Forming the apply/info session list, and could use your calibration...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Looking for some calibration here. On paper, I see my son as a good for William and Mary. Wesleyan looks terrific based on a lot of his preferences (broad, science, maybe government), but we have no idea how competitive he is. His guidance counselor says he has a 50:50 shot at William and Mary (and that is in state), but she only knows his GPA/rank. So, this is sort of a chance him (my son) thread, but also a general sense of what is an unreasonable reach and what is safe as he forms a list. Sorry for the broad question but am new to the forum...here we go...</p>

<p>He does not have to work very hard in school, so his GPA may be his weakness...perhaps community/leadership stuff. He is incredibly normal and while he does not like the chase of admissions, he has done well enough to be competitive at some good places. He has only done what he wants, there is no padding. He is a social person that is very active all the time. I think he would come across as well-grounded in an interview, and pretty sharp overall. </p>

<p>In terms of environment, he is a politically active centrist and an atheist. He would not fit into a heavily greek culture. He wants to be around sharp students, but not necessarily the over-privelaged that didn't get into Harvard. He has quirky friends, many of whom are too smart to succeed. </p>

<p>GPA UW 3.75 Weighted GPA higher of course
Not in the top 10% of his class, just below
SATI M 740 CR 800 WR 670 (not sure if he is going to retake)
SATII CHEM 740 US 740
AP EXAMS - CHEM 4, HIST 5
He is taking AP Physics and Biology in his senior year, plus calc, and has a couple dual enrollment college courses. 4 years of foreign language. 8 years of fine arts. Not a slacker.</p>

<p>ECs -
SPORTS: JV soccer (2yrs), Varsity Soccer (2yrs), Varsity Track (2yrs), Varsity X-country (2yrs). He'll be in states for X-country and track, some possibility of captain.</p>

<p>MUSIC:
Concert Band (clarinet - 4 years) - playing for 7 years.
Jazz Ensemble (Piano - 4 years) - playing for 10 years
Some musical accomplishments at jazz festivals (e.g. best soloist), he is a promising (but not a prodigy) in terms of Jazz and Rock improvisational piano. He has a rock band and plays in a high end student jazz ensemble in the summers. He gigs around from time to time but they don't earn much.</p>

<p>OTHER:
Works part time during school as a soccer ref, is a certified life guard and that is his summer job. He is the head guard.</p>

<p>Started the school debate club, and is a member of the french club, but to be honest, sports, music and school make him protect his hours.</p>

<p>Some but not extensive community outreach. Volunteered for political campaigns.</p>

<p>Interested in Science or Govt/Politics, is very broad, not a music major but wants to jam out with his friends or do some gigs on the side.</p>

<p>THE LIST:
Wesleyan, Oberlin, UVA (in state), William and Mary (in state), Carleton - Not sure which might be reaches.</p>

<p>Cornell, Duke - Seem like major reaches, as the other Ivies do.</p>

<p>Safe - well that is part of it isn't it... Bard? I thinkg Va Tech is lowballing him a bit (not an engineer).</p>

<p>I would appreciate your thoughts about what we may be missing. I think if he is going to pay for out of state tuition, he would prefer not to head further south.</p>

<p>Let me know if I broke any forum etiquette with this ramble...</p>

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<p>He sounds like a great kid. I’m sure he’ll end up with lots of choices. You won’t have trouble finding reach & match schools where he could be happy. Both Wesleyan and Oberlin sound like good choices to me for his interests. I think you’re going to find the college experience far less stressful than you fear. </p>

<p>The challenge for him is to pick one safety school where he could imagine being happy to go. My younger S picked an out of the box university in an exotic locale - guaranteed to get in and cheap, but he figured if that was his only choice in the end, he wanted to be able to be excited about it. He didn’t end up going there, but he wouldn’t have been depressed if he’d had to.</p>

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<p>Hi, Thanks for your kind thoughts and reassuring tone. I am actually enjoying it, and see he will do just fine. For example, I see Oberlin as a likely admission, and Wesleyan tougher, but they are great places, and he has great in state options at VA. The safety school thing you mention is an issue, but for you it never became an issue, and that will probably be the case here.</p>

<p>He is immature in many ways, hence the low GPA relative to SAT, but so well adjusted in others. Of course if his mother wrote this message, you might get a different view on that! Cheers!</p>

