<p>I haven't seen this addressed. My S will be a senior this fall, and will be applying to most colleges either EA or early via rolling admissions. Everything <em>except</em> his GPA will look great, I think. I'm confident that he will have a few fantastic recommendations from teachers. He has a very good portfolio of short films (and may also include some photography) -- he wants to study film (production/cinematography). He has had summer experiences in film programs (NYFA, Emerson). He is an excellent writer, has already started his essays, which I know will be great. SAT scores were 720 CR and 550 Math. His GPA, however, is about a 2.7, because of C's in pretty much every math and science class he's taken. (Do colleges look at transcripts in enough depth to notice things like this?) The grades will go up senior year, I am certain, because there will be no science or algebra! But in one semester, that won't make a huge difference in his GPA, I realize. We will not be looking for financial aid. His first choice is Emerson, which I know is very unlikely to accept him. A close second (and secretly I think more appropriate for him) is Hampshire College. The others: Champlain College, Keene State, Quinnipiac, SUNY Purchase, and possibly Columbia College in Chicago (though he isn't too crazy about being that far from home -- we live in MA). So, does a kid with this profile have a chance?</p>
<p>Of course he has a chance, he just has to apply to the right schools. 
I’m not familiar with some of the ones you listed, although Keene St and Champlain sound like good choices. I’d say Quinnipiac would be a reach. </p>
<p><<do colleges=“” look=“” at=“” transcripts=“” in=“” enough=“” depth=“” to=“” notice=“” things=“” like=“” this?=“”>> They don’t have to look very in-depth to see C’s in every science and math course - that will be obvious at just a cursory glance. Also, taking no science and no math in Senior year may not be the best path, depending on what he is taking it their place and what schools he as applying to.</do></p>
<p>You might want to check out some of the Arts forums on CC. You say your son wants to do film, and most CC’rs in the general and parent forums are more “academically” oriented, so we probably can’t give you a lot of advice. The Arts forums may have folks who are more knowledgeable than we. 
</p>
<p>Sounds like a perfect kid for the schools listed in ‘Colleges that change lives’ by Loren Pope. Schools for bright kids who haven’t necessarily gotten the best grades…</p>
<p>Look at Cal Arts in Valencia orLoyola Marymount in LA</p>
<p>Hampshire is a reach, we know several applicants denied by Hampshire with similiar GPA’s.</p>
<p>As far as Emerson goes, you just never know! You aren’t applying for aid, so you would be paying full freight. With an outstanding essay & a good interview, your S might be surprised. </p>
<p>Champlain College has serious housing issues, so be prepared to set up your S in an apartment after Freshman Year.</p>
<p>Your son may have a different experience from other students with admissions because he is interested in an “arts” major. From my experience (I am a high school “arts” teacher, and I teach a lot of seniors), there tends to be more forgiveness with high school grades because they are looking for the talent. Also, I believe they understand that the kid spends his time working on his art, not his math grade. A great portfolio may make all the difference (for my students, it’s an audition). </p>
<p>Anyway, I noticed this thread on the visual arts and film majors section in “college majors”:</p>
<p>[thread]701608[/thread]</p>
<p>My son is also going for an arts major. During his senior year, he received lots of emails from colleges offering free application fees and early acceptance. Drexel University in Philadelphia caught his eye because of the location and the Westphal School of Media Arts and Design. He applied for the heck of it, got his acceptance early, and it was always in his back pocket (they also gave exceptional financial aid).</p>
<p>Testing my memory here, but I think Ohio Univ has a solid film program, and he’d be likely to get in with those test scores, I would think. Cool town too.</p>
<p>jsmom1
I don’t know anything about your son but I don’t necessarily think Hampshire would be a “reach”. Your son is “lopsided” and a lot of kids are. With an excellent application package he stands a chance, IMO.</p>
<p>Click on this:
[Clues</a> You Are A Future Hampshire Student](<a href=“http://www.hampshire.edu/admissions/4730.htm]Clues”>Success After Hampshire | Hampshire College)
the first and the last really stood out for me:
and:
</p>
<p>I would be surprised if he didn’t get into either Emerson or Hampshire or both.
