<p>Is anyone else stressing about June SAT scores? I guess not, if your kids are scoring 1740s and 2070s. I feel as though many of you have kids with lower GPAs but sky high SATs and ACTs. I would be dancing in the street with scores close to those. </p>
<p>I need a thread for kids with real 3.0 GPAs and SATs to match. I’m not sure we belong here. </p>
<p>At this point, I don’t know whether to just have him apply to SAT optional schools or to have my S take the test again in October. The reading is impossible for him to ace. Math is decent, writing ok, not great. I wish he could be done and not worry about the SAT. The good news is, testing for LDs has begun (although my S is furious about it) and maybe we’ll see if there is a reading problem or not. </p>
<p>Also, his favorite schools ARE SAT optional.</p>
<p>I need to remember that his scores are NOT who he is. Mine were not who I am. I graduated summa with similar scores!</p>
<p>NPRMom and everyone else on this thread, don’t worry your child will have choices, you will just need to develop a solid list. My son was in the class of 2012. He had around a 3.0 gpa and very average test scores. He originally only planned to apply to 3 schools but at the last minute applied to 2 others. He was accepted into all 5 schools, some with merit. None of the schools are CC prestigious but I think he could have received a solid education at any of them.</p>
<p>Granted we are in the Midwest and from reading other threads it seems our state schools and privates may be easier to be admitted into. I think you’re in the NE so things may be different but I have to believe there are schools that would be happy to have a B average student with average test scores.</p>
<p>NPRMom: I was in your position last year, this time. S is a true 3.0 GPA student (wavered up to 3.1 at some point, but back down to 3.0). VERY mediocre SAT’s (mid 500’s in each section AFTER 2 attempts), and did not do any subject tests. Then he tried the ACT. For some reason, he did very well on them with a bit of prep effort (using the ACT prep book) - 26 and 29. He was always a terrible test taker, but for some reason, ACT’s worked for him. Have your S do the next ACT that is available and see how that turns out.
I’ve posted here in a much earlier page with S’s stats and acceptances as an encouragement to 2013 parents, so I don’t want to rehash, but you can check my previous posts on this thread. If you don’t want to go digging around, just PM me :-)</p>
<p>I’m not sure where you live but I thought of several schools that might be a possibility for your kiddo, especially if her SAT scores are relatively decent. </p>
<p>Juniata in PA.
Ohio Wesleyan in OH. Also, College of Wooster in OH. That one might be iffy for admission but if she did get in, it seems like a TREMENDOUSLY supportive school. </p>
<p>Please don’t be too hard on yourself. As parents we are supposed to support our kids, yes, but also let them experience bumps so that they can grow. You did offer her help. You won’t be going to college with her, so maybe this will help her to understand that when she is struggling she needs to seek or accept that help next time.</p>
<p>NPRMom–Has he considered the ACT vs the SAT? It might be better suited for him. Also keep in mind, there are 100’s of schools out there were an average ACT sore is upper teens/low 20’s. Also, when you look at the stats, they usually report the middle or mean scores, there are still plenty of kids that fall below and above those numbers. I do like how the collegeboards site has changed that reporting and gives percents of kids accepted that fall into the various score ranges. I think it gives a clearer picture of where your child fits.</p>
<p>Our oldest had a 2.8 GPA with a couple AP’s but nothing too exciting. He did score a 26 on his ACT and that was high enough at the state directional he attended to get him a merit scholarship. He also got into a couple private schools in our state that are very good schools but the money wasn’t there for him to attend because of his GPA. It isn’t as doom and gloom as it seems.</p>
<p>Hi. I’ve been lurking for quite a while, and think I may have made an occasional post in the past, but am now ready to get the ball rolling, so to speak, for my S2.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading HeavyLidded posts w/such a sense of “I can relate”. Don’t know if this is the forum where I belong, but I think it’s the closest that I’ll find, other than the “Do C students really belong in college” thread.</p>
