<p>My son's test scores and and his GPA do not correlate. (The GPA is lower than it should be) Any ideas on the best way to find "safety and match" colleges? Do I look for schools where his GPA is on par? Will the higher test scores help in any way if the GPA doesn't go up. (It's a B)</p>
<p>Perhaps your son is at a more competitive high school. Are you looking at his gpa within the context of the high school he attends? All high schools are not equal.</p>
<p>My son got into schools with much higher average gpas than he had. My son did attend a more competitive high school. I do think that all admissions departments took this into consideration for admission, but some did not for merit aid. Some schools have a chart for merit aid, and an 3.7 from a weak high school is equal to a 3.7 from a stronger high school (all high schools are looked at equally by some schools with these charts). If you are seeking merit aid, call admissions to see if your son might be able to get a merit award. You can prescreen schools to eliminate schools that won't give him a merit award with his gpa. You'll need to know exactly what it is unweighted and weighted (3.2 vs. 3.8). You will also need to know if they include gym class, art classes, or only required courses for admission if they recalculate his gpa.</p>
<p>Hello. There have been some other threads on here about boys with similar circumstances. It sounds like a bad word but if you search on "underachiever" you will find some of the discussions. </p>
<p>There are lots of schools out there that might be suitable. But it would be helpful if you could give some more information such as his test scores, GPA, class rank and what geographic area you are looking at. A lot also depends on his personality and how you think he will do in college. For example, do you think he needs a more rigorous environment where he will be challenged more or is he doing his best now? </p>
<p>To me GPA seems like the most difficult factor to select schools on since it varies so much between high schools like northeastmom said.</p>
<p>What are your sons grades and test scores? Can help if we dont know the facts. Also what was the rigor of your sons curriculum></p>
<p>dsultemeier, I'm sending you a PM.</p>
<p>^^^ Agree with the above request. I have known of boys with this situation - 1200/1600 scores with just <em>under</em> B average was a real problem. Read "slacker" to the schools where he applied (and these were not top highly selective schools; schools along the lines of Tier 2 state publics, privates like Fairfield U, Quinnipiac etc. </p>
<p>But a B average might not be a handicap. Depends on what those SAT scores actually are; what his courseload was like; what the hs profile shows for GPA/grade distribution.</p>
<p>As collegebound says, we can't really give valid opinions without that type of info.</p>
<p>Reed will sometimes take a chance on a kid with a low GPA and top test scores (1600/36).</p>
<p>Agree with jmmom. The biggest risk is that he might appear to be a smart slacker. Sometimes personal statements can be used to discount that impression, assuming that he is applying to schools that don't just go by the numbers and actually read personal statements/essays. The critical thing is to understand WHY there is this discrepancy and to address it in the application packet</p>
<p>....and some schools will look at the pattern of grades over time, so that a particularly poor freshman GPA with an upward trend toward the end of HS really suggests increasing maturity and drive.</p>
<p>Some schools (like Mizzou) have a "formula" for acceptance. The higher the GPA, the lower the test scores required (and vice versa).</p>
<p>My son is a sophmore, but we are taking a trip down the East coast and will lokk at schools at that time. He is not a closet genius!!
He has a 3.2 GPa, all honors classes except English and an intro to ap chem. (No ap's are available to 10th graders) His test score is around 1250. Next year he will take 2 ap's, 2 honors and one college prep. He missed a lot of school, about 30 days which impacted his grades. We have set up a 504 to help with that.</p>
<p>I'm not positive what type of school would be best for him, but I do know that he tends to get a's in his harder classes and B's and C's in the 2 "boring " classes. </p>
<p>He isn't interested in a super competitve school. Of the schools we have visited he like Roger Williams University the best followed by Northeastern. The only thing I think that they have in common is their "enclosed campus"</p>
<p>So any ideas??</p>
<p>My HS junior son is in exactly the same situation as the OP.</p>
<p>Curious what info might follow, here... </p>
<p>(interesting re: the formula mentioned by nngmm...didn't know if that was widespread or not...)</p>
<p>I actually thought the "formula" was for athletes. I didn't know that some schools use it for general admttance.</p>
<p>Admissions</a> @ UTSA</p>
<p>Our local public university has such a formula (not that I'm recommending your S should apply there but above is a link to give you an idea.) Texas A&M also has a "formula" for a certain rank and SAT. </p>
<p>I'm not an expert on this but to me your son doesn't seem to have a big enough disparity for it to be a problem. It also seems a little early to tell since he is just a sophomore and I presume will be taking the SAT or ACT again next year. I'm sure missing all those days affected his grades also and that could be explained to colleges by his counselor. Anyway, it seems like there are many many schools that he might like. Is he looking at schools on the east coast? Does he seem to be leaning toward any particular future major or career? Could your local state school be considered a safety? I think there is a book with a title something like schools for B students. I will try to find out the name in case that might help you.</p>
<p>"Colleges that Change Lives" by Lauren Pope (I believe) is a good one.</p>
<p>My S's friend with almost identical stats to OP, was admitted and will be attending Roger Williams this fall.</p>
<p>We found that many publics, particularly in the midwest, went strictly by the numbers with good test scores able to compensate for a weaker GPA. Mizzou, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Montana State come to mind. I also have a smart slacker ;).</p>
<p>I'm grappling with this issue as well. Weighted GPA of 3.4 (unweighted 2.9), very rigorous courseload, 4 APs this year and 4 more next year, with a 35 on the ACT and 740/720 V/M on the SAT, likely to be a NMSF. DD wants engineering, preferably a small school, preferably midwest but location is the first thing to be sacrificed in the search for a good school.</p>
<p>She'll re-take the SAT in June and probably her scores will rise significantly from the current ones, which are good anyway. But her grades are an anchor, I think...</p>
<p>My son took way too many AP classes this year and did not rise to the occasion. His first SAT score was 2010 and he took it again and it rose to a 2120. I told him, "Congratulations, but now your SAT is way too high for your GPA." What will be will be. He's only applying to one reach; the rest are matches if not safeties, so he should be okay.</p>
<p>It appears then for the purpose of choosing schools to visit (at this point) we should look at the GPA to determine safeties and matches. He is taking the ACT in June so we will see how he does. His PLAN score was a 28.</p>
<p>So any suggestions on nice schools on the East coast that are worth a visit??</p>
<p>I have heard good things from the University of Dayton. I've only driven past the campus, but two engineers from there that I work with are excellent.</p>
<p>Is that the way to go, then...as warriorboy said: look at gpa to determine safeties & matches? We've been really wondering about this whole thing too.</p>
<p>My son's grades/scores sound v. similar to reasonabledad's & missypie's kids' (son didn't feel like studying in his all-honors classes in 9th / 10th but just got 34 ACT & 2110 SAT [he'll retake]). </p>
<p>Kind of thought the scores would help offset the early years (added to the straight As this year). But now...thinking that should consider gpa to govern moreso & include many gpa-friendly schools?</p>