<p>Thanks Kathie. Yes, Kutztown has been one of my favorites for him from back when he wanted to be a writer 
They really have all of his current interests available which on any given day can vary from writing to biomedical research…lol</p>
<p>Now it is time for me to now get serious about looking at colleges. I was waiting for the ACT.</p>
<p>ACT scores came back and S2 has a 29. As usual he rationalizes and says that we should be happy he is in 93rd %tile and it is not a bad score etc. All true. On the other hand his GPA is also low 3.1+ unweighted but much higher weighted. Again, it is frustrating know that he could have got a 34 higher, had he just worked for it, but he thinks he getting a 29 without effort should be commended.</p>
<p>I have repeated this background before and there have been some suggestions, I would like to now start re-creating a list. S2 has ADHD, every teacher feels he is not working to potential and can be star if he wants to. The only thing that motivates him is the guitar and music and he wants to go to a music program, even though every teacher feels that his analytical abilities are off the wall. We would like him to have a fall back option in addition to music, (he thinks he is a rock star but all of us know that only one of out thousands really make it big, and he is very bright to allow that to be wasted). His interests are more rock and jazz, not classical.</p>
<p>We live near the west coast but would like him to go to the best school he can. I really like some of the CTCL schools, especially Reed but I am not sure if he has a chance.</p>
<p>Appreciate all suggestions.</p>
<p>My S has similar stats and plays bass guitar and is very motivated to study that, much more than he is most academic subjects. So we focused on music schools. (He’s a senior now but won’t choose a school until FA packages are in.) He’s applied to a few LACs - including 2-3 in CTCL, and 3 music schools, but all part of a LAC or U. Jazz studies or music technology.</p>
<p>We’re in Ohio so I don’t know much about the options out there. But there are many music schools where he can major and get a BM or do a BA wth a minor in something else, or start in music and if he decides it’s not for him, switch…</p>
<p>mazewanderer,</p>
<p>Let me first say I’d be thrilled for the duckling to get a 29 on the ACT - she was far from it. Terrible test anxiety. Remember that most of what you see on CC is from hyper-competitive students wanting a bit of reassurance. This thread seems by far the most realistic to me.</p>
<p>Anyway, take a look at Reed’s common data set, if you haven’t already. The 25th percentile of their admittances is at the 30 mark on the ACT; therefore probably the lowest 25 have a 29 or lower. He’ll probably go up in a retake. The GPA is more problematic - I’d e-mail an admissions counselor and ask how they compute their GPAs. Several schools I’ve talked to use the weighted on their statistics, not the unweighted. Some recalculate to include only core classes. I’ve always found the admissions people to be extraordinarily helpful.</p>
<p>The college supermatch here on CC puts him at a 26% of being admitted to Reed.</p>
<p>Overall, your son has a strong record, even if he isn’t performing at his peak (yet). There will be a great school for him, even if it isn’t Reed. His motivation may skyrocket as he matures.</p>
<p>Thanks, we are not stuck on west coast schools. Appreciate if you could share some names of schools, as my S seems to have a very similar profile to your son. S does not think that he learns anything useful in school and manages to get by with minimum effort.</p>
<p>Capital U in Columbus is right now a top choice for him - jazz or music tech. Nice merit award as well as music scholarship.</p>
<p>Wittenberg - not ideal music program for bass but might be for guitar. Also gave good merit.</p>
<p>Other music schools he auditioned for - CCM at Cincinnati, Duquesne in Pitt, Bowling Green (an Ohio state school, Akron and Youngstown also have good music programs). He’s been academically accepted to all 3, not sure on music yet (and he dropped CCM because he doesn’t like the school if he decides not to do music).</p>
<p>Denison, Wooster, DePauw - not heard from yet.</p>
<p>mazewanderer … your son’s 29 ACT and 3.1 GPA are very similar to my son’s 28 and 3.2, so I think we are also similar. Surprisingly, my son is also ADD and plays bass guitar, the only difference is he will study environmental studies in college and will do music for fun. My son will be going to St. Lawrence, a private LAC in upstate NY. </p>
<p>Not knowing your son’s talent, I don’t know which schools make sense for him. On the east you would need to look at Berklee. They give good scholarships if the musical talent is there, but grades are looked at also to make sure they have the aptitude to get through music theory and ear training (1st year or so). Try to find some kind of great summer program that will help your son sort out his musical interest, and also see where he stands in the rock/jazz talent pool. It is deep, but he’ll know where he stands before he puts all his eggs in the music basket. If his analytical skills are off the wall, a nice cross between music and intellect is music composition or electronic production. If he’s an extrovert and way into the music scene, music business degrees are something to investigate. If he is interested in Reed or similar, I would try to figure out how they will tap into his inner rock star while sneaking a good liberal arts education into him. If that is possible, then you may have a dream school on your hands.</p>
<p>I’m certainly glad I found this thread and I have a feeling I’ll be living here for the next year. The basics: DD clocking in with a 2.6 GPA as of December (but showing an upward trend that neatly corresponds with her ADD diagnosis and treatment). A few EC’s, no sports, small private school, no AP or honors. Indications on the SAT’s are that she might pull in a 1900. Her GC was more positive than we expected. If I look at any other threads on CC I’ll lose hope. She’s a city girl and wants to be near same. We’re looking at LAC’s–she’s arty but thinks she might want something like Cultural Anthropology or Communications. She’s bright and has really turned on the steam in the last year.
