Parents of the HS Class of 2017 - 3.0 to 3.4 GPA

Parent Cafe
2501

**OUTCOMES S-UR
**SAMFORD COLLEGE ** AR 93% GPA 3.64, ACT 23-29

Accepted
**lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
COA: ? $44,896| Merit: $9,500

**SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CARBONDALE ** AR 81% GPA 3.09, ACT 19-25

  • Accepted*
    **brindlegreyhound’s D ** EA | GPA 3.1 UW, 3.6 WT, ACT: 29
    Other factors: 7 AP’s
    COA: $25,953 In State

**SOUTHERN ILLINOIS EDWARDSVILLE ** AR 88% GPA 3.37, ACT 23 AVERAGE

  • Accepted*
    **brindlegreyhound’s D ** EA | GPA 3.1 UW, 3.6 WT, ACT: 29
    Other factors: 7 AP’s
    COA: $25,107 In state | NPC merit $ unknown | Actual merit $4,000

**ST. EDWARD’S UNIVERSITY ** [AUSTIN TX] AR 77% AV GPA N/A M 510-600 CR 530-620 ACT 23-27

  • Accepted*
    kt1969’s D EA: Computer Science | GPA 3.25 UW new SAT 1230 superscore
    Other factors: no hooks, 1 AP and lots of accelerated/honors, minor ECs, pt job
    COA: $56,860 | NPC merit $20,000 + 0 need-based = $20,000 | actual merit $18,000 + unknown FA = $20,000

**ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE ** [COLCHESTER VT] AR 76% AV GPA 3.51 M 530-630 CR 540-630 ACT 24-28

  • Accepted*
    kt1969’s D EA: Computer Science | GPA 3.25 UW new SAT 1230 superscore
    Other factors: no hooks, 1 AP and lots of accelerated/honors, minor ECs
    COA: $55,455 | NPC merit $24,300 + 0 need-based = $24,300 | actual merit $17,000 + unknown FA = $17,000

**SUNY - ALBANY ** AR 56% GPA 3.2, ACT 22-276

  • Accepted*
    **MSU88CHEng’sS **
    COA: $24,731 (in state)| Merit: $4,300

SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY AR 76% AVG GPA 3.46, M 510-610, CR 500-610, ACT 23-287

  • Accepted*
    klinska’s D: : EA Political Science/College of Arts & Sciences | GPA 3.66 W, SAT/ACT: 1270 new SAT single test
    Other factors: 6AP’s, 10 honors, limited ECs
    COA: $57.6K | NPC merit $26) + need-based $0 = $26K| Actual merit: $28K

**TRUMAN STATE /B: AR 79%, AVG GPA 3.76, SAT 619 AVG, ACT 25-30 (27 AVG)

  • Accepted*
    **stlarenas D17/b Major: Undecided | GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
    Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
    COA: $17500 (in-state) | Actual Merit: various ($8k/yr) :

** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ** AR 54% GPA 3.66, ACT 22-31

  • Accepted*
    **lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
    Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
    COA: $41,816 OOS | Merit: $0

** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO - BOULDER ** AR 80% GPA 3.62, ACT 24-30

  • Accepted*
    **lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
    Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
    COA: $52,763 OOS | Merit: $0

** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ** AR 89% GPA 3.68, ACT 22-28

  • Accepted*
    **lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
    Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
    COA: $39,646 OOS| Merit: $0

**UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON ** AR 83% AVG GPA 3.56, M 490-590, CR 510-620, ACT 22-27

  • Accepted*
    Taco-son EA | 3.6W GPA (school only weights IB and AP, not honors; UW is probably 3.4?) 33C ACT (31 E, 33 M, 33 S, 33 R, 27 W)
    Other factors: almost all AP and IB classes since 11th grade; some honors before that, ECs almost all music.
    COA: 26,780 IN-STATE | $3K MERIT, DECENT FA

** UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI (OLE MISS) ** AR 79% GPA 3.54, M, 500-600, CR 490-600ACT 21-28

Accepted
**lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
COA: $32,321 OOS| Merit: $0

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AR 79% AVG GPA 3.39, M 500-610, CR 500-600, ACT 22-27

  • Accepted*
    klinska’s D: : EA Political Science/College of Arts & Sciences | GPA 3.66 W, SAT/ACT: 1270 new SAT single test
    Other factors: 6AP’s, 10 honors, limited ECs
    COA: $47.8K OOS |NPC merit ($6K) + need based ($0) = $6K | Actual merit: $6K

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON AR: 74% AVERAGE GPA 3.61 SAT MATH: 554 AVERAGE SAT CR: 558 average SAT Writing: 546 average ACT 25 average

