My son's weighted gpa is a 3.8 is this good enough?

My son talked to the guidance counselor and informed that if he gets the grades he has now he will be getting a 3.8 weighted gpa and his counselor said that that’s around the “ball park” is this true? He told me he calculated it on UMD’s gpa scale we’re instate residents. He has an uptrend starting junior year. What SAT score should he get? His class rank is 172/350 unweighted gpa (3.06 right now but could go up at end of junior year) and his weighted is 221/372 (possibly could go up junior year.)

average weighted at umd is 4.1 weighted; in state, high Sat, and upward trend could be enough.

@DDOuser could they be more understanding if I explained why he has bad grades? He’s been dealing with some rough times through sophmore and freshman year but got better junior year. Also what SAT score should he get?

“For students admitted to the University of Maryland for the Fall 2016 semester, the middle 50% of SAT scores ranged from 1260 to 1420, and 29-33 on the ACT. As a result 25% of the admitted students scored below a 1260 on the SAT and 25% scored above a 1420.”
https://www.admissions.umd.edu/counselor/FreshmanProfile.php

However, if your son is applying to a LEP (limited enrollment program), note that the averages are typically higher. It is possible to be admitted to the university, but not the LEP you apply to, as they are separate admissions reviews, with the university review being primary. (You are not considered for the LEP unless you are first admitted by the university itself.) If you do not get into the LEP you apply to, you are automatically put in Letters & Sciences and you will have the opportunity to re-apply to that major after you matriculate and complete the gateway requirements satisfactorily. http://lep.umd.edu

List of Limited Enrollment Programs
Business
Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences and Policy-Biodiversity and Conservation
Communication
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Engineering
Government and Politics
Journalism
Psychology

Your son asked this same question earlier today and already got answers:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1881235-at-end-of-junior-year-i-will-have-a-3-8-weighted-gpa-and-my-counselor-said-its-near-average.html#latest

You can see last years (HS Class of 2016) stats on this link

http://www.admissions.umd.edu/about/JustTheFacts.php

You can also see what some people reported regarding decisions on this link starting around page 5

http://www.admissions.umd.edu/about/JustTheFacts.php

This is another decision thread for the upcoming freshman class

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1856388-official-university-of-maryland-class-of-2020-decisions-thread.html

@maryversity which major is possible for him to get into?

@bodangles I did not see that. I apologize for making this post. So does anyone know if he has a chance? Or where he falls into exactly?

No one can tell you which major is possible to get into because admissions are more than just looking at gpa and standardized tests. There are essays, short answers, letters of rec, extra-curriculars (any leadership), transcript (did he challenge himself academically) etc.

Your son should apply for whatever major is of interest to him. I only mentioned the LEP standards being higher just as an FYI. It really doesn’t matter what major he applies to, as admission to the university is not connected to the major he applies to.

Admission to the university itself is kind of like the first gateway you have to pass. If you pass it, and are admitted, your application then goes to the next step of being considered for special programs and then, if the major you selected is a LEP, it is reviewed again for admission to the major. If you don’t pass the gateway of admission to the university itself, admission to the major is irrelevant.

The most important thing is to apply by Nov 1 priority admission for best consideration.

@maryversity thank you

I don’t think they’ll take excuses very well. If you want to have a chance I’d go for 1300, if you want a score you would expect to get u in, i’d go for 1400.

@DDOuser I thought in the application that if you explained why u did bad and showed improvement they’ll consider it.

They’ll see it but if you check the http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1526 then you can see the chart with how much each factor matters. The chart does not include explanations. Although if they see a grade improvement, it should be self explanatory that you improved. In theory you could actually do better applying regular admission if you get 4.0 first semester senior year and higher SAT during November and December because your admission factors would be higher. But of course the application pool for regular admissions is tougher because it consists of early decision ivy league rejects. So unless a first semester of senior year will significantly boost your factors, then priority action would be best.

@DDOuser alright my son will try.

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