Any thoughts on the following:
Seattle U.
Evergreen
Univ of Puget Sound
Lewis & Clark
Univ. of San Fran.
Santa Clara
Chapman
We’ll be looking East too but that’s closer to home and we thought we’d deal with the other coast first.</p>
<p>I like Seattle U. A nice sized Jesuit school in an urban area. It was on my original list for my son when he was more interested in majoring in film. I think you’d get some nice information on most of those schools in this thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/907349-western-schools-3-0-3-3-kid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/907349-western-schools-3-0-3-3-kid.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion. I’m just beginning to figure out how many threads this site has!! I like SU from afar too. Although I worry about D being so distant. The city certainly satisfies the “cool urban” requirement.</p>
<p>So we had a mixed bag of news last week. The good news: S’s mid-term progress report showed a clear jump in grades, accompanied by teacher comments along the lines of “really working hard to improve his grade, leader in class discussions”, etc. If he keeps this up through the semester, he’ll wind up with something like a 3.5 (for the semester, which may bring him up to or a little above a cumulative 3.0). Which would be awesome for his fall college applications. I expect he will test well in the April ACT.
Unfortunately, his academic upswing has been accompanied by a drastic downward trend in the success of his EC’s, which are very important to him. Last year, he had the lead in the freshman-sophomore play, and was one of the stars of an improv group performance. This year, he didn’t make the comedy troupe he tried out for, was called back for some lead roles for the winter play and wound up as an extra, and just tried out - just for the chorus - of the spring musical, got called back, and wasn’t cast. And, he did not advance as far as last year in any of his speech events. He is trying so hard, and it is breaking my heart to see him put himself out there and be shot down, especially because he is really stepping up to the plate on his academics (which he does not enjoy). Anyway, just venting; there is nothing I can do about this and he hates sympathy, so I am treading carefully. I heard him crying in his room yesterday, briefly. No school today (teacher institute day) so I am hoping that a day by himself to process and get his bearings will help. I will continue to give him positive feedback on his grades and effort. At least that’s something that he has some control over, and he’s seen the clear, positive correlation between effort and grades.</p>
<p>cooker - I so understand where your are coming from. </p>
<p>In our house it is the opposite - grades plummeting, but ECs are better than ever. I am as much, if not more, frustrated as my son. I just keep telling myself, I would much rather he experience the failures and learn his limits while he still has a home cushion. I think the kids who crash at 20 or even out of college in the workforce, I have more difficult time mentally.</p>
<p>It is times like these when I miss the kid I could sweep up in my arms and hug until it was all better. </p>
<p>Vent here anytime. He should be VERY proud in the grade increases. This year seems to have so much stress for these kids - grades, stand. test, driving, Prom - small things in the scheme of life BUT huge when you 15-17.</p>
<p>Bumping this up. </p>
<p>My and the kid are starting college vists this month. All the schools are local. We have Temple, Drexel, West Chester, Philadelphia U, Lafayette, and the community college scheduled over the next 2 months. Hopefully he’ll start showing some interest. </p>
<p>The third marking period is halfway over and his lowest grade right now is a C This makes 2 terms in a row that he hasn’t been in danger of failing something at the midpoint. He has the ACT in April, SAT in MAY, and SAT subject tests in June. We’re on a roll now!!!</p>
<p>Dear parents,