  • Accepted*
    **curiocitycat333’s S /b Major: CS | GPA 3.24 (W) 3.5 (UC GPA), new SAT 1520,
    Other: 4APs, Concert Band (4 yrs), Marching Band (4 yrs), Color Guard, Robotics Club (4 yrs), CIT (2 summers)
    COA: $49,123 OOS | NPC Merit ? | Actual Merit $?
    CATransplant’s D: applied RD (but submitted 11/6) Major: Psychology
    Other factors: moderate ECs (soccer 2 years, track 2 years, volunteer at soccer camp for underprivileged kids 150 hours, proficient in Circus Arts - trapeze, silks - and some volunteering at camp for kids in that area)
    COA: $49,123 OOS | potential OOS merit $3k - 4k | Actual Merit $9k

**UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND ** AR 62% GPA 3.65, M 550-640, CR 540-660ACT NOT REPORTED

  • Deferred to RD*
    **brindlegreyhound’s D ** EA | GPA 3.1 UW, 3.6 WT, ACT: 29
    Other factors: 7 AP’s
    COA: $56,890 | NPC merit $ unknown | Actual merit and need based $

**UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ** AR 54% AVG GPA 4.00, M 600-690, CR 580-660, ACT 26-31

  • Accepted*
    Taco-son - Honors College 3.6W GPA (school only weights IB and AP, not honors; UW is probably 3.4?) 33C ACT (31 E, 33 M, 33 S, 33 R, 27 W)
    Other factors: School is IB and he has been in almost all AP (just Calc A/B and USGov’t offered) and IB classes since 11th grade; some honors before that, ECs almost all music.
    COA: $45,100OOS| No merit or aid notification yet - unknown
  • Deferred to 1st semester grade update*
    Queen’s Mom’s D: EA | GPA 3.3 UW, SAT/ACT: 1200 new SAT superscore
    Other factors: 4AP’s, lots of honors, URM, founded and president of school club
    COA: $45,100OOS| NPC Unknown:

**UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS ** AR 68% AV GPA 3.62 M 510-610 CR 510-610 ACT 22-28

  • Accepted*
    kt1969’s D EA: Computer Science | GPA 3.25 UW new SAT 1230 superscore
    Other factors: no hooks, 1 AP and lots of accelerated/honors, minor ECs, pt job
    COA: $64,993| NPC merit $20,000 + 0 need-based= $20,000 | Actual merit $26,000 + $5,000 FA = $31,000
    CATransplant’s D: Major: Psychology
    Other factors: moderate ECs (soccer 2 years, track 2 years, volunteer at soccer camp for underprivileged kids 150 hours, proficient in Circus Arts - trapeze, silks - and some volunteering at camp for kids in that area)
    COA: $64,993| NPC merit $26,000 + 0 need-based= $20,000 | Actual merit $26,000
2502

**OUTCOMES US-Z
**UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ** AR 65% GPA 4.04 W, M 560-660, CR 550-640 ACT 25-29

  • EA Deferred to RD*
    **MomStudent2017’s S ** into Business | GPA below average, M within 50%, CR within 50%, ACT within 50%
    Other: 4APs, 2 honors, several school ECs & awards, volunteer service @ 100+ hours
    COA: $46,061OOS | Merit: unknown
    **lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
    Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
    COA: $46,061OOS | Merit: unknown

**UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT ** (AR 71% AVG GPA 3.53 M 560-650 CR 590-690, ACT 26-30
Accepted
**klinska’s D: ** EA Political Science/College of Arts & Sciences | GPA 3.66 W, SAT/ACT: 1270 new SAT single test. Other factors: 6AP’s, 10 honors, limited ECs
COA: $56,896 OOS| NPC merit ($15K) + need-based ($0) = $15K| Actual merit: ??
eandesmom’s S: EA Environmental Science (Rubenstein) | GPA 3.35 UW, ACT: 25C superscored, 26 W
Other factors: 6AP’s, 3 honors, founded school club, member of another, student council, strong music and theater EC’s, Presidents Silver Award community service 10/11th grade, 2 jobs, involved in local politics
COA: $56,896 OOS| NPC merit $12-15K + $0 need-based =$12-15K| Actual merit 15K + need based (?) = $15K:
kt1969’s D EA: Computer Science | GPA 3.25 UW new SAT 1230 superscore
Other factors: no hooks, 1 AP and lots of accelerated/honors, minor ECs
COA: $56,896 OOS | NPC merit ? +? need-based = $6,300 | actual merit $8,000 + unknown FA = $8,000 cameo43’s D
Coyote-son RD (but submitted 11/1) History/Computer Sci.
GPA 3.8 UW, ACT: 31; SAT: 1360
Other factors: moderate ECs (Robotics, some community service, internship)
COA: $56,896 OOS | Actual merit $18,000
**Snoozn’s D ** EA Electrical Engineering | GPA 3.9 UW, 4.4 WT, ACT: 30 (E: 27 M: 33 R: 32 S: 27)
Other factors: 3 AP’s, honors (AP/honors only in STEM and English), 4-year high school engineering program, weak EC’s
COA: $56,896 OOS | Actual merit $15,000

