Good SATs Poor GPA - need help

<p>My D has a 1970 on Sat with a 3.6 weighted GPA and 3.2 unweighted. She has 1 AP this year and several honors. Her EC, recs and essays will all be strong. Her top choices are Tulane and Bucknell (both reaches). She needs help with more matches and safety schools along the lines of these two. She wants to be on either coast (or NOLA), not midwest. please help!</p>

<p>Her GPA is right about on par with her SAT actually</p>

<p>Finances are not too much of a issue. She really doesn’t know yet what she wants to major in, but is drawn to anything with “International” in the name. A strong study abroad program is important to her. She doesn’t want a college that is much smaller than her high school of about 4,000 (I would prefer a school with less than 20,000 but ultimately it’s not my decision). Strong sense of community/school spirit are important, as is the option for Greek life. thanks</p>

<p>Well USC is not a safety/match… It’s actually a bit of a reach… However I did get denied from Tulane and accepted to USC so… but it is EXACTLY what you are describing. I’m going to USC next year as an international relations/global business major lol… 20% of women participate in greek life. The school spirit is ALMOST unparallelled. AND it is in LA…</p>

<p>Maybe Boston University could be a match
Pepperdine
U of Florida
Miami
South Carolina
Clemson
Penn State</p>

<p>@wavylays94, what were your stats?</p>

<p>Take a look at Clemson! Let me now if you have any questions!</p>

<p>2180 3.95…
But I had ABSOLUTELY NO ec’s</p>

<p>Her unweighted GPA will be an issue at many of the known schools. Frankly, I don’t think Tulane will accept her. Tulane has become harder to get into and without 2000+ SAT and 3.7+ GPA, it’s a big reach …unless she’s a URM or has some hook. </p>

<p>Since she wants the coasts (excpept for Tulane), does that mean that she wants well known schools? </p>

<p>I don’t think any of the Calif publics will work because OOS GPA typically has to be higher. </p>

<p>Are the Catholics ok…USD and USF would likely accept her. Maybe Loyola Maryland. However, I don’t think the Jesuits have Greeks, but USD (not Jesuit) does. Seton Hall would likely accept her…don’t know if it has Greeks. </p>

<p>Her geography and school size limitations (with Greek) will limit choices because of her UW GPA.<br>
Is there a reason for E or W limits?
Are you saying that you’re willing to pay $60k+ per year for her to go to any school?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>About 19% of Tulane students enter with HS GPAs below 3.25. About 14% rank below the top quarter. Tulane’s average high school GPA was 3.55 for students entering this year. </p>

<p>About 22% of Bucknell students enter with HS GPAs below 3.25 … but only about 9% rank below the top quarter. Bucknell’s average high school GPA (among students who submitted it) was 3.52 for students entering this year. </p>

<p>It may be the case that more Bucknell than Tulane students attended private or competitive public high schools, where a < 3.25 GPA was more likely to place them in the top quarter. Rank, high school, and course rigor matter in interpreting GPA. </p>

<p>Syracuse has a higher average GPA (3.6) than Tulane, but much lower average SATs and a higher admit rate. She might have a shot there (or at Northeastern). American University seems to have a strong international relations program (with the advantages of a DC location) and may be a little less selective than Bucknell (though I think it would also be a reach).</p>

<p>@tk21769, D doesn’t want midwest and wants a school that has a known reputation on the coasts since she thinks that is where she will settle and be looking for internships/jobs. I realize we are limiting options but want to make sure we are aware of all that we can.</p>

<p>The 19% of students who get accepted to Tulane with a 3.25 or lower are athletes or uRMs</p>

<p>It is a division 1 athletics school so they can offer scholarships to anyone with a 2.0</p>

<p>bump…</p>

<p>Actually, she could probably get into USC. Plenty of worse off people got in. Auburn, maybe?</p>

<p>Your D would be wise to look for the schools that are NOT the recognized name schools. She will have better odds at being accepted since her stats are just very average. She will also have good odds at getting some merit money. All the recognizable schools here in the North East reject far more than they accept, with 20,000 plus applications to look at for maybe 2000 seats at a large school like Northeastern. UMass Amherst is no longer a safety for instate B students, and overall, as you have read on this board by now, the process is just nuts due to high numbers of applications to all the same schools by very similar, high stat kids. Your D does not have those high stats, so she will have a tougher time. Check my “hidden gem” thread that I just started and you may learn of schools where she will have a much better liklihood of acceptance and be very happy. Grad schools accept kids from all kinds of schools, as long as they do well.</p>

<p>bump…</p>

<p>Please help expand D’s search</p>

<p>I’m currently a senior in high school with a 3.1 unweighted and 3.7 weighted GPA. However, my SAT score is a 2250 (800 CR/700 M/750 W). Please do encourage your daughter to improve her SAT score. Anything above 2100 will definitely help to make up for her low GPA.</p>

<p>Here are some of the schools that I have been accepted to:</p>

<p>American University
Boston University
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
Case Western Reserve University
University of Florida
New York University
Northeastern University
Trinity University</p>

<p>I will most likely be attending New York University this fall. Good luck to you and your daughter!</p>

<p>… bump…</p>