Posting on behalf of my son, he is a freshman and since my spouse and myself are immigrants, I do not have a clue on colleges and admissions etc. We are in a fairly large Texas suburb public school, although Junior high was all A’s, he is in marching band that is super intense and time consuming. His current GPA, which is meaningless as he just started school, would be around 3.8, weighted would be 5.3/6, school uses a 6.0 scale with continuous scale.
Everyone tells me its never too early to think about colleges so wanted to start here just to get a flavor for what we should be working on and how to think about this.
Demographics
Male/ Indian
US domestic
State/Location of residency: Texas
Type of high school: Large suburban
Intended Major(s) Physics
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.8
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 5.3, out of 6.
Class Rank: not available
ACT/SAT Scores:
He wrote the PSAT 8/9 in 8th grade and scored 1220/1440 with 570 in math and 650 in EBRW
Coursework
all PAP/AP courses
Awards
Extracurriculars
Marching Band
Fencing
Cost Constraints / Budget
No significant constraints, of course lower is better, but can do up to $50 to$60K/yr or if dream school higher.
His job is high school - his focus should be on learning as much as he can and participating in activities he enjoys. If we gave you a list now, it would be obsolete by the time he is a senior.
Not really looking at MIT or Ivy’s etc. More for schools with a strong program. This is more for us to plan and prepare (funds, mentally prepare if another state etc)
I don’t understand how he can have a gpa when he’s been in high school for about a month.
It’s way to early to think of specific schools. If he ends up being at the top of his class, then he should be automatically admitted to the some of the Texas public universities, but it’s way to early to know that.
How does he know he wants physics? I don’t think my kids even knew what physics was when they were freshmen in high school. If he really does have an interest in it, then I would encourage him to continue it, but I would hesitate to push too hard. Kids change their minds all the time. Many change their mind after they get to college. He doesn’t need to know his future college major when he is just a freshman in high school.
For a strong program, IF he stays interested in physics, more schools have strong programs than don’t!
For funds (and that part is right- it is never to early to be thinking about how to finance college!), you have fabulously affordable in-state options, and I would start there. For yourself, do some EFC calculations on colleges that you think might be interesting and see how they look. Use these next couple of years to figure out what you can afford / are willing to pay.
Read the Applying Sideways article anyway. It’s worth it.
Let him enjoy his high school experience. The only thing I would suggest is maybe find some summer camps that interest him…as long as it’s fun, not work. It will help him figure out what he likes or doesn’t like. Start early. They book up.
If you’re trying to get a better grasp of the U.S. college system, you may want to head to your local library or bookstore (or grab used copies on Ebay…I did). Someone on the forum had recommended a few titles, and I think they provide a good framework for how to think about college and some of the factors that play into college admissions. They are:
The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price by Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Looking Beyond The Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You by Loren Pope
I think that the camp idea is a good one, and not just about physics. There are often summer camps that will take place on college campuses. Maybe it’s a day-camp in the town where you live, or maybe he goes away for a week (or more) and stays in the dorms. It can let him know if he’s interested in certain topics and what a little bit of college life is like at that campus (at least the food, dorms, the layout of the campus, etc). As he gets older, he may gain experiences at urban/suburban/rural campuses, or small/medium/large universities, etc. If he doesn’t experience some combo through camp (and it’s unlikely he’ll hit too many combos), then you can visit convenient ones while on a family vacation or daytrip, even if it’s not a school that’s in serious consideration. That can help determine what type of campus your son will want to look for when he’s starting his college search.
You should read your son’s high school handbook and find out how rank is determined. Often class scheduling can have a big effect on potential rank. Ranking will likely affect his options for Texas publics and merit potential at other universities.
Agree with what most are saying…it is definitely early. BUT, if your son shows an interest in Physics, how about enrolling him in some type of Physics summer camp/program after freshman or sophomore year, to see if he truly does have an interest. Many colleges, Children’s Museums or medical schools (in larger cities) will offer something like this. See if he even likes Physics.
I’d also say as you plan vacations & road trips, drive thru campus towns and schools. After sophomore year, begins scheduling some campus tours, especially the schools in Texas. Attend College Fairs when they’re offered in your district, college recruiters come to schools during lunch sometimes, too.
Encourage him to find a balance in high school…study, be involved and HAVE FUN.
Its good to start planning now. I understand the desi mentality. If you haven’t gone thru the college admissions process, it can be daunting.
I would suggest reading some books on how colleges select a class. You’ll be surprised to learn that its not purely based on merit. Most of the selective schools use ‘holistic’ admissions which just means they take everything into account. So having high scores/GPA alone is not enough to guarantee admissions to the top schools. Things that can tip the odds in your favor: under represented status, first generation, athlete, legacy, or faculty child. There is also a special category for wealthy donors (development cases) but that requires a substantial monetary commitment (typically 6-7 figures).
There are many schools where your child can get a great education. State schools are a bargain. The private colleges will be expensive, so start saving now. Put money into a 529 plan, as this has some tax advantages.
If you can afford it, there are many college admissions consultants. These are typically ex-admissions officers from elite colleges. Some of the prices can be hefty, but I’ve heard that many start accepting clients in freshman year. They can help package your student based on their interests and what the colleges would be looking for. But warned it can be pricey.
@DadOfJerseyGirl our two flagship state schools in Texas-University of Texas and Texas A&M-are outstanding…and also difficult to get into. Getting $$ from either, and the desired major, can also be difficult. Seeking guidance from a college consultant would be worth the money IMO (and they don’t all have to cost a small fortune), if student decides to stay in state.
But, down the road, not as a high school freshman.
Dang, I graduated 30 years too early!!