much about where you end up – you can always work hard, with a fresh start on your GPA, and use your high grades to transfer to a better school by junior year.</p>

<p>There’s also nothing preventing you from acing your college grades and getting into a top-ranked graduate school. You’ve got brains, just combine that with focus and determination and remember that there is a bit of a game component in getting to the top of your class.</p>

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<p>Just to clarify: my commonapp essay IS NOT about how I didn’t have time to do busywork. It’s about the extenuating circumstance that prevented me from being able to do it, though I only mention once the affect this circumstance had on school. If any parent here is willing to read it, PM me and I’ll send a copy.</p>

<p>So would you recommend applying most placed RD and working extra hard first semester of senior year? Would that help tip adcoms in my favor at places like GMU?</p>

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<p>CIA, in previous threads you’ve mentioned that financial aid is a significant factor for you. If you were my son/daughter, I would only allow you to apply regular decision or to schools that offer rolling admission or non-binding early. You will want to be able to compare financial aid offers. I would think you would want to show a strong performance first semester regardless of whether you are applying RD or ED.</p>

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<p>Yes, I meant EA when I referenced applying early. </p>

<p>Of course I want a strong showing senior year regardless–I’m just wondering how much it will help me in admissions.</p>

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<p>Did you get a D as a final grade for a course junior year? Most high schools only show the final averaged year end grades. Ask to see your transcript as it will be sent to colleges, minus, of course, your first term senior year grades.</p>

<p>If you do have those D’s as final grades that are going to be on your transcript for sophomore and junior years, that is definitely going to hurt you big time in terms of getting into selective schools. And it doesn’t matter how extenuating the circumstances for those schools. Top schools want to see great performance IN SPITE of challenges and extenuating circumstances and have little sympathy for poor grades in those situations. However, if you want to give it a shot, pick a couple of schools that you like but are reaches due to those grades, and see how it goes. Just make sure you have some schools that are true safeties and matches, given your grades.</p>

<p>I would not apply EA. A strong performance first term senior year could make a difference. If you apply EA, the colleges are going to see a student getting a C and a D on the last report. Not good at all. </p>

<p>Also, if you need financial aid, you need to make sure that some of your picks are financial safeties too. Many schools that are generous with financial aid do practice preferential packaging, and your grades are not going to help in getting the best package. You also may be eliminated from merit money with those grades. </p>

<p>If you apply RD with a very strong showing first term senior year, followed by a strong set of mid year marks, that could be a factor in your favor since there is always a group of kids who get hit with senioritus and their grades drop during that time period. That you show an upward trend at a time like that can really be to your benefit. A young man I know with mediocre grades, really revved it up Senior year. He was waitlisted at a selective school, but did clear the waitlist with sterling senior year grades in difficult courses. The admissions office said that his strong showing that year was what made him an attractive wait list candidate, over some kids with better grades but showing some senior meltdown at the end of the year. Unlike the earlier years when just the year end grades are shown on the transcript, your grades can be shown quarter by quarter right up to the end for senior year. If waitlisted, you can have 4 sets of grades for senior year whereas you may only be showing 3 sets for your earlier 3 years. That is how heavily those senior grades can weigh into the picture. You can also point out this improvement as you get those grades senior year, submitting them to the colleges. </p>

<p>Honestly, I don’t see a school that is in the reach category accepting you EA. I would not, if I were an admissions officer. A very strong consistent showing for 3 out of 4 quarters would be essential to me to accept you at a school where you are on the cusp for acceptance.</p>

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<p>cptofthehouse, thank you for the excellent advice. I figured as much. With all of that being said, what I’m really looking for is a list of schools that WOULD accept me despite those grades (even if a straight A senior year is needed).</p>

<p>Would George Mason fall into that category? Mary Washington? I’m not really sure.</p>

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<p>From another thread that you posted, finding a 4-year college that you can afford without taking out huge loans will be a much more difficult problem to solve than simply getting admitted to a college. </p>

<p>As you posted: "I’m a 0 EFC, first-gen student in Virginia. "</p>

<p>I strongly suggest looking for a public college that will accept you and that you can commute to from home. That may be your best option.</p>

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<p>I highly recommend Christopher Newport, GMU, VCU, Longwood, Radford, Old Dominion. You can really blossom at these schools if you are willing to work hard and establish a good rapport with your professors. With your current stats, you would have difficulty getting into Virginia Tech, UVA, W&M, James Madison, Mary Washington.</p>

<p>Or if you wish to gain admission to the more competitive VA schools, go to CC and ace your classes and transfer.</p>

<p>My neighbor’s kid had a D and a few Cs on her record. She had straight As her senior year, though. She got into Christopher Newport and has made the dean’s list every semester. She loves her professors and is planning on law school.</p>

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<p>Right now my (early) list includes:</p>

<p>Mary Washington (reachy)
George Mason
Christopher Newport
VCU</p>

<p>I’ve visited VCU and liked it (and can afford it!). Do you think I have a pretty good shot of getting in there?</p>

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<p>Yes, I think you have a good chance at VCU. Have a really strong senior year. VCU will let you know by December if you get your application in quickly. Also CNU will let you know early. My son attends VCU and loves his professors and classes. In a large school like VCU you must be pro-active to get the best out of the experience, but you can definitely flourish there.</p>

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<p>You might consider putting your “extenuating circumstances” in the “additional information” section and / or having your guidance counselor talk about them, instead of using the main essay for this. I do think it’s important to put in, because the more an applicant can help the adcom understand the transcript and the student, the better off they will be.</p>