I can't believe a B+ student's chances are so low!!!!

Parents Social Lounge
41

<p>Part of Post 26 emphasized this, "Don't forget, it comes down to the entire application, not just the numbers. "</p>

<p>While that is true, at the same time, when it comes to public universities, virtually all of the factors that are considered for admissions are: stats (gpa, scores), state of residence (being out of state is a disadvantage), and whether the student has taken the required coursework. </p>

<p>I've seen articles describing the admissions process at publics, and literally one admissions officer can make the decision in 10 minutes, including reviewing the whole application. If the OP Googles, perhaps the OP can find an article written about 2 years ago that described admissions at a Fla. public university (i think it was U of S. Florida). The admissions officer literally went through the app to make sure it was complete, checked to make sure the student had taken the required coursework and had stats within the range the university accepted, and the entire admission/rejection decision depended on those things.</p>

<p>ECs, essay, recommendations weren't important except that the student had to have whatever # of essays and recommendations the school required.</p>

<p>Of course, if a student is a recruited athlete (particularly a football player because teams are so big), there's a lot more lenience in terms of acceptable stats.</p>

<p>Also it's important to realize that most colleges accept the majority of their applicants, and most students get into their first choice university. Most students go to college within about 200 miles of home, and aren't going to highly competitive private universities or to flagship state universities. B+ students can get into most universities in the country.</p>

42

<p>If you are considering Ohio State, would you consider other schools in Ohio? My D. is very happy at Miami (OH), she has chosen it over Ohio State. She was accepted at all colleges on her list. We applied only in-state for money consideration.</p>

43

<p>As difficult as it is, encourage your D to spend at least part of her summer working on her essays and the entire application package, so she is ready to send in her applications as soon as they are accepted. Some of your schools have rolling admission and there is absolutely no question that very often 'the early bird gets the worm'! </p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

44

<p>USNews' "A+ options for B students"
<a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/aplusrankindex_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/aplusrankindex_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

45

<p>Alot on CC will disagree, but Binghamton U (SUNY) fits the bill if SAT"s are above 1800......OOS students are held to a lesser standard than IS...Many around here were accepted this year with very similar stats (and some even lower....B averages)....</p>

46

<p>Another vote for the SUNY system, which has numerous campuses, both large and small, throughout the state. OOS tuitions are closer to in-state.</p>

<p>I reside in Buffalo with a D living/working in Providence, RI. The feeling of an upstate NY campus resembles Northern New England in terms of weather, although town-for-town New England has the charm.</p>

<p>From Providence, SUNY-Albany is in driving distance, while SUNY-Buffalo (7 hours drive) is the nonstop flight from Boston-Buffalo with numerous discount fares all year. The direction of SUNY (correct me if I'm wrong here, SUNY-followers..) is to make SUNY at Buffalo and SUNY at Stony Brook (Long Island) "flagship" universities with more research and some new departments in the pipelines. Many SUNY's on the eastern side of the state are within driving distance of Rhode Island, just an hour beyond Vermont or Western Massachusetts. So I'd look carefully at the SUNY's. There are some budget issues in SUNY, as with UMass, but I don't kinow how they might affect your D. Worth investigating, anyway. </p>

<p>Student satisfaction at SUNY-Buffalo is high, with the big issue adjusting to winter weather. For your D, she has a headstart being from Southern New ENgland ;)</p>

<p>SUNY Albany would be drivable, as I said, and is large if she likes large! I'd say look elsewhere than BInghamton or Geneseo which might be too competitive (the first has a foreign language focus and has become more difficult to enter recently, the latter is an Honors magnet for highest academics). But there are so many others, small and decentralized throughout the state. Depending on your D, she might like them because they are personal and the numbers of students don't overwhelm. Some find them too isolated in location (Oneonta, Cortland, Fredonia and more..) Each smaller SUNY has unique offerings to offer the best statewide in different majors, for example Fredonia (Western NY) is strong in music and musical theater, Purchase (near NYC) very competitive performingarts magnet. Rather than make a decision about all SUNY's, try looking over each one for majors and driving distance to RI.</p>

<p>You probably knew this long ago, but since we've just discovered Providence (great city), we fly from Boston instead, using ground transportation from either the PRovidence airport or your Kennedy Plaza downtown. It saves time and money by avoiding the last 30 minute flight from Bos-Providence. To study plane fares, try plugging in prices 3 weeks from now, not tomorrow, as a student can book fares well in advance with known academic schedules. To trim plane costs, use Boston, not Providence, as your departure city, and compare.</p>

