Yes, I am aware that 3.5 isn’t competitive for top schools. Think we are adjusting that so many schools are now clustered in the 3.7 and up range when there seemed to be greater distribution fifteen to twenty to thirty years ago - and the definition of top schools was really limited to ten.
Also hard as his LD was undiagnosed for the first semester of 9th. He went from a 3.2 to a 3.4 to 3.6 to a 3.76, but the cumulative is 3.48. That first round of grades is just a ball and chain on the GPA. A 34 ACT score is great, but doesn’t necessarily change the overall calculus of where to apply.
The best thing, however, is that he is enjoying school, loves English and history, and seems on track to do well this semester.
That’s great. I’m sure your son is a great kid and he can do very well. You need to find the right fit and many out there will be great. Lots of opportunity. Just gotta find the right fit and there are many.
Hoping that your s22 will be able to be in school full time this fall. I can’t imagine learning math online, then the backdrop of a pandemic - not good.
Our son misses the social, but hybrid did allow him to focus, including taking many of his math/science tests at home, even when he was eligible to be on campus.
St Lawrence, Dickinson = reachable reaches
Marist, Hobart&WilliamSmith, SUNY Geneseo, Allegheny, Kalamazoo = good matches
Suny New Paltz (honors?), Susquehanna, Penn State+Paterno scholars, Pitt (for CLA and such), Miami Ohio= safeties/likelies
Your state’s flagship:
Due to the Schreyer selection process= he has a shot because two primary criteria are recommendations and, most importantly, quality of essays (they’re read by the professors who’ll have the freshman class, we’retalking academic essays). Grades matter, most importantly rigor - assuming your school has “AP” equivalents.
They’ll use his weighted GPA if he has one. If the classes are “honors equivalent” you’ll need to make that clear in the application since you need 16+ “honors or AP” for best odds. Gpa+rigor are 2/3 of admission, major counts also, so he should apply for History or English. Otherwise, 3.48 uw/no honors, odds are high he’d be directed to a branch campus. To avoid that he’d have to check summer session.
If you can look further away, St Olaf in Minnesota is high quality academically, and they may overlook the GPA due to the combination of 34+full pay+upward trend. Show interest. (Ranking has dipped this year but generally considered a top college in the Midwest). No Greek life, American or Great conversation ideal for a student interested in the Humanities.)
Skidmore is a very high reach but a boy interested in the Humanities may have a shot. (Low odds but not totally out of reach the way Bates is).
Note that Berea, listed above, is off the table since it’s dedicated to high achieving lower income students.
I would encourage you to talk with the college/guidance counselor at your student’s school. At an independent school that person should have a very good idea how competitive those grades are for various colleges. The numbers don’t tell the whole story at many LACs.
Thanks for the suggestion. The school discourages much parent contact after the spring meeting, but we are going to reach out with this new info. Really like the college counselor and expect he will be receptive.