<p>I am trying to convince my good friend that her soon to senior dgt needs to be looking at additional schools other than just OSU. I think she is putting all of her eggs in one basket and is only thinking about OSU. I don’t know why this is such a common thing, there are so many other wonderful colleges but that is another topic. Her stats are not that impressive in my mind and from what I know it is more and more difficult to get into OSU. So give me your all wonderful CC’ers opinion and if she should have at least one other school to apply too.</p>
<p>ACT’s - 27
GPA - 3.4 - no AP or honors classes
EC - none - she has not been involved in any EC’s at school, she is in some youth groups at her church</p>
<p>Potential majors - PreMed, Nursing, Psych
Volunteer - minimal with her church</p>
<p>I know a few people who got wait listed with 3.4’s, but I also know others who got in with an ACT score a few pts lower than what your friend’s daughter has. She definitely has a shot, but it’s by no means a safety school for her. </p>
<p>Is she an Ohio resident? If so, she has a guaranteed admission into one of OSU’s branch campuses if she doesn’t get into Columbus, and then she can just have a guaranteed transfer into Columbus after three quarters.</p>
<p>Her Mom is convinced that with her “outstanding” test scores she will be a shoe-in at Main Campus. She is an Ohio resident. She doesn’t want to go to a branch. My concern is her lack of ec’s and honors classes with the lower-end GPA.</p>
<p>Um, you should probably tell her mom that her ACT is actually below average, this year’s ACT score of incoming freshmen was a 28.1, and OSU will of course try to get that even higher for next year. Don’t get me wrong, a 27 is a really good score and plenty of people get in with that, just don’t expect admissions to be amazed at it.</p>
<p>OSU is actually more of a number school, they don’t care as much about EC’s than other schools (although it does help!) so test scores and class rank are dominant in the application. The lack of honors classes will probably make her less competitive though.</p>
<p>Your location is what is probably giving you the doubts, Ohio is a very insular state compared to other (have lived in the NE, SE and Far West) and OSU is looked at by most in the state as being the pinnacle of the “college experience.” The 27 ACT is right in OSU’s 25 - 30 25/75 ballpark and the GPA is about the same in comparison to current students. Seen students with 21 ACT scores admitted to the main campus along with GED holders getting in through the regional campuses with nigh a worry. </p>
<p>The fact she is female also helps, since the majority of OSU applications are in-state white males attracted by the popular (but now tarnished) football team. As you alluded to in your first comment about “a common thing” this “football team first, university second” herd mentality is quite prevent in Ohio and is what many people of influence see as a perfectly valid reason to pick OSU. Barring an earthquake pushing Ohio to the East Coast, I think a different tactics are needed to help persuade your friend to broaden their daughter’s horizons beyond you don’t think she can get in.</p>
<p>“As you alluded to in your first comment about “a common thing” this “football team first, university second” herd mentality is quite prevent in Ohio and is what many people of influence see as a perfectly valid reason to pick OSU.”</p>
<p>BaghDAD, I didn’t see any reference to the football team as a reason for the OP’s friend’s daughter selecting OSU. There are other reasons people want to go to OSU.</p>
<p>"OSU is looked at by most in the state as being the pinnacle of the ‘college experience.’ "
What is the basis for this statement?</p>
<p>“The fact she is female also helps, since the majority of OSU applications are in-state white males attracted by the popular (but now tarnished) football team.”
