<p>Friend is concerned about son’s chances. I don’t have a lot to go on, but thought I’d throw out the stats as related to me:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.7 unweighted
ACT: 23
Rank: 15/185 (top 10%)</p>
<p>High School offers no APs.</p>
<p>Moderate school activities; summer job.</p>
<p>My view is that ACT is low, but don’t know if it’s fatal b/c of the decent GPA.</p>
<p>ACT is very low. 91% of last year's class scored 24+.</p>
<p>OTOH, gpa and class rank are great. ACT might be fatal or might be put into context based on the particular background of the applicant.</p>
<p>OSU is a reach on the basis of the poor ACT score. You may want to encourage your friend to have her son take the SAT or re-take the ACT. GPA is quite good, but I hope he has taken honors classes to make up for his school's lack of APs. Without honors courses or an improved ACT/SAT score, his chances are not that great.</p>
<p>Thanks sh60614 and ambiguity. Agree that it's a reach -- the level of courses taken and candidate's background will not compensate much, if any. I have suggested some type of prep materials/course and to take the SAT or retake the ACT, but don't know how well that is being received by the son. I will relay your input. ...if only they'd have asked 3 or 4 years ago!!!</p>
<p>It's definitely not too late to get going on that ACT score, or maybe take an SAT if that might be his cup of tea. Try those free review books / practice tests. I found that they actually helped me more than any paid-for prep book.</p>
<p>I would recommend applying by whatever the cutoff for certain scholarships is this year, probably very early December. Even with that, there's still time to schedule a new ACT and/or SAT test.</p>
<p>And if you need to apply after that early December cutoff to get that ACT score up, then that's your best bet. Better to get accepted and miss a possible chance at a few of the top scholarships than to get rejected because you tried to rush.</p>
<p>Tell your friend and your friend's son good luck, from all of us!</p>
<p>Thanks, Speaker -- agree 100%. My children "reviewed" for the SAT and the moderate amount of time expended paid nice dividends. Thanks for the support -- to say that OSU is his #1 choice is an understatement. He, and his family, bleed scarlet and gray.</p>