Parents of the HS Class of 2013 - 3.0 to 3.3 GPA

Parents Forum Class of 20xx Community
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<p>Following on from the discussion regarding whether to disclose medical/disability information in the application process: I am conflicted and would appreciate guidance here. I recognize the benefits of doing so in order to obtain information about the college - of course it is worth knowing as early as possible if they view the student as less attractive because of it. However, my DS is in the borderline area where he may not need accommodations - assuming he can type notes in class, type any essays, etc for his dysgraphia - because his primary ADD-challenges then would be organizational. We are considering a specialized coach, perhaps from Edge, to help his stay on track, replacing my role and moving him towards independence. While he does have extra time for his ACT, SAT and AP exams he tests well enough on an hour-long test.</p>

<p>We have not decided how to, or whether, to approach a college about similar accommodations. His grades are decent (3.1 unweighted using the College Board conversion table, but 3.35-3.7 converted to 4-point with weight for AP and/or Pre-AP as many colleges he’s interested in will do.</p>

<p>He just took his first ACT and did well - 32 composite with 33 in English, 33 Reading, 36 Science and 26 Math. While we were able to get extra time in place, the typing accommodation was denied so he dropped the writing portion while we try again with more documentation.</p>

<p>Here’s my question (finally!) - when he takes the ACT Writing (or SAT for that matter) the actual essay is sent to the college, which means the fact of a typed essay would disclose the disability because of the accommodation, right?</p>

<p>My concern is that this might put into a different light the otherwise solid scores on the other portions, implying the extra time accommodation as well.</p>

<p>My underlying concern for all of this is whether this will affect scholarship or merit aid.</p>

<p>We crossed our favorite LAC off (along with a couple of other biggies) our list after hearing the admissions person, having just stated how inclusive they were and how they welcomed students of all interests and different abilities, go on to say that while they understood high GPA/low test score combinations, they believed that with high test/low GPA students “the motivation and work ethic may not be there” and this got me to thinking about the tough spot my DS is in.</p>

<p>“Pass” as a regular non-disabled student (his preference, sigh) and work to keep any scholarship money through private coaching etc, or disclose?</p>

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<p>Sonmere, I think in the case of high tests/low gpa, it’s generally more beneficial to disclose. It keeps them from assuming the student is an underachiever. And if you think accomodations will beused, whether throgh the school or not, it’s best to have the student on record with the disability office just as a just in case thing. As far as accomodations for testing, extended time isn’t a given just because a student has another accomodation. For all they know, the typed essay could be from a student with physical disability.</p>

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<p>Heavylidded wrote:</p>

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<p>Bwaahahaha! If I had been drinking something, I would have choked on it. This made me laugh! Hang in there!</p>

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<p>Saw the post upthread about Earlham… my 2012 kid will be attending next year. I just wanted to add that not only is the central ‘quad’ area called “the Heart” but so is the college’s online system. (student accounts, email, etc) </p>

<p>Regarding their study abroad programs… this was a VERY important part of my kid’s college search due to her intended majors. This college comes out ahead of many others in that it lets students use their merit aid AND need-based aid to cover one of their great semester, summer, or year abroad programs. Another college my kid had on a very short final list would allow only a student’s need-based aid (not merit aid) to go toward one semester abroad. Very big difference! BTW, if your student is interested in studying abroad, have them track down this kind of financial info before making the final college decision!</p>

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<p>Congrats, Woody, and thanks for the advice. I liked Earlham when we visited, and the more I hear about it on this thread, the more I love it. I hope your child is happy! </p>

<p>Please keep posting.</p>

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<p>^Great point, Woody! My D is also passionately interested in spending a year in Japan, so it’s been an important factor for us (programs, cost, full year options, etc). Earlham has that awesome Waseda program :). Your D has chosen incredibly well --best to her and you!</p>

<p>There’s one other bit of crucial info. I want to mention, for us 3.0-3.3 parents. Note any GPA requirements to go on an abroad program! If your kid plans to study abroad (my D intends to major in either Asian Studies or Japanese language), then be sure to get all the fine details now. </p>

<p>To be honest, I have no idea whether my D1 will maintain a 3.0 in college. Some schools have a 2.5 GPA requirement to study abroad, and some are a 3.0 GPA (or more, ack!). So when you make up that final excel sheet, just be sure to include the GPA requirements.</p>

<p>D1 is still planning to apply ED to Warren Wilson :). She’s been getting straight A’s in Pre-Calc and US History since our visit (had mostly C’s in these two classes previously). My “evil plan” has paid off, lol! I am sure this will not continue, but am enjoying it while it lasts…</p>

