New England colleges for the 3.0 student

<p>A 3.0 average and CCers suggest community college. This place is amazing.</p>

<p>That’s what I saw - and my daughter currently has a 3.0. She may raise it this year, but nowhere near that high.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>That seems like god advice in any case, esp after a rough soph year. At any college that looks holistically, a good argument can be made for a temp rough patch if grades go up afterward.</p>

<p>If you had financial need there would be a lot of good schools she could probably get decent aid to…my S was a 3.0 GPA and got several good offers, partially merit and partially need, though in the midwest, not the northeast, and all were LACs.</p>

<p>I got a lot of great advice in the “B student” and “3.0 GPA” parent threads on CC…have you been by those?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Only as a means to get into her state flagship, an affordable school she could not get into otherwise. Without regard to budget, there are many good schools for a 3.0 student.</p>

<p>If the goal is the flagship state U, CC is a great option, especially for an undergraduate degree like psych. It doesn’t really make sense to pay $20k/yr+ at a branch campus when she plans to transfer out anyways. If the CC offers all the classes she needs, then it’ll be 25% of the cost and she can still transfer to the flagship U after 2 years.</p>

<p>In Pennsylvania, it’s a bit different - students who want to attend the flagship (here, Penn State, but it’s quite similar for Pitt) but are between 2.8 and 3.3 attend a branch campus for 2 years, taking their gen ed classes, then are admitted to the major, similar to the CC+flagship elsewhere.
Not sure what the % of students who successfully manage CC-> UP is, but I doubt it’s very high since the 2+2 students are automatically admitted to Main Campus (with GPA requirements according to major) and there can’t be THAT many openings for transfers once the 2+2 students have been admitted.</p>

<p>With a 3.0 average, there are lots of possibilities, especially if she can show an upward trend. Any upward trend is good :). The problem is that she’ll have to compromise on something: location, college size, etc. If she really wants New England, could she accept a smaller college located in a college town with lots of other colleges, or part of a consortium, or in a big city?</p>

<p>Have you run a NPC on the various universities’ website? Can you afford your EFC? Is $18,000 what you can afford, or rather what you’re willing to invest in your child’s education (some parents could invest $50,000 but choose not to, for various reasons; others just aren’t making that much and can’t afford to spend more than $x,000.) In the first case, you’ll need schools that meet 100% need or close, where your daughter will be a desirable applicant. In the second case, she’ll have to apply to a college where her stats place her at the top of the applicant pool, and with a 3.0/1550 SAT (my assumption for the latter based on what you said but I could be way off) it’s going to be difficult, and probably not in New England.
What does she like about New England?
Could she be interested in other big cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis St Paul, Atlanta?
Would she consider a women’s college if it’s part of large city or a consortium?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>That is the impression that I get, except that the Penn State branch campuses are a lot more expensive than typical community colleges (seems that they are about as expensive as the main Penn State campus, although a commuter may be able to save a few thousand per year).</p>

<p>Yes, you’re right about costs - about 3 times more than community colleges for branch campuses (which are glorified CCs) although still less than the flagship($12,000 year for tuition, vs. $16,000.)
Residents wouldn’t raise their own taxes to fund the universities though so unless the governor changes and decides to fund the universities more, it’s unlikely to get better.
Students in the 2.0-2.8 range can also attend the smaller branch campuses, BTW. But yes it’s way more expensive than CC… except CC may not lead you to a 4 year degree.
The PASSHE system (equivalent to 4-year directionals elsewhere) is not well funded either but it’s relatively cheap instate (around $6,000). Of course, there may not be too much intellectual stimulation among your peer group…</p>

<p>Three colleges that should easily accept her are Endicottt, Lesley University and Suffolk. </p>

<p>Since you don’t know her SATs, it’s hard to judge when it comes to Clark. With a 3.0, unless she does better than you are expecting on the SATs, I’d say no.</p>

<p>Don’t listen to anyone who recommends a community college. That’s laughable!</p>

<p>There are many colleges in New England that are not terribly selective, yet given their location, attract excellent professors.</p>

<p>If she applies to a college where she is one of the better students, she more is likely to receive merit aid, than at a reach school such as Clark.</p>

<p>Avalon, I really don’t think a student with a 3.0 (a GPA that’s likely to improve since her condition is now under control) should consider Clark a reach. It’s a good school for B/B+ students; with a 3.0 Clark is within range, and in the two years she has left OP’s daughter could get to a 3.3/3.4. They’re also good with need-based aid, although you’re right, she wouldn’t qualify for merit.
And you’re absolutely right, lots of other colleges in New England for 3.0 students, and certainly no academic need for community college.
With 3.-3.2 and 1500-1550, I’m thinking LeMoyne (NY), Springfield (MA), Richard Stockton (MD), Fairleigh Dickinson (NJ), Merrimack (MA), Colby-Sawyer (NH), MCLA (MA).
Perhaps Ithaca, Quinnipiac (CT), St Michael’s (VT) although with a 3.0-3.2 it’ll depend on her SAT score (1500 will make those a reach, 1750-1800 a match) and if she gets to 3.4 and 1600+ they’d be matches.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the suggestions! MYO - she would be open to a town with several colleges. She likes New England because we have a lot of family in CT. She would like to live closer to them. Also, she went to Boston last year and loved it. And she loves cold weather and snow. She would be interested in Chicago - we went there two years ago for a wedding and she fell in love with the place. In fact, the wedding took place in the Univ of Chicago chapel. Of course, she’s not a contender for UChicago or Northwestern. But she likes that area a lot. </p>

<p>About the SAT, I think a 1500 is probably realistic - IF she studies. And that remains to be seen. Junior year has a lot of pressure. There’s a lot that needs to be done, no getting around it. How she deals with that reality - by either persevering and getting stuff done, or falling apart again - will tell both of what’s going to happen. That’s kind of blunt, but it’s been tough around here and there’s no point not being realistic.</p>

<p>If money were not an issue I might agree. Clark is not going to give merit aid to a “B” student. </p>

<p>If she improves her average which seems quite possible then Clark would be a good fit. </p>

<p>They are generous with financial aid for exceptional students and despite the fact that Worcester is not a stellar city they are less than an hour from Boston.
Since they are a respectable safety school for many applicants who want to attend college in or near Boston they receive many strong applications. They also lure students away from their first choice colleges with merit grants that are hard to turn down.</p>

<p>Sure she should apply. However have other schools in mind.</p>

<p>I’d second Colby-Sawyer. I mentioned Suffolk and Lesley which are in Boston. Also Endicott. What about Emanuel? And Franklin Pierce? </p>

<p>Hartwick College is in upstate NY (Onenta) and has a very New England vibe. Since there are two colleges in Oneonta - Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta. It’s a pretty lively place.</p>

<p>An ultimate safety school would be New England College. That’s a slam dunk.</p>

<p>I’d say if she gets a 3.4 and 1600+ that Clark is very realistic in terms of admission. In terms of a merit grant I am still not sure.</p>