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<p>Hi- has he visited the schools? Also are you requesting financial aid? I do believe at schools like Weslyan that really does matter. I think Duke will be a far reach unless he re-takes his SAT but what about Haverford as a reach. I’m surprised that the counselor says 50/50 to William and Mary. I find they do like to prepare you on the safe side. I would advise taking the SAT again. One of my boys raised his over 200 points from a fairly high score to begin with- the other stayed the same. (they didn’t have any prep) NYU, University of Wisconsin are 2 schools that a gal of similar stats and likes applied to and was accepted. BU was also a popular school that kids with good scores and good but not the best grades ended up choosing. Good luck!</p>

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<p>When I read your post my first thought was Macalester, which is not far from Carleton. It has a vey bright, politically active and “quirky” student population. Good luck with your search</p>

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<p>2 by 2, I doubt we’ll get much aid. We are not rich, but have enough to not limit his searches from the start based on that. </p>

<p>He visits Wesleyan this week for the info session.</p>

<p>I think he is in decent shape for W&M, but again, that is part of what we are trying to evaluate in forming the list. </p>

<p>He wants to take SAT again, the writing score disappointed him, and he knows exactly the math areas he missed, so there is upward potential there. </p>

<p>NYU and many quality state schools are right in the mitt for him…he is about to step up to the fork in road regarding LAC versus research U. I used to hang out in the village all the time, but that is not for everyone. He’ll visit there this week, and he can hang in in Washington Square for a bit, but all the info sessions are booked.</p>

<p>Thanks you for your thoughts</p>

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<p>BobbyCT, Macalester is on the list in my head, though I have not heard it come independently from his lips. I like that place, smart kids, international students, and I love the urban location, except in MPLS/STP, nothing is overly urban. I never know how to plant those seeds, but if he visits the midwest soon, that would be worth a look. Now, I would not even call that a safety school these days. It is just a possible good fit. I think that is what you were saying.</p>

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<p>You might look at Tufts.
I think he’s in good shape at W&M–I would certainly say it’s better than 50/50.
How about James Madison as a safety instead of Tech? Or even University of Mary Washington? George Mason is probably too safe.
You might also take a look at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.</p>

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<p>Nigiri, you are right. I did not intend to suggest that Macalester was a safety, I meant it seemed like a good fit based on your sons profile. The good news is that your son will have plenty of options that will fit him.</p>

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<p>Hunt, I am drawing the line if its JMU. I would opt for gap year. I would rather not discuss that on a forum, but that is clear. Tufts has not been on the radar, ty.</p>

<p>BobbyCT, thought so. Cheers!</p>

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<p>I have no particular preference for JMU, but I do think that “lowballing” a bit is appropriate for a true safety. It does have to be somewhere that he’d be willing to attend, of course.</p>

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<p>TY Hunt, I did not mean to be critical of your comment. Sorry if it came off that way.</p>

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<p>I didn’t take it that way–I took it as critical of JMU!</p>

<p>For what it’s worth, my son’s main safety was pretty darn safe, with rolling admissions. He got an early admission there, with a nice offer of merit aid, and it was just nice having that, although we didn’t use it.</p>

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<p>Really? Wm isn’t a safety? My stats were only a bit higher and I had unc as my instate safety?</p>

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<p>skate…well that is part of the calibration i seek, ty.</p>

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<p>For a slightly less selective version of Duke, I would recommend Davidson. It’s an often overlooked gem, with a beautiful campus, quaint college town, friendly student body, and strong offerings in the arts.</p>

<p>Goucher (just outside Baltimore) might make an excellent safety.</p>

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<p>W&M is increasingly selective. It’s risky for anybody but a very top student to use it as a safety (same is even more true for UVa). I think’s a good match for the OP’s son (instate), though.</p>

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<p>W&M is seldomly a safety for anyone. Higher test scores, lower admit rate and a smaller school than Uvirginia. Toss-up between W&M and Washington & Lee as toughest admit in Virginia</p>

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<p>I am being told he is more competitive at W&M than UVA because UVA places more weight on GPA relative to SAT, and relative to W&M…and he has nice SATs but spots on his GPA.</p>

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<p>Wesleyan is a reach.</p>