<p>I was wondering if some of you could give me some safeties located in the Northeast? I have a 3.5 GPA with a poor ACT score of 23 (re-took the test in Sept. and plan to re-take in Oct, so there’s a possibility that the score could go up one or two points). Despite my poor score, I have solid EC’s, good recommendations, and take honors/non-honors courses. I’m not a great test-taker and do have an LD in math, which probably brought down my ACT score. I am interested in International Relations and/or Political Science, so if a school has a good IR program that would be great.</p>
<p>After all this build up, if RTR’s S is blase about getting in, it will be a huge let down.</p>
<p>Sushi, which safties/matches do you already have (and which do you know you do not want), so we do not repeat and get an idea of what you want in size, location, etc?</p>
<p>Regarding the email account, he really needs to check it regularly as some schools will send time sensitive info. There have been stories on here in past years of kids missing deadlines and events because email accounts weren’t checked regularly.</p>
<p>My-3-sons…I think my son probably knows that I’m checking it. In fact, last night he gave me the password to his Naviance and asked if I could check it regularly since they send out a reminder when a particular school is coming that he signed up to see, and he is afraid he will miss the reminder. (The earliest he gets home is after 7:00 and he has football all weekend as well.) </p>
<p>I was initially feeling like I was being too hands on as the one checking his college e-mail, but now I think I feel okay about it since I don’t really take any action. I’ve seen comments on CC where parents are actually communicating with schools through their child’s e-mails and pretending to be the child, which is where I would draw the line. (On the one hand, I’m surprised at the amount of stuff parents seem to do for their kids in general (at least here on CC) and am sort of wondering if some of these kids will be calling their parents from their law office someday asking for help writing a brief! On the other hand, I wonder if I had been that involved if my kid’s GPA would have been higher…)</p>
<p>Or you could say that a lot of parents on your CC website are talking about how colleges are communicating application status on the internet and he should go and check.</p>
<p>@yabeyabe2 - My top choice is American University, followed by Mount Holyoke College (I wouldn’t submit scores), etc. I’m also looking at Seton Hall, Catholic U, etc.</p>
<p>@kathiep - I’m actually applying to Ursinus.</p>
<p>sushi_error, have you thought about Goucher? Our son, who is interested in IR, thought their program looked pretty good. They’re test-optional and would probably be a safety for you. Not quite in the Northeast, depending on how narrowly you define that.</p>
<p>I have not heard Seton is strong in IR and check if students stick around on weekends. Dickinson, Gettysburg, and Franklin & Marshal although not safeties., are strong. Goucher and Ursinus were very good suggestions. McDaniel, Moravian, Manhattanville and St Joe would be safeties and your chances at Drew and Washington College would be very good.</p>
<p>Really? Doesn’t Seton have the Whitehead School of Diplomacy? One poster I read really loves their IR program. </p>
<p>@nightchef - Yep, I’m applying to Goucher. I don’t think I will submit my scores. Based on your knowledge, would it be wise to do so? I am very interested in schools located in Virgina, Maryland, or PA. </p>
<p>Are those schools that you listed diverse in a way?</p>
<p>RTR: how is that possible?
if a “B” is a 3.0 (and standared range is 83-86) and a “B+” is a 3.3 (and standard range is an 87-89.9), wouldn’t MaryC’s original assessment be correct?</p>
<p>I also think (I actually know for a couple of schools) that colleges <em>do not</em> convert numerical averages (on the 100 scale) to GPA scales…(PM me for more info if you’d like it)</p>
<p>Sushi, although IR may be one of Seton’s best programs, I was influenced by hearing it is a suitcase school and, for what it is worth, 60% of the posters on students review saying they would not go back. </p>
<p>I am not sure of the diversity at all the schools I mentioned. In general, small colleges outside cities are anxious to become more diverse, and are very welcoming to diverse students, but have difficulty attracting as many as they would like.
Manhattanville has a very large international student group and Goucher is is very diverse from the perspective that all types of kids are said to be happy there.</p>
<p>I’m with MaryAnn and rodney, the gpa would be around a 3.1. This is our hs’s grading policy and my kids’ colleges used similar systems although no 4.3s.</p>
<p>A+=97-100=4.3
A =93-96 =4.0
A-=90-92 =3.7
B+=87-89=3.3<br>
B =83-86=3.0<br>
B-=80-82=2.7
C+=77-79=2.3
C =73-76=2.0
C-=70-72=1.7</p>
<p>it would be interesting to see the college dmissions version in which this and SAT/ACT scores are combined, so that you would know, for example, whether a 3.1 + 1250 is better in their eyes than 3.5 + 1000, etc</p>
<p>“3.1 + 1250 is better in their eyes than 3.5 + 1000”
The following link is suppose to be an aid for guidance counselors to determine who likely will be able to attend PSU University Park. If you use your above examples it will give you an idea of how much one decreases as the other increases. While I’m sure each college admissions department is different, this bubble graph might be helpful. </p>
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