good bets for average GPA/ high SAT/ west coast?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Our son will probably end up around 3.4 / 3.5 unweighted, 3.8 weighted, with high SAT (PSAT was 191 as sophomore - probably maps around 2150 SAT) and reasonably good ECs - one 4-year varsity sport and Eagle scout.</p>

<p>Any good ideas for west cost schools we should look at? The better UC's are probably out (since they weight GPA heavier than SAT) and we aren't interested in CSU. Small LAC might be best fit, but willing to consider other options as well.</p>

2

<p>Don’t overlook CSU, as some of them are pretty good, at least for some majors. Are you are California resident for UC and CSU tuition purposes?</p>

3

<p>The Catholic schools are a good option. I like University of SF, Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount but I am not really up on what is out there in the way of private schools. He probably would not be out of the running from USC and other selective privates with that gpa. My son did well with a lower one in terms of college acceptances. We did stay away from schools that emphasized gpa.</p>

4

<p>Look into Occidental College. Great LAC, students generally have those stats, very compelling programs.</p>

<p>In Oregon, look into Willamette University, in WA look into University of the Puget Sound.</p>

5

<p>Seattle U is another gem. My friend’s D got a great education there & her younger brother is now there. Have heard a lot of good things about that U & they offered her more generous merit + FAid than others. They also have an honors program she participated in.</p>

<p>As was said, he may have a shot at USC–our S had a similar unweighted but higher weighted GPA & was admitted for engineering (but had amazingly high SAT scores & was a NMF). Whitman is said to be a good school. U of O in Eugene is another nice school, but quite large. My niece was happy there, as was I many decades ago.</p>

<p>What size school is your S thinking about? Is cost a factor? Does he need merit or FAid? Loyola (LMU) is quite small, tho I found their campus gorgeous; some kids who attend find it too small & isolated while others I’m sure are happy there. Similar with St. Mary’s in SF–smaller & some find perfect while others find too cozy.</p>

6

<p>West Coast or California?</p>

<p>UW is a good possibility with lots of top-ranking programs to choose from, but it sounds like by “west coast” you actually mean California, based on the other programs you are talking about.</p>

<p>[UW</a> By The Numbers — University of Washington](<a href=“http://admit.washington.edu/Numbers]UW”>http://admit.washington.edu/Numbers)</p>

7

<p>U of Puget Sound, Whitman, Pitzer, Occidental, UC Santa Cruz and Barbara.</p>

8

<p>Tell us more about your kid and his interests. Does he have a major in mind yet? Or at least a general area of concentration (math/science-y, arts-y, humanities, business)? Does he want urban, suburban, or rural setting – or does he even care about that? Is he outgoing or shy? Conservative or liberal? Does ethnic or socio-economic diversity matter to him? Does he prefer lecture-type learning, or small interactive classes? What sorts of things does he like to do for fun?</p>

9

<p>He’s more liberal arts / intellectual – not math/engineering, not highly political or religious, and somewhat shy, which is why the thought about LAC. Cost is a factor but not overriding.<br>
BTW - thanks for all the ideas.</p>

10

<p>You might look at these (although some might be too big/too religious):</p>

<p>CSU Sonoma
CSU Humbolt
Chapman
Claremont McKenna
Lewis & Clark
Linfield
Loyola Marymount
Occidental
Pacific U
Pitzer
Pomona
Portland U
Reed
San Diego State
Santa Clara U
Seattle U
St. Mary’s College
UC Merced
Whittier
Willamette</p>

11

<p>Cal Poly San Luis Obispo</p>

12

<p>I have about the same stats and I applied to a lot of the schools mentioned. The UCs I got into were UCSB, UCR and UCSC. Pitzer actually has a low acceptance rate (~20%) but it’s worth a shot.</p>

13

<p>My s had the identical stats this year including eagle scout. He got into ucsb, uc davis, waitlisted at ucsd, got into and will attend minnesota. Best oos deal in the country. 24k/year and he got a nice scholarship. cal poly slo also</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>Your son sounds like my DS2. He’s happily studying at the University of Redlands.</p>

<p>My DS1 is happily studying at Cal Poly SLO. It’s a great school, but doesn’t sound like a fit for the OP’s son.</p>

15

<p>Whittier, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, Washington State.</p>

16

<p>3.8 is the UCGPA? Santa Cruz could still work next year. Also University of Portland, Gonzaga. </p>

<p>Check these out, although they are mostly *safeties" for the 3.3 kids</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1082985-california-schools-b-student.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1082985-california-schools-b-student.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’ll try to find the 3.3-3.6,and the west coast3.0 ones.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/767486-where-did-your-3-3-3-6-gpa-child-get.html?highlight=where+did+your+3[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/767486-where-did-your-3-3-3-6-gpa-child-get.html?highlight=where+did+your+3&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/907349-western-schools-3-0-3-3-kid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/907349-western-schools-3-0-3-3-kid.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

17

<p>Search for schools in the Western Undergraduate Exchange. He’ll pay only 150% of the schools instate tuition … it’s a great situation for us on the West Coast. </p>

<p>[WICHE</a> - Student Exchange Programs](<a href=“http://wue.wiche.edu/search1.jsp]WICHE”>http://wue.wiche.edu/search1.jsp)</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>