I was a member of the 2010 version of this thread and thought I would add to the hope for our often frustrating kids. I felt as though I dragged my son to the finish line of high school (last semester was all C’s). He finished with an unimpressive 2.9u/3.4w. The last two years of high school were worse than the first two; he showed a remarkable downward trend. I was amazed that the schools that accepted him. I guess it helps if you play an instrument that is often in short supply (classical double bass). When we dropped him off at college in the fall of 2010, he was indifferent and not particularly focused on being in college. My husband and I argued for a full hour in our eight hour drive home. Horrible! We fully expected our son to be home by the end of the semester.</p>
<p>And then something happened… first semester was a 3.1, second semester a 3.2. He chose summer school at our flagship and earned a 3.4. He is now carrying an overall 3.48 and is applying to transfer (“upgrade” was his crude term). We will see. So far, so good. He has grown in so many ways and, I think, proud of his A’s and B’s. He is constantly kicking himself for bombing AP exams (he’s had to take all of his gen eds-no exemptions or credit). They do care about what is happening but often can’t express it. My son doesn’t really know why he refused to work in HS. It is as much a mystery to him as me. I remind him that it is far better to have goofed in high school than college.</p>
<p>Keep loving them. You never know when a late bloomer will emerge.</p>
<p>hornet, bless your heart for posting this today.</p>
<p>Agree with hornet, my D is thriving at Alfred University (NY) I had to drag her out of bed in the AM her Senior Year of high school… thought she would not graduate… </p>
<p>Alfred University, established in 1836, 2300 students, small classes-know your professors, Division III athletics, No Greek Life, housing guaranteed for all 4 years, many clubs & organizations, located in small friendly village of Alfred, NY, merit aid, need-based aid. Shuttles to Rochester airport at peak break times, buses to NYC at peak break times. </p>
<p>An excellent value:</p>
<p>School of Art & Design
College of Liberal Arts
School of Business
School of Engineering </p>
<p>USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Princeton Review’s Best 376
Fiske Guide 2012
Fiske Best Value
Fiske Small Schools Strong in Art & Design
Fiske Small Schools Strong in Engineering
Princeton Review’s Best 297 Business Schools </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Academics : Degrees/Majors](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm) Majors/Minors </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Financial Aid Awarded to Freshmen](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/fintofresh.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/fintofresh.cfm)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/scholarships/]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/scholarships/) Merit Aid</p>
<p>No one’s posted for awhile, since I suspect a lot of families are laying low and waiting for SAT scores. Given D’s grades, her scores will for good or bad count for a lot. In the meantime, at the advice of her counsellor and D’s wish to go to an East Coast school, I’ve set us up for what I now fear is an exhausting spring visit trip - Emerson, Northeastern, Connecticut College, Bard, and Fordham - in three days. Thank goodness for unlimited rental car miles.</p>
<p>If anyone has tips or hints for this trip, or wants to dissuade us from all this travel, I’m all eyeballs.</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right. Counting the days until the March SAT scores are released. It’ll really help us target schools. A little nervous about it mainly because son is so inconsistent. Latest 5 week report card wasn’t stellar… lowest grade was APUSH.</p>
<p>@jrussell4 - I think your trip is ambitious yet doable. Our spring break isn’t for another 4 weeks. Of the schools you have listed, I have friends with children at Northeastern and Fordham. They all love them and are thriving. Good luck and let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>bkbmom - Ha! I absolutely love history - reading Sarah Vowell’s “The Wordy Shipmates” right now. I absolutely hate what APUSH is doing to D’s like of history. Thanks for the encouraging note about the trip.</p>
<p>My son isn’t taking the SAT until May and the ACT in April, so we won’t know much of anything until at least the ACT scores come in. He’s doing pretty good gradewise so far this quarter though I’m thinking it’s a shame that these grades won’t go on the transcript. </p>
<p>jrussell4, I have no advice about the trip but good luck with that What does your D plan to major in?</p>