<p>My S2 just finished his sophomore year, so I’m a year behind most of you. He has struggled in school, ending this past year w/ a 2.45 gpa (2.6 overall if you count freshman year…a downward trend so far). He puts the time in, although obviously not effectively, but does have some LDs that are holding him back. He’s in a competitive private school full of high achievers, and his struggles w/ grades and comparisons to his older A student brother and classmates have been very difficult for him. The bright note that gives me hope, is that practicing from the red ACT book (not under test conditions), he has been able to pull out a few 30+ scores on practice sections. Don’t know yet how that will translate when he has to take the test for real and his test anxiety kicks in, but it is encouraging.</p>
<p>Trying to put an initial list of schools together to explore. We are in the midwest, don’t want to have to travel too far, and he really doesn’t know what he wants to do.</p>
<p>We have a trip to DC planned for a weekend at the end of the summer, and I plan on taking him to see McDaniel and Goucher. Also interested in Grand Valley State U (an in-state option) and Miami of Ohio as a reach. </p>
<p>I am looking for suggestions of schools to explore. W/ his low GPA, I don’t know what kind of safety he is going to have.</p>
<p>Help and Comeraderie (I know that is spelled wrong) are appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>umich8790-a lot of state directionals will be good options, especially with the LD’s as they usually have pretty good support services. States like North and South Dakota have pretty reasonable out of state tuition so look at those schools. Michigan may be in the consortium so that is an added savings. Many of the Missouri state schools might be options as well. I just did a search on the collegeboards site and 414 schools that have open admissions or admit 75+% of applicants came up in the “Midwest”. That is a lot of choices for kids. If you look at the schools that admit everyone, that is 112 schools in the Midwest-4 year schools. Take out the for-profits and there are 89 schools in the Midwest alone for 100% admissions.</p>
<p>umich, my son will be attending Northern Michigan U this fall. If your son wouldn’t mind going to school in the UP he would most likely be accepted there. NMU was my son’s first choice and he didn’t waiver much. Marquette can be drive for even in state residents and the isolation isn’t for everyone though there is plenty to do up there. Also, everyone associated with NMU have been wonderful to work with.</p>
<p>In Wisconsin if he gets his GPA up a little he would qualify for merit $ at Carthage College. I think he would be accepted by several of the MO state directional schools. My son applied to Northwest Missouri State and we were very happy with their financial package which included both merit and need based aid. They seemed to have a lot of school spirit if your son is looking for that. </p>
<p>As you probably know a lot of the midwest state schools list their minimum requirements for acceptance. KU and KSU along with some of the Nebraska schools (U of Neb-Kearney). Often they list you only need to meet 2 of the 3 guidelines. Univ of Northern Iowa has a calculator on it’s website to figure out where you stand and some of the IA privates are also good to look into.</p>
<p>Michigan does participate in the MSEP but often the requirements to be accepted into the program are higher than just general admittance stats. Also, the programs covered are limited.</p>
<p>I know my son was interested in the Western schools like U of Wyoming, Montana State and U of Montana but he we diagnosed with a chronic illness his junior year so we looked a little closer to home. However, they also can be pretty transparent at to what they require for admittance.</p>
<p>My son was not interested in city schools but his guidance counselor also suggested Carroll University in Waukesha.</p>
<p>Umich8790, I would not call GVSU a safety per se, as the GPA is quite low and GVSU as come in-line with Michigan State at least on the common data set, hopefully the ACT will come in high and will help. Northern and all of the other directionals would be good for the in-state list. If you want to stay in the midwest close to home Carthage and Lake Forest and Alma might be possibilities.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I don’t know why Northern Michigan U has not been on my radar. It is far, but we do have a home in Petoskey, so that could go a ways to breaking up the drive. </p>
<p>I will be sure to look at the suggestions made above.</p>
