<p>fc, understood …and I know that you know. Just wasn’t sure the OP did. 
</p>
<p>I’m wondering if the more generous need-based schools might not be an equally valid search parameter for this student? Maybe a generous (primarily or only) need-based FA DIII LAC/small uni that wants a male swimmer? It would be great if we could open up the geography a little more.</p>
<p>Just thinking out-loud …(as dangerous as that is) but if I didn’t have to worry about geography…and the FA profile looked good…and I get could some decent GC notes about those Math scores, I’d be thinking about the NESCAC and Patriot League schools myself (depending, of course, on the all important “times”) ;). And if exceptional “times”, maybe even a bit higher on the totem.</p>
<p>Here’s what the parent of a Vandy alum (class of 2009) thinks. While I don’t believe I’d call Vandy a match for this student (or at least not a comfortable one), only because of the one-year GPA drop, I do think he’d have a decent chance at admission because of his strong ECs, GPA otherwise, and ACT score.</p>
<p>AND - since Vanderbilt is a need-blind school that promises to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for US students, and since it no longer includes loans in its FA packages, this student should certainly apply. I don’t know much about the obstacles to ED applications for folks who are dependent on good FA packages, and I don’t know whether this student loves Vandy enough for it to be his ED school, but I do think it’s the kind of school where a lower-income family can feel about as comfortable as possible about an ED shot.</p>
<p>Since this student is a TN resident, what does his GC think about his chances at Vandy? Is the high school considered strong? How do students with his stats typically fare there?</p>
<p>Here’s a link to Vanderbilt’s financial aid brochure: <a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/2010-Financial-Aid-Brochure.pdf[/url]”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/2010-Financial-Aid-Brochure.pdf</a> Vandy announced that it was eliminating loans from its finaid packages almost immediately before the economy tanked; to its credit, it has continued to uphold its word. And its merit aid is quite generous, but has become very difficult to get.</p>
<p><a href=“search%20if%20you’re%20curious”>quote=OP</a>
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Well, I did look at the back posts. IMO, there is a whole lot to be sorted out before a realistic list can be formed. </p>
<p>Which sport? Triathalon? Swimming? Cycling? Could help in admissions. </p>
<p>It’s a 32 with writing but the 34 sitting was without. Some schools require Writing. </p>
<p>Estranged (but child support paying and “findable”) NCP income could complicate things at some schools.</p>
<p>Total family income (at least $55k without NCP) and the 401(k) of retired spouse could be an issue at some schools. Is he/she drawing down (or planning to draw down or has to draw down) the 401(k)?</p>
<p>Still interested in ROTC or an academy?</p>
<p>Folks. This kid’s junior year has hurt him and especially for big merit aid and for ED or other early applications at the most generous schools. A number of big merit schools have scholarship applications due well before his mid-year grades are in and the last year they have to look at is …you guessed it…his junior year. It will impact him and IMO , it has to be considered in selecting the list. (The idea that he will have a 3.8 at graduation is just not relevant to admissions.) </p>
<p>(Edit: I get the feeling from the back posts that this family needs a great deal of financial aid. There is a lot of work to be done to find that admissions and financial safety that he would be happy to attend. Not just tolerate in an emergency, but be happy to attend. Do this first. Expend all your energy there before you move on. Reaches, whether financial or academic or both, are easy to love. I see that you feel you’re covered on safeties. If so and he’s happy to attend, good for y’all.)</p>
<p>curmudgeon - I hear ya. A good admissions officer will easily see the math grade is a total anomaly and throw it aside, with everything else being so strong and the EC’s being so good. But are they all that careful? Unfortunately no, they are often overwhelmed.</p>
<p>So maybe he needs to break through the clutter. I can only speak for Tulane, but I will assume it is similar at other schools. Each region is assigned a counselor. That counselor is completely available to help applying students. I think if I were the OP I might consider finding out if that counselor is going to be in his area (assuming he isn’t already in the area in the case of Vandy) and ask to talk to him privately. Then I would say something like “I don’t want to come across as making excuses, but as far as these math grades you can see they don’t make sense given the rest of my record. Here is what happened…” and keep the explanation to 2-3 sentences, including the grade distribution for the class. Then just let the person ask questions and keep the answers on point without bitterness. If Vandy is that important to him, I think it is worth a shot.</p>