**URSINUS COLLEGE ** (AR 83% AVG GPA 3.19, M 520-630, CR 520-620, ACT 23-30

  • Accepted*
    eandesmom’s S: EA Environmental Studies| GPA 3.35 UW, ACT: 25C superscored, 26 W
    Other factors: 6AP’s, 3 honors, founded school club, member of another, student council, strong music and theater EC’s, Presidents Silver Award community service 10/11th grade, 2 jobs, involved in local politics
    COA: $65,012| NPC merit + need-based =$30,610-$33,610 (varying results)| Actual merit 24K + need based (?) = $24K:

*VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY ** AR 82% AVG GPA 3.67, ACT 23-29 [
I] Accepted
smakl70 son EA Computer Science | GPA: 4.75/5, ACT: 25
Other factors: 1AP, lots of honors, 2 sport varsity athlete (not recruited), robotics
COA: $48,370 | NPC Merit ? | Actual merit $20,000

** WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY ** AR 43% GPA 3.75, ACT 20-24

  • Accepted*
    **lakeviking’s S ** GPA 3.2 UW, 25 ACT
    Other factors: 4 APs, and very good ECs.
    COA: $30,199 OOS| Merit: $5,000

**WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ** AR 85% AVG GPA 3.43, M 500-600, CR 500-510, ACT 22-27

  • Accepted*
    eandesmom’s S: EA Environmental Studies | GPA 3.35 UW, ACT: 25C superscored, 26W
    Other factors: 6AP’s, honors, founded school club, member of another, student council, strong music and theater EC’s, Presidents Silver Award community service 10/11th grade, 2 jobs , involved in local politics
    COA: $22,236 IN STATE | NPC merit + need-based = 0 | Actual merit $1K:
    **Snoozn’s D ** EA Electrical Engineering | GPA 3.9 UW, 4.4 WT, ACT: 30 (E: 27 M: 33 R: 32 S: 27)
    Other factors: 3 AP’s, honors (AP/honors only in STEM and English), 4-year high school engineering program, weak EC’s
    COA: $34,664 OOS | NPC merit $8,000 merit + need-based $0 = $8,000 | Actual merit $11,000 + need-based $0 = $11,000
    **brindlegreyhound’s D ** EA | GPA 3.1 UW, 3.6 WT, ACT: 29
    Other factors: 7 AP’s
    COA: $34,664 OOS | NPC merit $ unknown | Actual merit and need based $0

**WESTMINSTER COLLEGE ** AR 64%, AVG GPA 3.38, SAT 560 AVG, ACT 21-26 (23 AVG)

  • Accepted*
    **stlarenas D17 /b Major: Undecided | GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
    Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
    COA: $36500 (private) | Actual Merit: Churchill ($15k/yr) + school grant ($6k/yr) :

**WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ** AR 86%, AVG GPA 3.42, M 470-580, CR 460-560, ACT 21-27

  • Accepted*
    MomStudent2017’s S Rolling into College of Business & Economics | GPA below average, M above 50%, CR within 50%, ACT within 50%
    Other: 4APs, 2 honors, several school ECs & awards, volunteer service @ 100+ hours
    COA: $36,226 (out-of-state) | Actual Merit: $6K/yr

**WHITTIER COLLEGE ** AR 63% AVG GPA 3.51, M 470-590, CR 460-560, ACT 20-26

  • Accepted*
    Queen’s Mom’s D: EA | GPA 3.3 UW, SAT/ACT: 1200 new SAT superscore
    Other factors: 4AP’s, lots of honors, URM, founded and president of school club
    COA: $59,825| Actual merit 24K:

** WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE ** AR 49% AVG GPA 3.8, M 640-740, CR 570-680, ACT 27-32

  • EA Deferred to RD *
    **Snoozn’s D ** EA Electrical Engineering | GPA 3.9 UW, 4.4 WT, ACT: 30 (E: 27 M: 33 R: 32 S: 27)
    Other factors: 3 AP’s, honors (AP/honors only in STEM and English), 4-year high school engineering program, weak EC’s
    *Accepted *
    cameo43’s D ED
2503

WHEW!!!