Best of Luck.</p>
<p>Just to clarify (re Lafalum’s point) – he is actually taking a math class this year, based on advice from the college counselors at his school. He is taking Statistics. (I didn’t say no math, I said “no algebra.”) He is not taking a science but he is taking 2 English classes, a History, the Stats, and Video Production II. </p>
<p>Justamom, I sure hope you’re right! Yes, my son and I read that “clues you are a future Hampshire student” and we both laughed, because it described him so well! My concern there is that he had his interview in June and it lasted about 5 minutes. Seemed exceptionally brief…? I was really optimistic about the interview because I felt certain that it would be obvious that he was a “Hampshire type.” Maybe the admissions counselor knew just by seeing his scruffy hair and pierced ears and didn’t have to spend much time actually talking with him to decide? </p>
<p>Unfortunately, Emerson does not do interviews. I feel like interviews would work in his favor because he is very articulate and obviously very bright. </p>
<p>Not that I’m stressed about this or anything… </p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback!</p>
<p>Fall 2007 - Hampshire College-Entering Freshmen-GPA’s </p>
<p>3.75 & Above = 32%
3.50-3.74 = 15%
3.25-3.49 = 17%
3.00-3.24 = 17%
2.50-2.99 = 16%
2.00-2.49 = 3% </p>
<p>Here are most recent stats on GPA’s I could find for you. There was a student on an HC forum this last admission cycle who called up Admissions because he was denied. The admissions person told him/her that his/her grades could have been better. </p>
<p>Although Hampshire says they will meet about 99% of need, we knew an outstanding applicant whose FA package was terrible & he ended up at Bennington. (Bennington does need males, but their FA stats are not terribly impressive either-small college and a small endowment) Bennington might be worth looking into, if he is considering Hampshire.</p>
<p>Emerson doesn’t do interviews? My brother is going into his sophomore year there, and he interviewed, but it was with his department. Maybe it just depends on what you’re planning on studying. He is studying lighting design, and I think that his experience in that area definitely helped him. I don’t know what his GPA and SAT’s were but they were definitely below Emerson’s middle 50%. I think that with more academic and less trade focused majors, they may care more about those, but if your son is interested in video production, films that he made should be a good asset.</p>
<p>Geographical diversity may work in his favor if he doesn’t mind coming west to Chapman and or Loyola Marymount. Both have reknowned film programs in So CA.</p>
<p>I also think your boy will have success. Good luck!</p>
<p>jsmom1 - <em>Suggestion</em>
if your son wants to go to Hampshire have him visit again in the fall. Perhaps they have a program for applying seniors - and have him speak to a counselor again. Make sure he is armed with a list of questions. He can also then go over his senior schedule and make sure he sends in his first quarter and end of semester grades from senior year. All of this can help!</p>
<p>We visited Bennington earlier this year. He wants a small school, but he felt that Bennington was too small and rural for him. But I wanted to go there! </p>
<p>My understanding is that Emerson does not do interviews but they do “auditions” for musical theater majors. I don’t know about lighting design. On the school’s web site they do say you can pop into the admissions office with questions without an appointment, so I think this fall we may just swing by (we live close) with a couple of questions – not that we actually have any, but just so my S can perhaps become more than just a name on an application. </p>
<p>He is not interested in going to CA – too far from home right now, although he hopes to do an internship or a semester in LA while in college. </p>
<p>We do plan to take another trip to Hampshire sometime this fall because the new film dept. wasn’t available for us to see when we were there in June. If the number of visits helps, he may get into Hampshire! We will have been there 3 times by the time he applies. He does have a friend who is going to Hampshire this fall – her GPA was lower than his but she’s an obviously bright and interesting girl. She claims she got in because of her “kickass essay.” Who knows?</p>
<p>He is actually on his way home now from a tour and interview at Quinnipiac. He thought the school was “okay” – didn’t click with him the way Emerson and Hampshire did. That was about what I expected… I think he may be too quirky for Quinnipiac.</p>
<p>How about UNC-School of the Arts?</p>
<p>We actually looked at UNC Arts a while back, but their web site led us to believe that they won’t even consider your application if your GPA isn’t 3.0 or above.</p>
<p>Based on my son’s experience, your son has a good chance at Keene and Champlain.
Hampshire is a reach but possible. Your son’s downward trend in his GPA junior may present an obstacle. (You posted in February that he had a 2.94 but now has a 2.70).
Honestly, as far as being accepted to Emerson for film, I don’t believe that is a realistic possibility. Students with much higher GPAs (yes, my son was one of them) and great applications otherwise are routinely rejected.
My best advice to you , is to speak to an Emerson admission counselor regarding your son’s chances of acceptance considering his GPA.</p>
<p>A neighbor, who was somewhat of an underachiever in hs, attended Champlain and truly blossomed. He just graduated with honors and started a great job. His parents sing Champlain’s praises.</p>
<p>If he can bring up his grades for the 1st semester you may want to wait to apply regular admission to some schools. The GPA may not go up much, but it will show an upward trend. Have you thought of Alfred University, they have a very good arts program? When my daughter and I visited we got a really good vibe. It seemed more relaxed and accepting, and at the same time more enthusiastic/passionate (than other colleges we visited) - if that makes sense.
Rutgers U has Mason Gross School of the Arts and it is wonderful - there are about 1000 students enrolled. With Rutgers - large university facilities & connections/internships - but at the same time - small school; because it is it’s own division & has it’s own campus. My co-workers son just graduated & is presenting an off-broadway play this summer - how cool is that.</p>
<p>The Emerson rep we saw in our hometown said they very, very rarely take someone with a GPA of lower than 3.0. the way he said it, you really have to be exceptionally talented in your art.</p>