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<p>Just bumping this up. How’s everyone doing? Anyone’s kid already done for the year? S still has about a month left. Fingers crossed that he passes Spanish. Other than that, I’m expecting more of the same grade wise. Waiting for SAT results on Thursday morning, then he’s flying to a writing workshop for the weekend. I’m meeting with his GC on Friday with SAT and ACT results in had so we can come up with a working list of schools. Right now, there are 23 on the list, about 10-13 too many!</p>

<p>I have a question about LORs. My son does not excel in any of his academic classes. His teachers think highly of him, but they all mention that his grades don’t reflect his ability in the narrative part of his report card. When I ask my S about who he’s thinking about asking for letters, he mentions the same two teachers who happen to teach his 2 worst classes gradewise. Should I trust his feelings about who will present him in the best light? I really have no other way of knowing who to suggest, if not them.</p>

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<p>I know a kid at Earlham now who went rather reluctantly. Kid absolutely blossomed. Earlham gave kid an award (I believe a merit award?) to study abroad. Kid fell in love with the study abroad region and it changed plans for major and career.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the bump. DS finished classes yesterday, review today and then exams start tomorrow. He’ll be finished next Tuesday, then takes SATs on June 2nd. <em>Then</em> he can breathe the clean air.</p>

<p>Re: LORs, let your kid take the lead. I’m quite sure it’s not the classes where the kid does best that he’ll necessarily get the best LOR. It should be from a teacher who knows him well. And keep in mind the teachers writing them want the kid to do well. I think (hope?) if they really thought they could not write a positive letter, they’d tell the kid that up front. Have him ask and see what they say.</p>

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<p>Thank goodness you all have returned. I check every day and I have been feeling lonely.</p>

<p>In our house, we have been swamped with PBA (performance based assessments) for the end of the year in my son’s school. I have to say that he has been working his tail off and doing his very best, but his writing needs SO much revision, I’m worried about college. </p>

<p>I’m looking for a basic remedial expository writing class for my S, preferably in NYC. Any ideas or suggestions?</p>

<p>News: CTCL college fair was last night in Manhattan. It was very well attended. S felt confident visiting tables of the schools he has visited. (interesting.) We schmoozed with his favorites: Guilford and Earlham, trying to learn who will read his applications. No luck. New schools for us: Hamshire and Hiram. Busiest school tables: St. Johns and Ursinus!! Go figure…</p>

<p>Good luck, everyone, with finals, Regents, SATs, PBAs and report cards. Please keep posting over the summer with visits and impressions. You all are my support and I miss you when you are quiet.</p>

<p>PS We are in school here in NYC until the END of June!</p>

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<p>NPRMom - I’m glad you enjoyed the fair and found some new colleges to look at. I’m surprised to hear how busy St Johns was given its unique curriculum. I can’t believe how late school is open their. Were there many school cancellations due to weather? I can’t remember any of the winter storms this year.</p>

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<p>Test time in Virginia as well … all state tests finished (and passed). Next up - exams, ACT and SAT … then it’s travel time for college visits. </p>

<p>I’ve had a hard time with the college visits thing. </p>

<p>I think it’s really important to visit, but I’m struggling with the practicality and expense. I’d rather go when school’s in session, but I’m a teacher and don’t have many days off in the fall. Spring Break doesn’t even work, since I’m in a different school system from my kids. I also don’t want the Duckling applying to gazillions of schools - but the ones that fit her best are a long way from home. Of those she’s visited, she has fallen deeply in love with one school, likes one, and has eliminated two. There are currently eight schools on her list. I’d like her to really fall in love with at least one other so she won’t be disappointed if her first choice doesn’t work out. So, we’re trying to figure out visits to Austin TX, Pittsburgh, New York City, Rochester, and Vermont … at least Austin is the only one requiring a flight.</p>

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<p>HeavyLidded - I say go ahead and send the scores. I honestly can’t see a school saying wow this kid scored a 2170 but on her first try only got a 1580. Deny!!! As long as scores that are in the school’s range are eventually sent, they have no reason hold “lesser” scores against you. And that’s great about what your D is doing. Puts stuff in perspective doesn’t it :)</p>

<p>And there will be dancing in the streets today. S scored an 1860!!! When I told him, he said “Awesome!” I’ll have to ask him how he came up with “his” score. I never expressed to him that I’d be happy with 1800+.</p>

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<p>NPRMom- Hampshire turned out to be the best choice for my D (now Hampshire Class of 15) so I can answer any questions. I found the CTCL schools really got the kind of kids one might find on these threads.</p>

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<p>Kinderny - Hampshire really appeals to me and my son. But my biggest concern is that I’ve read on various review sites that there’s a lot of red tape involved in making sure you meet the requirements for the different divisions and even scheduling classes (requesting tutorials and such). Are the sudents pretty much left to figure things out or is advising pretty useful? Is there more structure in the earlier years with more independence needed/expected as you advance? I hope I’m making sense.</p>

