College suggestions? (yes another)

<p>Just an idea. </p>

<p>My kid is also at a very hard school where it is hard to get good grades. A 3.4 is a good GPA there, and according to Naviance, kids get into good colleges with those stats because colleges know the school. Have you considered taking the ACT? The ACT supposedly measures how well students have mastered the high school curriculum. Even though her grades are mediocre, she absolutely killed the ACT. (We are in a region of the country where most people take the SAT, but who cares). I know switching to another test could be annoying, but it’s worth a shot.</p>

<p>One word of caution to ClassicRockerDad, when looking at Naviance you aren’t getting the whole picture of the other applicants from your school. A star athlete will almost always have an advantage on gaining admission over a regular admission student. At many of the smaller LAC’s, a full tuition student will be admitted before one who requires substantial help from the school’s endowment. Just because one student has been admitted with a lower GPA doesn’t mean that all students with a similar GPA can count on that being the standard. Admissions is more of an art than a science, especially at many of the LAC’s.<br>
Earthstapa, I think that Dickinson, Ursinus, Muhlenberg and Gettysburg are all possible fits that I would look at. Best of luck to you in your search!</p>

<p>My point isn’t to give chances, it’s to say that the OP has some. Obviously Naviance doesn’t project from one school to another. </p>

<p>Some posters told the OP she has no chance. I don’t think that’s true. She has chances, some better than others. I thought by showing what the chances would be with her stats at our school, it would be convincing that it’s worth reaching sometimes as long as there is a safety. </p>

<p>Nobody would ever apply to a reach school if nobody ever got in. Those islands of green squares in a sea of red crosses took guts, self confidence and a prayer to apply to. </p>

<p>I also know some of those people and not all were hooked.</p>

<p>well said ClassicRockerDad. Don’t rule out some schools on the basis of GPA alone. There are many other factors considered, not the least of which are test scores, and OPs are solid. </p>

<p>And I agree with redpoint’s suggestion to take the ACT. I think kids with strong analytical skills score higher on that test. My son and two co-worker’s kids did exactly that although we’re left-brained engineering types ourselves.</p>

<p>Strong test scores and a strong finish (first quarter senior year) will help your cause.</p>