<p>Hi everyone, I hope I am posting in the right forum here.</p>
<p>My son is a junior with a GPA of 3. He has taken one AP course this year and has been in honors math all three years thus far. He is taking chemistry and will do physics next year.
He has been part of the swim team all three years and will continue. He volunteers at the local temple a few hours every week and volunteers with the school and local theater group. He is also an orchestra student and plays the violin both in the indian style and western style...That is all the ECs he has. He is a part of the theater group and has participated in a few plays at school. His average ACT score might be in the range of 21-24, based on his practice tests.</p>
<p>He is good at math ( not great) and would love to do something with theater and arts.</p>
<p>We though that the interdisciplinary programs with arts and technology would work for him, like the bachelors of digital arts at Arizona state or the BS in digital cinema at Depaul</p>
<p>Are they other colleges he could apply to and have a possibility of getting in?</p>
<p>I know a BS is bettar than a BA for job prospects but would it matter in this case?</p>
<p>Many options for students with a GPA of 3.0; standardized test scores will increase or decrease those options. If a 24 ACT is the best that can be expected, score-optional schools might be the way to go. I’m sure that a list can be found if you google / search for it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. We live in MN , and I think he is willing to travel as long as we get a right fit in terms of college. I am not sure if he will get into the local state universities as they need a higher GPA. I think we can afford a mid range school…</p>
<p>OP – do be aware when reading older posts that what may have been a good bet for a solid ‘B’ student as recently as a year ago may be less so now. Every year typically brings change and, often, increased competitiveness. </p>
<p>Again, tho’ – lots of good options for a 3.0 student.</p>
<p>Sounds like my D. About a 2.8 though I think she will top out at a 3.0 (is having a good first semester for junior year) and ACT projected in that range, though we are prepping, prepping prepping for both SAT and ACT. We are looking at schools in Minnesota, surprisingly. We’re looking at Chadron State. We’re looking at Minot State as well. Also check out the Lutheran colleges (lutherancolleges.org) which seem to have really good performing arts departments.</p>
<p>Improvement in your son’s grades this year can make a huge difference. Some kids mature and replace the low grades of the first two years with much better ones junior year. Colleges, including UW-Madison (MN tuition reciprocity still in effect I believe) and likely other UW system schools, will look hardest at the last full year, the junior year in HS. Therefore- your son’s chances improve with a stellar junior year. It may be too late for first semester but a great spring semester and fall senior year semester can make a difference in getting into the state schools other than the flagships. </p>
<p>Tell him his options improve with good grades now. Also tell him his test scores really matter- he should study for the test. His EC’s are fine, just make sure they don’t replace study time. Do not focus on specific majors at this time, his interests will evolve over the next few years. He may enter a “lesser” college and be able to transfer to one better suited to his future career with good college grades. He can take the general courses required almost anywhere, do well and then get accepted to a program. </p>
<p>One reason he is unlikely to get accepted to many colleges is that he has not proven he has the study habits to be successful. This is the time for him to develop those good habits, with better grades being a nice side effect. He obviously has discipline in music and swimming, he needs to translate those efforts to his academic classes. Hopefully he will be motivated. He will also be better prepared for any college. He should take the ACT this spring and consider repeating it next fall if he thinks he can improve his score.</p>
<p>Your son needs to be in charge of his future. He needs to realize his classroom efforts make a difference. Your job as his parent is to get him psyched about possibilities, which you are doing. Good luck to him.</p>
<p>He seems to have several areas of interest. Can he apply to schools where he has a good chance of admission and not worry about specific major or program as yet? Is he specifically interested in film or digital arts?</p>
<p>Wis75 ,thanks so much for your detailed reply. I have mentioned this to him several times but it always works better when it comes from someone else other than mom. I had him read your post. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Compmom, he is kind of interested in film and digital arts …I am not sure. Which schools could he apply to where he will have a good chance? I am not sure with this level of GPA he has a good chance anywhere. Maybe if it improves…</p>
<p>Also, one thing that helped make my kids take a stronger interest in junior year in college was going on a couple of college visits. It made the consequences and benefits of their actions more real to them, I think. If you haven’t done any visits, I would suggestion you do a couple (okay, not today, I live in MN and it is cccooollddd out there today! :D). But in the next several weeks.</p>
<p>Yes, intparent, college visits. D had her first college visit to Adrian College (check out Adrian, 2015grad). She loved it and is now excited again, just hoping she can bring it home for a good GPA this semester to get the boost to 3.0. She’s ADD so yeah there were struggles but I don’t have any doubt that she will find a college that is right for her (we are looking for colleges that are an admission/academic fit for her and there are other things she is looking for). There are hundreds of colleges that are a fit and the middle chunk of students need to go to college somewhere.</p>
<p>Univ Nebraska - automatic admission with a 20 ACT. Use their online scholarship calculator to calculate merit award. Cost will probably be around $22,000 per year. Lots of majors to choose from.</p>
<p>Kansas U - automatic admission with a 20 ACT. Cost will probably be around $32,000 per year. Lots of majors to choose from.</p>
<p>Indiana State, Ball State…midwest consortium discount with a 3.0 GPA (instate tuition for ball state for sure, we were told to our faces at a college fair).</p>