<p>Really love this guys, want the best for him. But I'm stumped as to what "best" is? What can he get into? Need all opinions and perspectives on this case. I'm consulting with a few others, but I trust that CCer will also give good advice as they have in the past):</p>
<p>latino male, first-generation low-income student (no father, four siblings)
Valedictorian (1-376) of a typical underperforming inner-city school
4.17 UW GPA
SAT: 1220 out of 2400 (CR:370 M:450 W:400)
Upward Bound student
beautiful writer
college credit from local state university (including a writing course)</p>
<p>Preference(their light):
-residential campus (college where the life is the campus)
-New England, PA, or NY
-liberal arts and exploration (he went to a vocational school/never had a real childhood, so he simply wants a school where he has freedom to explore between disciplines and explore all that he has never had a chance to study)
-Would prefer him to attend a good LAC or small university like Brandeis/Wake Forest</p>
<hr>
<h2>IYO, WHAT'S THE BEST HE CAN GET INTO?</h2>
<p>I only want the best for this guy, but I'm not sure what the best is. I helped dozens upon dozens of students before with college but have never encountered this situation. I never had a students this phenomenal with these kind of score, and it's not just that...his life story will make you cry...all of this, yet his scores tank and application that seems bound for greatness.</p>
<p>What's the best he could get into? What would a match and reasonable reach look like for him?</p>
<p>That's the thing....I looked at the majority of SAT optional schools most whh require SAT IIs and I'm fairly confident that they will share the same 'sub-par' outcome...otherwise, I'd have hime on track for Bowdoin and Middlebury right now.</p>
<p>If possible, I would suggest that he prep for the tests and try the ACTs or at least take the SATs one more time, just to see if he could raise his score. </p>
<p>I would also recommend the SAT optional schools. Bowdoin would be my choice for him for a reach. It does not require SAT IIs; rather it only requires that SATs be sent in during the summer before college starts for placement purposes.
Other SAT optional schools that might suit him include the following:</p>
<p>Bates
Dickinson
Holy Cross
Union
Muhlenberg
Hobart and William Smith
Drew</p>
<p>I think Bowdoin is easily doable for this kid since he doesn't have to report his SAT scores. My friend is a Hispanic girl with an 88 gpa, didn't report SAT score, and got in as an "early notification" - I think as a first generation valedictorian with this kids story that Bowdoin would love to have him</p>
<p>If he can retake his SAT's and really push himself the second time around to study, it would be a good idea. Otherwise, SAT optional schools are the best bet. A 1220 is pretty much a 100% guaranteed rejection from all descent schools. I did much better and got rejected from quite a few schools that are considered "below average" here. Being a valecdictorian and his GPA will help, especially if he applies to a optional SAT school.</p>
<p>maybe this is too much of a reach, but I know that amherst college (in new england, good for "exploration" with its open curriculum) has recently started recruiting more lower income students, and maybe they would let the SATs slide because of his grades and background.</p>
<p>Ditto to the Bowdoin suggestion. Great school and strong academics. I think he would enjoy exploring his options available on campus. Furthermore, like everyone said, it's SAT-optional.</p>
<p>to some extent I think NonSponteSequor is right, Amherst is REALLY trying to recruit lower income URM students - at my school, out of 3 that applied, all with SATs ~ 1700-1820, all were accepted</p>
<p>Denison University in Ohio is another test-optional school that might be good for him. It's 2/3 OOS students, and there are students from all 50 states.</p>
<p>I would also suggest any school that really focuses on essays if he writes so well. </p>
<p>I have a question though. How can the unweighted GPA be 4.17?</p>
<p>If I were advising him, I would suggest submitting a few early action applications to test the waters. For example, he could put in an application to schools as disparate as University of Chicago, Villanova and Pitzer, just to see whether schools are willing to overlook the SAT scores (and, as mentioned before, I would strongly suggest he retake the SATs and try the ACTs once). Then, for regular decision, he could apply to the SAT optional schools we have mentioned and any other RD schools that require SATs that made sense. This approach would require him to submit a number of applications and I would suggest that he request fee waivers. </p>
<p>I honestly think he's going to have some great choices at the end of the process.</p>
<p>First of all, why do you think his scores were so low? I understand that his school is weak, but that alone doesn't explain a 1220. Is he a non-native speaker? Does he have testing anxiety? Is there another extenuating circumstance?</p>
<p>Most importantly, can he retake in October or November?</p>
<p>I'm a private SAT tutor on the East Coast, specializing in CR and W. If he can retake, PM me about the situation and I'll see if I can help you help him prepare in any way. </p>
<p>First of all, it's my impression that selective LACs are very generous about SATs for low-income, first-generation kids, but probably not to the point of disregarding them altogether. The admissions committee would probably be considered that a student with a 1200-range score couldn't handle the demands of the school and would end up failing out. I do think he's going to have good options in any case, but he might have better options if he could only get those scores into the 500s.</p>
<p>Can you let all of us know exactly how or why his scores might have ended up in this range? If you want to help him prepare to retake, do be in touch.</p>
<p>If he is a good student (which it looks like he is with GPA/rank) he should be able to do much better on the ACT, which attempts to test how much/how well you have learned in high school. </p>
<p>Also, if he applies to any school that does not require SAT scores, he is an incredibly strong candidate because he is 1st generation, low income, and latino. Also, if he is a "beautiful writer" I don't see how he could get rejected from a school like Bowdoin. </p>
<p>I agree with the post above that he should "test" by applying Early Action to schools like Chicago, and maybe they will see beyond his scores to what he has accomplished in highschool and who he is. </p>
<p>I think if he concentrates on his Apps, he has a great shot at a lot of really good schools. SAT tests really aren't that important especially if you are a unique person (which he is, more than other applicants at least). And, everything else on his resume is very strong.</p>
<p>Hampshire College sounds like a great option. SAT optional - don't submit it, and I think if I remember correctly, there are no grades - so its strictly learning for learning's sake without the pressure of competition. Yet it supposedly has a very intellectual student body and the Five-college consortium allows broad exploration.</p>
<p>Pitzer will exempt students graduating in the top 10% of their class, or those who have an unweighted cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher in academic subjects (i.e., courses in the humanities, mathematics, sciences and social sciences) from having to submit any standardized tests (i.e., ACT or SAT).</p>
<p>Now imo Pitzer is not the greatest college with regard to having an academically motivated student body; Ive spent the nights there a couple of times. However, the educational opportunities available for him would be phenomenal. He could take classes at harvey mudd college, Pomona, or CMC - each of which is internationally known. And if he ever felt like he belonged at one of them, his chances of transferring would be heightened assuming he develops a good track record at the college in question. And you cannot beat southern California weather; its a fact.</p>