<p>I think I need to stay away from this board for awhile. This is my first and I am having a panic attack about how all of this will work out.. On one hand, I see all of these horror stories on here. We've saved, so I shouldn't really care about whether he gets a free ride or not. Who cares if he could at Alabama if he REALLY doesn't want to go there. </p>
<p>He really wants to go to either Baylor or TCU. Honestly, Baylor is at the top right now. He went to a computer science/engineering weekend there and LOVED it. He liked the academics of Baylor ( the ECS students have MUCH higher admission stats than the rest of the university) as well as how they incorporated their faith. He is also a sports fanatic so the idea of being able to go to any and all football games, basketball games or any other sports ( he loves them all) for free with his student card is VERy appealing. If he could merge his love of sports with computer science, he would be in heaven. I'm going to make him apply to Louisiana Tech as a safety as well as our regional UT branch. He wouldn't really like going to either. He LOVES Baylor. </p>
<p>I think his stats are fine, but after reading on this board.... Then I think. Good grief. I didn't have ANY idea about colleges whatsoever. My counselor recommended me as the junior girl to get to go to Baylor's green and gold weekend in the spring. I went and fell in love. ( And our recent visit with my son just reminded me of why I love the school so much. People are just so incredibly nice and faith is incorporated everywhere. I loved my time in the "Baylor Bubble.") I applied to Baylor and my parents alma mater Southwestern, though it was really too small for my taste. That was it. I got into Baylor with a very nice scholarship. So I completely understand my son's tunnel vision. </p>
<p>But then I look on here and think...eeek. But then I think, are part of the horror stories where people have applied? I mean, when I first posted people told me to have my son apply to Rice and Georgia Tech or UT for computer science. Realistically, those would be a reach to get in. As a homeschooler it is TOUGH to get into UT. Anyway, just musing I guess and thinking I need to quit researching possible alternatives if he is happy with where he is applying.</p>
<p>White male, white, junior, homeschooled, 3.9 GPA ( Still think it is kinda funny that the only B's he has made are from me!! All A's on online and dual credit classes!)
AP Stats 5 as 10th grader
APGov and APChem this year w/PA Homeschoolers (accredited, making A's and is feeling very prepared for the exams)
SAT II American history 10th grade 730
ACT 34
PSAT 209
Currently taking Spanish at cc and making A's. He will take freshman English there and Spanish 3 and 4 there next year.
EC's are family mission trips, youth group, heavily involved in worship computer stuff for services and special events including making his own slides/videos. He has played the piano with lessons and a few competitions since 1st grade. He has a good possibility to be on a bank student advisory board next year.</p>
<p>Next year: AP Econ, AP Physics, AP Calc BC
Spanish 3 and 4 Eng I and II at cc for dual credit</p>
<p>My son is a junior who has his heart set on one school also. I am now focusing my efforts on trying to get him to fall in love with other schools, including at least one safety (academic and financial). LOVE THY SAFETY is one very important lesson I learned here. No matter what you’re stats are, you just never know in college admissions.</p>
<p>My DD had three top choices when applying two years ago. I’m trying to get to that point with my DS.</p>
<p>Your DS has great stats, and perhaps Baylor will work out (I don’t really know anything about Baylor and what they are looking for). If I were you, I’d take all of your energy and focus on finding schools similar to Baylor that would be safeties. He needs a feasible back-up plan, just in case.</p>
<p>I guess that I don’t understand the problem here…you have a son with great grades and test scores. He loves Baylor and will get in. If you can afford it, he will go there. Same thing applies to TCU. Do you really think he will not get into Baylor or TCU? If so, stop reading these boards. He likely will.</p>
<p>What is the problem with having him apply to Rice or Ga Tech? If he doesn’t get in, you move on. NO big deal.</p>
<p>You really need to find a financial safety your son will like.</p>