<p>If New England private colleges are an option for you, there are many interested in B students, for example New England College in Henniker, NH (I only mention that one because my parents taught there). They specialize in absorbing New England and NYC students who want to attend a school with 1,000 students rather than 30,000, but some of them are costly. But if you research, you'll find the equivalent to Providence College or Wheaton all over New England so your D can see a different corner of the globe for 4 years! Yay for wings.</p>

47

<p>^^re post 46, para about planes: I meant "plug in DATES 3 weeks from now"</p>

48

<p>Thank you all so much for all your input....it's helped tremendously and is greatly appreciated.....................I don't think we would qualify for financial aid, so we wouldn't ask for it....maybe that would help somewhat. One more question: What has been your experience with the ACT vs. the SAT? Have you heard that students seem to perform better on the ACT? Again, thanks for all your replies.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
One more question: What has been your experience with the ACT vs. the SAT? Have you heard that students seem to perform better on the ACT? Again, thanks for all your replies.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My daughter scored more tnan 200 points higher on the ACT than the SAT. She is one of those people who gets impacted by the fatigue factor. Some people do. She also applied to schools in the NY/NJ/PA/VT area and was treated very generously. Similar profile to your daughter's.</p>

50

<p>Some students do perform better on the ACT. If you are not happy with SAT results, definitely have a go at the ACT.</p>

51

<p>My D. scored much higher on ACT. However, she took each of them once. Some people improve on subsequent trys.</p>

52

<p>Same here.</p>

<p>
[quote]
My D. scored much higher on ACT. However, she took each of them once.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The SAT is just so <em>L</em><em>O</em><em>N</em><em>G</em></p>

<p>I think it wore her out.</p>

53

<p>Please remember a 3.5 unweighted with all honors courses at a top public school makes your daughter a good candidate at all schools but the uber-competitive ones! An improvement in SAT/ACT and a great essay or interview (if any of the schools count interviews) can go far, as can the fact that she's captain of the tennis team. I see someone with those stats as a kid who challenges herself and NOT "a B student".</p>

54

<p>Northeastern
penn state university park
James madison
George Mason
Umaryland
Ohio State
Michigan State</p>

<p>all in from my experience(of my self applying and friends and stats from my own highschool) if she has a higher SAT score. most are definitely in even with her sat score now.</p>

55

<p>Be sure to check out the New England Regional Student Program at many of the schools in the New England States. It provides for a reduction in tuition (more than in-state but less than out-of-state) for students who are majoring in areas not provided by their in-state university. I think that at UCONN it is 125% of the in-state tuition. Being from Rhode Island, your D would be eligible.</p>

56

<p>Some kids do MUCH better on the ACT than the SAT. I know a few kids who had dismal SAT's and then scored in the 98th percentile of the ACT's. I think if I wasn't thrilled with SAT numbers, I would advise my child to try the ACT.</p>

57

<p>(being out of state is a disadvantage)</p>

<p>In my mind, OOS students are not at a disadvantage because universities want to diversify their student body. </p>

<p>We're from NY. My D has 92 weighted average with honors and an AP class under her belt. Senior year she's taking two college level courses along with pre-calc, physcis, and SS. She's looking at many of the Big 10s. </p>

<p>Look at the admissions stats for your schools closely. I don't think your child will have too tough a time.</p>

58

<p>As I just learned through a helpful Private Message, Providence is a hub airport of Southwest Airlines. That's a budget airline that doesn't come up on those air-fare search engines. So look for Southwest, in particular, with reference to Providence. </p>

<p>Even if you plan to drive mostly, it's good to know what are the air options for the college you choose. Sometimes students just want or need to come home quickly or you can't get out to fetch them by car. Best wishes.</p>

<p>PS, How's my daughter? Have you seen her lately :) ;)</p>

59

<p>I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but with her courses and grades, she might want to look at some SAT-optional schools. Many are LACs, which wouldn't meet her specs, but I think there are some others that are larger these days.</p>

60

<p>^^SAT-optional schools! That is worth keeping on your radar, even as she works to improve her scores either on the SAT's or by trying the ACT's. </p>

<p>For example, if Hampshire College in Amherst, MA (near Springfield and Northampton) is still SAT-optional, that is a small college within the large Five-College consortium of 30,000 students including one major university. The five colleges are: Hampshire, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst College, and UMass at Amherst. Hampshire College students may attend courses at all 5 colleges and do EC's at all 5 , so it's small-within-large. Free buses link the campuses.</p>

<p>She'd need something original and focussed for her personal essay and recs, I think. Hampshire's a unique school that has academic distribution requirements, rests upon great scheduling/organizational skills to make best use of all 5 campuses ;) and leads to a student-designed senior capstone project requiring creativity and personal inner drive to accomplish. By reputation it attracts artsy and clever, self-starter students who can make their own plan. Is she that?</p>