PM me with anything I missed that you’d llike to see in next week’s update. I am truly sorry if I missed any other updates inside posts. Tried to catch them all. 5 “pages” now!

I did remove cities from most (probably missed a few) for character limit reasons. Any I didn’t miss will likely get pulled on future updates for space reasons. I figure folks can look them up on their own lol.

Also feel free to PM me with merit or FA updates :slight_smile:

2504

Wow – Congrats to @stlarenas D on Rhodes acceptance, but condolences on the deferral from BC and the rejection from Colorado C.
I really appreciated that you shared this from your D:

  I'm sure all our kids feel this way -- it seems so much pressure to make the right choice for the best 4 years of their lives -- I wound up homeschooling my son from elementary through  middle school -- it was a surprise decision, not planned -- and it seemed an overwhelming commitment to me--so our mantra was to take it just one school year at a time.  I think I will remind CoyoteSon about the "one-year at a time" philosophy, just to try to take the edge off the overwhelming nature of the decision, along with dispensing with "dream school" idea - there are many good options for him -- he will do well at any of the schools he chooses from his list!

And thanks for the clarifications about Beloit’s liberal reputation – ha ha – well, I’m glad I won’t have to be the one making the choice – I think the “vibe” factor is as valid a way to choose, once the list has been narrowed down for program, size, location!, etc. CoyoteSon enjoyed meeting the AdCom yesterday, and was convinced that the “quirky” factor is real – so we’re off to Wisconsin in February so CoyoteSon can stay overnight and take a class or two and get the vibe for himself!
@eandesmom - thanks for maintaining, formatting, and publishing our list – Congrats to everyone on such a great variety of choices!

And good luck to E-son on his audition - very cool that the school has hooked him up with an alum to help prepare!

2505

It’s actually not an alumn, it’s an “affiliate artist” which sounds like guest faculty or consultant specific to the instrument. He definitely has a school email and is featured on their website, the offer came from his school email. So I’ve no clue really, he is not an alumn, is faculty at another college in the area and I am almost positive my H and I saw him perform once but need to check.

I should head over to the music forum lol, maybe it’s common.

2506

@stlarenas @eandesmom said “I think her reactions are perfectly normal and while I feel your pain, the good news is she literally has months before she has to decide and panic right now, self doubt and all of that is to be expected. Not that it’s fun. And a gap year, especially if you commit and then can defer somewhere so know you have a plan, is not the end of the world at all.”

I totally second that! Everything will work out :slight_smile:

2507

Congrats to your D @stlarenas on the Rhodes accceptance, but boy I feel for you on the sudden indecision! I imagine more of our kids will be having similar reactions (or at least reactions we never would have been able to predict). I’m sure things will start sorting themselves out soon. Your patience is to be commended, though!

My D got an early RD acceptance yesterday, to Allegheny. It came with a nice $26K/yr scholarship, so it’s among the more affordable choices. This is the only small LAC among her schools that’s she’s actually visited–she really liked it when we were there, but that was 9 months ago and she’s pretty much forgotten her thoughts about it. There are three more LACs that we are waiting for decisions on, two of which she’s interviewed at, but she hasn’t seen the schools, one she should interview at but I’m not getting any traction on that with her. With 7 acceptances in now, I fear she’s coasting a bit (can’t say that’s I blame her). We really have 3-4 more months of this??

2508

@klinksa, that’s exciting on Allegheny, it sounds like D has some really great options! I know, I can’t blame the kids for feeling a bit of senioritis, it’s all so overwhelming!! I think 3 months, I guess 4 if you count the time to make the decision, arghhh.

2509

Son scheduled his first admitted student day with an overnight. I think he’s narrowed his choices down to 2 and their COA is actually within a few hundred $ of each other. I think it’s going to be a tough decision but I hope the overnight helps with that. He’s trying to get the trips done before his spring sport starts so hopefully the weather cooperates.

Congrats on all the admits.

@eandesmom great job on keeping track of everyone. I can’t believe we’re up to 5 pages already.

Exciting times ahead!

2510

@klinska congrats to your D on another acceptance! It might be hard to make a choice, lol

2511

@klinska Awesome on Allegheny…congrats!

2512

D’s plan had been to finish up her final apps (two regular and two honors) at the end of winter break (after we got home from vacation), but then she got strep throat and only started the process on Saturday. She’s most worried about the Gonzaga honors app (what she’s working on now), even though she knows she’s pretty unlikely to get into honors (her ACT is at the minimum of those accepted). But she REALLY wants to lower the Gonzaga COA in any way possible.