<p>TCU and Baylor are financial safeties if he can get in. As far as concentrating on a safety that is similar to Baylor… These are his requirements:</p>
<p>Christian, 4 hours or less from home, good sports program. </p>
<p>So I can’t think of one. (We are in East Texas.) </p>
<p>Rice does not appeal to him AT ALL and GA Tech is too far. He really could care less about prestige. I get their jeans from Walmart or Jc Penney and their shoes from Academy. He is just a sweet geeky guy.</p>
<p>Advice: Get off this board. (Okay, just the college topics. You can still participate in the Parent’s Cafe). Have him apply as early as he can to Baylor. Be one and done.</p>
<p>My D has friends at Baylor with no where near the stats (top 20% from great publc HS and good ECs but far from a 34 ACT).</p>
<p>Look at the info on Baylor from College Navigator:</p>
<p>On the Baylor board there were several with equally good stats that were waitlisted. Plus, they have now added an Early Action Single decision, which I don’t think we are going to do since we want to do Early Action to TCU as well. That said, I think that those that were waitlisted didn’t do Early Action… We are going to do the application in July as soon as it is up.</p>
<p>The best way to relax is to get an admit under your (collective) belt. If he is really high on Baylor, do the Early Action application with them, and then do a bunch of other applications as back ups. You’ll know early if Baylor is a go/no go and can either withdraw applications if necessary or wait for the next round of answers.</p>
<p>Your son has great stats and if he makes it clear that Baylor is his first choice and not his safety, I don’t see a problem.</p>
<p>I don’t believe for one minute that a student with a 34 ACT, a college prep curriculum, and a 3.9 GPA got wait listed at Baylor without some underlying issue…such as applying late and they had already filled their class or an incomplete application. Stop reading these boards.</p>
<p>With his scores, you might want to look Wheaton in Illinois–they have a CS major, but I don’t know how good it is. The school overall is very good, and is a Christian school.</p>
<p>My daughter is also a homeschooler and applied RD to Baylor and was accepted into their Honors program. Instead of worrying about it and spending your time here on CC…spend your time making sure your transcript is complete and gives good background into his HS coursework. Apply when they start their early admissions in July and next year will be a breeze! </p>
<p>One of her classmates (we go to a homeschool consortium) also applied and will be matriculating there in the fall.</p>
<p>Wheaton (Il) is a great christian school, one of the best IMO. But it is too far away for OP more than likely since they are in TX. Also, Wheaton is DIII and Baylor DI sports. If sports is a big issue for her son, Baylor is a better match as I am pretty sure Wheaton does not have a football team either.</p>
<p>First, I would be shocked if your ds applied SCEA to Baylor and didn’t get in. His stats are way above the norm. I vote go SCEA with Baylor because you know he loves it and can afford it. But you can go EA and not SCEA with Baylor.</p>
<p>Second, I don’t know exactly where you live, but you could look at Harding in Arkansas. It might be within four hours of you, or close enough, awnyway. Also, ACU in Abilene.</p>
<p>We got our acceptance today!! He already has the 15,000 a year scholarship. He’s also been invited to the Invitation to Excellence so I can now take a deep breathe. HOORAY</p>
<p>BTW made a 5 on AP gov and a 4 on AP Chem. Also made A’s in all his coursework last year.</p>
<p>So glad to hear it! Since he is in at his favorite school, go buy the sweatshirt, arrange another trip to campus (football game?) to celebrate and enjoy the rest of the year! Now you can pour over recommendations for best dorm, he can join a fb page to meet students before orientation and feel confident in his future.</p>
<p>I discovered CC when our D (now a senior in college) had already applied to colleges. We had no clue and reached too high or to places we couldn’t afford. Fortunately in spite of our ignorance she was admitted off the waitlist to a great school that met full financial need. Phew.</p>
<p>We took our experience and new-found wisdom and applied it to S’s search. He’s a freshman now. Was admitted ED to his dream school, which also meets full financial need with no loans. After our experience with D, I wasn’t really expecting it. I am still pinching myself!</p>