<p>Shawbridge, which smaller Canadian schools are you considering?</p>
<p>Racquetqueen, I was talking to a retired teacher who used to give college advice to our students (since she retired, no one gives such advice!)
She said that these students should apply to ten schools. Would your son consider playing a sport? If so, it could be an admissions advantage to him. You could start by looking at these (this is a range): Oberlin, Macalaster, Grinnell, Denison, Earlham, Ohio Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Mount Allison, Acadia, King’s. But there is also Trent (not as small), Mount Saint Vincent, Saint Francis Xavier, Royal Roads. We’re also going to look at a couple of the larger schools: McGill (where all of her bright Canadian cousins have gone and have had success) and Queen’s which our friends say is very good but underrated in the US. One of our relatives who is the dean of a business school in Canada suggested University of Victoria, which is larger but hands-on in style (lots of coop programs, I think). Not sure we want her so far away.</p>
<p>Interestingly, if ShawD tests the way her practice tests are looking she may start to become lopsided in the other direction (although it is completely understandable and explainable – her GPA went up from 2.98 to 3.1 to 3.6 with the big leap being the ADHD diagnosis and Ritalin and her PSAT scores went up 370 points without any studying.)</p>
<p>The only thing I can add to the topic is be prepared to be waitlisted. The best way to best selected from the waitlist is to show things that your application did not by accomplishing something significant in your senior year. It might be stellar grades or winning awards or outstanding community service. This does not necessarily mean focusing on improving your weak areas. Maximizes a strength can often do more for you.</p>
<p>levirm… I totally agree with your above post about how you can’t just assume that a high test taker and lower GPA kid is a slacker. I shudder to think that colleges will think of my DS as a slacker… and really if you look at his EC’s, I don’t know how they could. Eagle Scout, OA Chapter Chief, Volunteer Fireman, Beach Lifeguard, on a mountain Search and Rescue team, First Responder & interns at the local hospital. He is also involved with various clubs and theatre at his school. He just does not seem to care about his grades and if you ask him, he would never know what his grades are during the year at any time, except when reports cards come out. He just shrugs and says " well I got solid B’s." I think that if he would just be a little more aware of where he stands he might work harder for those A’s, but he hates the idea of becoming one of those grade grubbers that are a dime a dozen at his school. On the bright side he is every teacher’s dream student and they say that on all of his report cards. I think one reported this year that he was the type of student that made being a teacher everything she hoped it would be. I’m one that thinks that this type of recommendation, that hopefully he will have, will help his B average. Grades aren’t everything, as levirm has said. I just don’t know how this will all play out when he gets to college. He fell in love with Reed college, so we are looking at schools that are similar, but maybe not so intense or selective.</p>
<p>Levirm, Thanks for the advice and list of schools. S is considering playing a sport in college. A late bloomer who’s finally getting excited for college. We will check out those schools soon.</p>
<p>Thanks for your comments calmom; If those very top tier schools only want “hyper-competitive” students then they may indeed be a poor fit for my son; We do realize there are many very good schools that aren’t as well known. Harvey Mudd for example is high on his list; It still seems that most of those with outstanding math programs may question his GPA; It also seems like they have less generous financial aid packages, but of course we’ll have to wait and see on that. He will have near full-ride to our state flagship school (National Merit Scholarship) and I would say there are some schools that we would be more willing to go into debt for than others (MIT, e.g.); I do need to educate myself better on some of these other schools so thanks for that reminder.</p>
<p>qgroup, Harvey Mudd may not be as well known, but it’s just about as hard to get into as MIT and Caltech. My older son with a stellar GPA and scores was waitlisted there. (He got into Harvard and was deferred EA and ultimately rejected from both MIT and Caltech.) That’s not to say that your child has no chance, but you will need to look at much safer schools.</p>
<p>5boys, your son sounds great. I’m sure there will be plenty of schools that look at those activities and won’t be thinking slacker.</p>
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<p>The point is: that kid does not prioritize school work over other stuff; his priorities like with all of his outside activities. </p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with that – but a kid like that may be a very poor fit in a place where students are expected to prioritize their academic work and spend a lot of time working – such as U of Chicago with its “life of the mind / where fun comes to die” reputation. On the other hand, a college or LAC where outdoor activities are a big part of student life might be a match made in heaven – and you can find colleges that fit that description among the top 20. But the wrong “fit” might mean that your active, outgoing, committed kid is either feeling miserable, sitting for all hours pent up in a dorm room or library reading… or he gets over-involved in campus activities and then can’t keep up with the workload.</p>