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<p>Hi all. I have missed seeing activity on this thread. Two more weeks of school, and I am trying to take deep breaths and stay calm. After getting a great mid-semester progress report, DS got a dreadful grade report for the next quarter. He says it’s all under control and that he is doing what he needs to do to get things back on course for the final semester grade. I have been trying to toe the line between being overbearing, and assuming he will do everything he needs to do on his own (which he won’t).<br>
He really needs good grades this semester to get over the magic 3.0 number. He got a 30 on his ACT and was disappointed. I was too (I know it is an excellent score - but), because I signed him up for an ACT course which he reluctantly attended, but didn’t do any of the homework for b/c he said he thought it was a waste of time. If he had, it may have brought the score up a point or two. Or maybe not. That score should be good enough, but does put extra pressure on him to get his grades up.</p>

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<p>Cooker - My son said the same thing about the Spanish class I’m hoping he passes. Yesterday was the deadline to turn in all of his missed assignments. We’ll see if he completed them. His teacher even knocked one off to give him a break since she knows he really is struggling in the class (though he might not be struggling as much if he’d done the work!) He has a 3.2 now and I get so upset when I see so many autmatic merit awards that his test scores qualify him for but his gpa is too low since most want at least a 3.5. Water under the bridge though at this point.</p>

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<p>@Reeinaz, Congrats to you and your S! An 1860 is a score I would be jumping up and down over (I was jumping up and down with D’s 1800). That’s a solid score :). Hoping that your S finishes Spanish well…I know my D has had a couple classes this year that have had me worried from time to time. </p>

<p>@myLB, I hope that the June SAT is the last sitting for your S. Good luck to him!</p>

<p>@NPRmom, that’s so great that your S was comfortable enough to approach the Guilford and Earlham reps. at the CTCL fair! We didn’t get a chance to go this year (had another event with younger D2), but went last year and my D1 would only approach the tables with me right there. She’s been less shy this year on college visits, but there’s no way she’d be as brave as your S!</p>

<p>@Mamaduck, are you looking at Austin College? </p>

<p>@heavylidded, I didn’t send D’s free scores right away either. I know they were going to see all scores eventually, but I just wanted to wait. She has ADD --I kept thinking, 'what if there was entire sections she had somehow missed?! We also thought that if it went truly badly on the SAT’s, that we would just immediately switch gears and move onto the ACT. But, she ended up earning solid scores the first SAT sitting, so I am happy to say that we sent them to Warren Wilson a couple weeks ago (where she plans to apply ED). I don’t blame you for waiting --I couldn’t bring myself to do it either until I knew the actual scores. It’s a $40 loss is how I look at it. But it was worth it for my peace of mind :).</p>

<p>Your D’s altruism says a lot about her character. You should be so proud!</p>

<p>@cooker, my D had a horrid 3rd quarter too. I am really hoping that she has enough A’s this quarter to counteract some of the C’s (and one D+). She’s always hovering around a 3.0-3.1. Your S’s ACT’s are fantastic! I understand though --you know he could have done better if he had done the hw and taken the prep course seriously. It would be great to add a pt., but if not, that’s a solid score and enough to certainly give him some great options :).</p>

<p>For my D, she’s still 99% sure that she’s applying ED to Warren Wilson (the 16th college visit was “the charm”!). She’s been all over their website since we visited :). She’s been working hard on her grades and has four A’s, and three B+‘s. The class that she had the D+ in for 3rd quarter is an A+ even (100% on 3 exams for 4th quarter!). I am still afraid that she may play "wack a’ mole" towards the end though. Meaning, when she puts a lot of effort into a class, suddenly the other classes she was doing great in become a new problem class (new problems “pop up” and missing hw is usually the culprit). It’s happened before…an expected “A”, became a “C”. I will probably be a nervous wreck until late June --school ends June 22. But…I celebrate her! She’s trying and that’s all I can really ask of her. She’s such a gift…</p>

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<p>Well, the SAT’s weren’t all we’d hoped (though still respectable). DD wants to take the test in October, but wasn’t able to register through the college board site. Does anyone know how far in advance they generally open registration? Here in NYC, centers fill up fast–especially those offering accommodations.</p>

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<p>Nyermom - I think it opens up in August, maybe July? I think they send an email letting you know you can register.</p>

<p>Jkiwmom - that is so great your D already has a solid, realistic, number 1! I have a feeling we won’t be deciding until all the acceptances come in. S is still so ummmm… Disinterested? in the process. He’ll talk if I bring it up and can state preferences when asked, but overall I think he just has a general idea of what he wants. He keeps saying that all the websites and brochures say the same thing. I suppose in a way they do. But that’s because he’s looking at such similar schools. I finally got him interested in looking the clubs a school has and what career services offers…lol. The deciding factor will probably be if the school has a sketch comedy group.</p>