Can you provide the statistics for this?</p>
<p>To the Op: No one should apply to just one school. Things can change from the time one applies to college and the time one accepts–finances, major choice, the desire to be closer to/farther away from home. Options are good.</p>
<p>I agree that no one should apply to just one school, if your friend’s daughter has OSU set as her dream school, she should at least choose a safety like OU, BGSU, or Kent and just spend one semester there and then apply to transfer if OSU doesn’t accept her the first time. Transferring to Ohio State is pathetically easy compared to getting in from high school, people get in with 2.5’s all the time.</p>
<p>Also, 1/3 of all current OSU students got in through transfer. I know it may seem lame now, but it in the long run it’s really not a big deal.</p>
<p>This is all assuming she doesn’t get in though, bear in mind that she has a pretty good chance, it’s just always good to have a backup.</p>
<p>Ignore BaghDAD. If you look through his posting history, it would seem that about a full third of his posts are spent slamming Ohio State in one way or another, either directly or in the weaselly, passive-aggressive manner above. He clearly has some issues that he can’t work through in any other manner than to ■■■■■ these boards looking for an opportunity to slam Ohio State. It’s all rather sad really, and I can’t help but feel more pity for the man than hostility.</p>
<p>Here is the answers to your easy homework assignment BigSportsMama:</p>
<p>Per the OP speaking about OSU:
“I don’t know why this is such a common thing, there are so many other wonderful colleges but that is another topic.”</p>
<p>I think the OP is alluding to the cultural norm in Ohio…Not everyone drinks the OSU Kool-Aid, but enough do so as to be perceptible by those of us who don’t. Sorry if our awareness bothers you, but take a walk into any Dollar General or Wal-Mart in the state…The answer is right in front of you.</p>
<p>You want stats, here are government stats (guaranteed to be more accurate than those provided by the OHIO BMV and Used car salesman!) </p>
<p>Gee Lenny Cookie, the intellectual, ivory tower psycho analysis ■■■■■ schtick would work better if you could ever beat me to a topic. Nope, its the usual ad hominem, Joseph Goebbels style personal attack, the refuge of the feeble minded. The boards here are full of tough talking internet bullies who can’t think for themselves but get indignant at any sort of perceived “hatred.” Learn to understand the difference between criticism and hate and how to be persuasive with facts and reason, not unsupported bluster.</p>
<p>LennyPepperidge, you’re right. I will let BaghDAD’s posts speak for themselves. I really don’t need to say anything in reply because his posts speak louder than anything I could say. :)</p>
<p>OhioMom66 - to get back to your original question…my son only applied to 2 schools - OSU and FSU. We are out of state, but his test scores were mediocre but his GPA and ECs were excellent. I was pulling my hair out trying to get him to apply to another school or two. He got accepted at both colleges.</p>
<p>If she applies to OSU as early as possible, she should have an answer in Nov due to the rolling admissions. If she’s deferred or waitlisted, she still has time to apply to other schools. She could also still volunteer somewhere this summer (does she work?) and join a club or 2 at school this fall. A great essay will probably help too. Good luck.</p>
<p>I honestly see nothing wrong with this. She only wants to apply to one school because it is the big school where she is from. Her GPA and scores are the only thing that matter (honestly do you think adcoms really care about essays and ec’s?) If she does not make it in (unlikely) then she will have to be prepared to go to an external campus, which I realize she says she does not want to do. Instead of pushing her to apply to a whole bunch of colleges I personally would help her to understand that going to an external campus and transferring to the main is not the end of the world.</p>
<p>What is wonderful is that in an age where most people looking at college are all over the place with unrealistic hopes and far away dreams, this young lady has a direction and focus. If she makes it in then great! If not then she should be prepared with a good back up plan.</p>
<p>I agree, Bearvet. Applying early is important. I would also try taking the ACT again this fall.</p>
<p>BowTieFratty, I think the back up plan is to apply to more than one college. (It doesn’t have to be a huge number.) I have been surprised at some of the students who did not make it in to main campus. It’s certainly different than it was back in my day, but that’s a good thing!</p>
<p>OP-
Conventional wisdom is for kids to divide their applications between reach, match, and safety schools. Unfortunately, OSU-main campus cannot be considered a safety school given you friend’s daughter’s stats. The middle 50% of accepted undergrads have an ACT of 26-30. That puts her a bit below average without a strong GPA to compensate. If she added to diversity, it might help. IMO she will be deferred for the main campus and accepted for a regional campus. It would be smart to apply to at least one safety school such as Kent State or even Cleveland State. </p>
<p>Currently, Cleveland State is giving out some excellent automatic scholarships, is building new dorms, and I think has linked up with NEOUCOM to have an automatic admit med school program pending the right grades and so on.</p>
<p>You must have gotten an A in OSU Freshman English with such original prose, too bad you plagiarized your 13 year old sister’s Twitter feed to get it.</p>
<p>Ignore him jdb. Look through his posts. He’s utterly obsessed with trashing Ohio State for some reason. I agree that it’s a sad way for a grown man to spend his time, but let’s just hope it keeps his inner demons from taking a more ominous and destructive turn.</p>