<p>In college, particularly at the most academically demanding colleges, there is a high volume of reading expected and it can be very difficult to catch up if the student falls behind. That’s why my low scoring kid did better in school than my high scoring kid. The kid with the lower test scores had a lot of self-discipline and was religious about doing her reading and every assignment – and willing to give up other activities in favor of school work. The kid with the high test scores was happier – and did better - after he transferred to a college where students were more focused on “real world” activities, and he could successfully integrate a high level of involvement with the local community with his classwork. </p>
<p>The students that your son perceives as “grade grubbers” are the ones who get admitted to the most competitive colleges, where the vast majority of kids ranked at the top of their high school classes. So if somehow you could wave a magic wand and get your “solid B” student into Harvard on the strength of his SAT scores… he would arrive there, look around, and be dismayed that he was surrounded by they type of kids he didn’t like in high school. On the other hand, maybe a LAC like [url=<a href=“http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/ccal/mop]Middlebury[/url”>http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/ccal/mop]Middlebury[/url</a>] would be a better fit.</p>
<p>Oh, this is my D1 (Should I call her OrdinaryDaughter?). We’re in the midwest, so no SAT. ACT composite of 26 on the second attempt, after much studying, and no, she says, she’s not taking it again. Kid has an UW GPA of 3.96, top 5% of her graduating class (so far, anyway), lots of activities, volunteer work, and 2 jobs - 3 this summer. She’s the energizer bunny. </p>
<p>But, we need aid. OrdinaryHusband is a minister. No big salary, but enough that we’re not Pell eligible. Schools offering a BA in her desired major are all private. Luckily, she has three to choose from. Getting in will be no problem, but getting enough aid with that ACT? Let’s just say it has me worried. </p>
<p>I don’t think another attempt will yield a higher score. Percentiles on the ACT are right in line with ITEDs. With studying, she already outscored her PLAN-predicted composite. I guess there’s nothing to do but wait and see . . .</p>
<p>^^^ What is she thinking of studying? She might look at Coe College, they are very good with merit aid in that range.</p>
<p>^^ Radiography (Rad tech).</p>
<p>I have found my thread!!!</p>
<p>My son: 32 ACT, 3.3 uw GPA, 750 Bio SAT 2, 700 SAT Math 2, Co-Captain of FIRST Robotics Team (team has won multiple regional competitions and awards and national awards); Has own computer biz (hosts web sites, repairs computers, designs web sites); Missed 1/2 of junior year due to illness and "repeated jr. year so that he could take 3 AP classes. Has always taken most rigorous curriculum. NHS and Mu Alpha Theta member, Key club, many hours community service, Computer based paid internship for this summer. The “low” GPA is due to a C (82) he received in AP Biology this past year. It is in DIRECT opposition to the 750 he scored on the Bio SAT 2. He does have a compelling story-- several health issues and the absences/tardies/going to the bathroom during class are documented. </p>
<p>Until the “C” he had high hopes for some of the most competitive computer science/comuter engineering programs in the country–now, not so sure!! Any advice would be most welcome!</p>
<p>compscimom, I think he still has a chance, but I’d just make sure he has some extra safeties and matches. Will his GC be able to address the health issues? That would probably help a lot.</p>
<p>Calmom… I whole-heartily agree with everything you said. I absolutely agree that even if my DS could somehow miraculously get into one of these top 20 schools he would be miserable. He does not like to be around hyper-competitive people. It is true that he does not want college to be all about academics. He likes to have his outdoor time and be able to volunteer and get involved as much as he can. I have him researching plenty of the Colleges that Change Lives schools and schools where he will thrive in an intellectual but laid-back student body, preferably with mountains and rivers nearby.</p>
<p>Ordinarylives, I think your DD needs a plan beyond 3 private schools that don’t meet need. While working as a counselor I worked with a minister’s daughter who got shockingly bad aid offers because the private schools put a high dollar value on all the ‘perks’ her father got as part of the job. Between that as a possibility and her not having top of the pool stats for merit aid, you need a financial safety she can be happy at.</p>
<p>Thanks, mathmom. I will ask the GC to talk about my son’s health issues. Any ideas on schools we should look at???</p>
<p>5boys- Take a look at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C.
[Warren</a> Wilson College](<a href=“http://www.warren-wilson.edu/external_index.php]Warren”>Warren Wilson College - Home - Warren Wilson College)</p>
<p>I don’t have any idea of your son’s other interests but I think it would certainly meet his need for access to the outdoors and they place a strong emphasis on community service.</p>
<p>I can take the “complementary” position to calmom because her higher GPA/lower test score daughter did very well at Barnard, and my higher test score/lower GPA son did very well at Wharton. Either scenario can work! You just have to know your students and more importantly, they have to know themselves. Several points:
<p>Compscimom: take a look at CMU!</p>
<p>Shawbridge, I know it is big, but have you ever taken a look at McMaster? I think that it is an interesting school because of the problem-based learning model.</p>
<p>LeftofPisa… It’s on the list!!! Thanks</p>