It’s possible she might decide to drop any of the other three (although I haven’t asked – don’t want to add any pressure). I think she may have decided Clarkson (the other honors app) is an unlikely choice even if they’re generous due to the terrible logistics. She could drop VA Tech because she isn’t super-excited about it (especially being a really big school) and they require quite a few tedious supplemental essays. She might decide not to apply to Smith since it’s realistically a financial no-go even if the gets in.

While D is not among them (for now anyway), I feel for the kids who are starting to panic about making one of the biggest decisions of their lives so far. Hopefully they can remember that students can change majors, change schools, drop out temporarily or permanently to pursue other paths. Many opportunities lie ahead!

@klinska, contrats on the admit to Allegheny, especially as an affordable admit!

@smakl70, it’s really exciting that your S may be so close to a final decision – keep us updated!

2513

I was bummed D dropped a couple of schools she was really excited about - great options for her major too. I think they just get to a point where they are ‘done.’ She actually asked me the other night if she should still apply to one of them that has a 2/1 deadline, I said, sure if you want to, but if you got in, would you go there over X (where you already admitted)? She said no, so I said, don’t bother then.

2514

@stlarenas I understand the frustration for both. There was a local state school that D missed the merit deadline to as well and we need a lot of aid as well SO though she is 2 for 2 so far and getting decent merit, it may still not be feasible. She has also toyed with the idea of taking a gap year though she technically took one for her junior year of high school. She has one small outside scholarship to actually finish and I told her she needs to move on the others if she wants other options but I try not to harp on it too much it. It is such a roller coaster ride.

@CoyoteMom I wish we would find out about her Rotary scholarship (possible $5K a year extra) for Beloit before visiting PResident’s weekend. I hate to get her hopes up if she really likes it and we spend the money going there only to say we can’t afford it. Unfortunately, we probably won’t find out about that one until March they said. She has been in touch with the admission counselor and financial aid office though and the need aid letter is coming next week so fingers crossed. We may see you that weekend!

2515

D has officially dropped the one remaining outstanding application that was pending (St. Lawrence). It wasn’t likely to be affordable, so I’m happy to not be fronting the application fee on that one. So now we are in 100% wait mode for the remaining decisions, expected mid-March through April, for Lawrence, Denison, and UMass.

2516

Just got financial a financial aid award letter (I really don’t want to discuss precise numbers since it’s based on family finances and not grades/scores) and it was surprisingly good. Too bad this is not a school she’s interested in anymore.

2517

Just heard back from St Michael’s in response to my email noting that merit had come in about 8K+ less than their NPC. For anyone interested:

"Dear Ms. E—,

We are glad to hear that xx was happy regarding her admittance to Saint Michael’s College.

Our Merit awards are granted based on a holistic review of a student’s Admission application. Our Admission team carefully reviews all of our applicants to make sure that our Merit awards are distributed as equitably as possible based on the student’s Admission profile. We strive to have our Net Price Calculator resemble as closely as possible what students can expect to receive. Unfortunately because we don’t make our awards on one single item such as SAT scores, differences can occur. Our Admission team reviews very closely all of the applicants so that we are very consistent with our awards and that the Merit award reflects the best we can offer each student. Unfortunately we do not have the flexibility to adjust these awards.
We hope that xxx continues to see the value in Saint Michael’s College ranked 99th by US News as a top Liberal Arts Institution. Please visit us again during one of our Accepted Student Days. You can find one that works for xxx at this link:
https://smcvt.edu/admissions/incoming-students.aspx

We look forward to xx joining the class of 2021."

So, I guess they’re saying that rest of her app sucked so that’s why she got less? Fair enough, I suppose. But it’s still a BIG difference that we weren’t expecting. She got more $$ a bunch of other places, so it likely doesn’t matter since I doubt she will be attending.

2518

@kt1969 That stinks about St. Michael’s. Glad there are other schools that offered more money. I guess it makes the elimination process easier.

2519

@kt1969 Sorry about the crappy response from St. Mike’s. Frankly, I get pissed when schools try to excuse the poor accuracy of their NPCs. They can tweak the algorithms to account for application variability, and we’ve all seen highly accurate, or even conservative NPC estimates that provide real information that families need in order to make decisions about where to apply and ultimately where to attend. To me, it serves no one’s best interests (students, families, schools) to have an inaccurate NPC. Maybe for a really top-notch school, where there are plenty of students ready to take your place if you decide you can’t swing it, they don’t need to care, but for the others? Are they thinking that a student will just fall in love with the school and then families will just do what’s necessary to make it happen for them?

2520

Given our weird financial situation, none if the NPCs really worked for us.