<p>I’m thinking that given his LDs, he’ll do better at a smaller school, rather than a large, state school. We are not need-based, so although I’m not inclined to want to spend full tuition at a small LAC, I am willing to check those options. I had thought about U of Ariz as well since they have a strong program for students w/ LDs, but he really doesn’t want to go that far, and I’m thinking other western schools might be too far as well.</p>
<p>If you have any questions that I might be able to help you with Northern let me know. I too thought my son would do better at a small school but Northern seems to fit him to a T. Big enough he doesn’t have to be singled out in class but small enough he won’t go completely unnoticed.</p>
<p>The professors we met were genuinely nice. The admission staff is wonderful. I told my son’s HS guidance counselor about the little notes and what not his admission rep would send out and she was impressed and told me he would never have received that kind of attention at our in-state publics. Also. the disabilites office has been easy to work with though we are not dealing with LD but rather a medical issue which right now is controlled well with medication.</p>
<p>One nice thing about Northern is the FYE program where incoming freshman can sign up for a block of classes and take the same classes together with 20-25 kids. I think it will make the first semester easier to adapt to.</p>
<p>proudwismom-Carroll is a great suggestion. That is one of the schools I suggested for my niece that has some learning issues–long story. They don’t require test scores (ACT/SAT) and they have great programs for LD’s.</p>
<p>umich8790-many of the state directionals are small schools, 6000 or less, many in the 2000 range. I second the FYE programs. They are invaluable to kids that need that extra bit of help. Another school to look at is Bemidji State in Minnesota. It’s about 6000 students but has a fantastic program for LD’s and FYE. Southwest Minnesota State might be a great option as well. Dickenson in ND came up on a search, that is kid of out in the middle of nowhere but a pretty good school. Minot State in ND is another great option.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, $31,000 per year OOS, Kansas U is a great potential safety. Very good programs across the board. Just as good at the undergraduate level as schools like U Iowa and Indiana U but an easier admit (also cheaper).</p>
<p>Admission requirements are formula driven…</p>
<p>24+ ACT (1090+ SAT) or
Rank in top one-third of your class or
2.5+ GPA in Kansas Qualified Admissions curriculum</p>
<p>Momofthreeboys…I know GVSU is not a safety, but I’m hopeful that the reputation of my son’s high school will factor highly for any in-state schools. Also hopeful that the ACT will help him, but that is yet to be seen.</p>
<p>Heavylidded-I can totally relate to you. I know my son can get into some LACs but I’m afraid at the end of the day I may have to tell him “No, you can’t go there, it’s too expensive”
I’m regretting every dinner out, gym membership, vacation, if I could just have that money back.
Since many of us have kids with LDs (mine has ADD, executive function disorder, etc) How do you handle this on the college Apps? I have no clue what DS should do, should he mention them and the fact he has a 504 plan?</p>
<p>My D did not mention the dysgraphia (whole hog language processing version not just discomfort writing when not keyboarding) nor ADD in essays. As far as she was concerned she was not getting into college based on her grades and so was not going to make excuses about them. It worked out well for her.</p>
<p>I don’t really qualify to be on this thread (son is HS Class of 2014) but I’m getting a lot of good tips. I’m trying to figure out which schools to visit with him this summer. I’m hoping his GPA ends up at a 3.0 (final grades were mostly in the b- to b+ range with 2 Cs). Prepping this summer for the PSAT and SAT. Our list so far includes: Elon, Furman, Clemson (which will probably feel too big), UGA (same). He has seen Gettysburg so far and liked it. Can anyone suggest any others on the swing down south? I keep hearing James Madison – maybe we’ll add that. He has a learning disability with IEP so American is appealing for that reason, but I think he might not get in. I think he needs a smaller school (for same reasons other people have posted). Too big, and he’ll get lost in the sauce. I may scratch off UGA and Clemson all together…</p>
<p>^ Classof2015 We were going to look at Dickinson, Franklin and Marshall, and Lafayette (a big reach for DS) on our trip South because they were small and have low student to teacher ratios.
Any thoughts on going when classes are not in session? My coworkers told me it’s not a good idea but summer is the free time we have to travel.</p>