<p>I've heard the (really helpful!) advice that colleges w/a rolling admissions policy are more generous, admission-wise, to prospective students who apply earlier, rather than later, in the process.</p>
<p>In son's case, he could certainly use that edge. But, just wondering...his gpa is in a sharp upswing (almost all As in junior year) and he's planning for mainly (hopefully all) As senior year as well. However, his overall (unweighted) gpa is still not high, because of a bad 10th grade (non-working) year (3.1).</p>
<p>In light of this, would it be better (at a rolling school) to apply as early as possible (the first plan we'd formulated) or wait until his first marking period grades from senior year come out? Son is thinking he might be denied based on gpa (although ACT/SAT scores are pretty good (34/2110)) if he doesn't wait until he 'proves himself' further w/1st period senior grades.</p>
<p>Really appreciate any thoughts. I've asked some college admissions people on our tours and they were non-committal.</p>
<p>I can only give you our experience, with a similar situation (one kid got bad sophomore grades, then Jr and Sr yr got nearly all As). He applied early in the cycle to schools with rolling admissions, and planned on updating his grades to the schools that had not yet issued decisions by the time his first semester grades were issued. </p>
<p>Most of the books state that the earlier you apply, the better the chances. As spots fill, the remaining spots will be more competitive. The schools will also have a better idea of their candidate pool further into the process. </p>
<p>Applying early apparently helped with this kid - he got in everywhere, including Penn State, although kids with much higher stats were declined admission later in the year according to the Penn State Discussion Board. He did submit a supplemental statement explaining his poor sophomore grades and pointing to the upward trend, expecting that some admissions offices might ask for his Senior grades before making a decision (which did not happen).</p>
<p>Good luck - I think the poor sophomore year is not uncommon...</p>
<p>Wow, thanks Neonzeus, that's really helpful. Plus, son is also thinking of applying to Penn State also (although we are out of state). </p>
<p>If I could ask a follow-up--wondered how soon your son applied in the rolling admission cycles? I'm hoping son will apply almost as soon as the apps are released (needs every advantage!) but a number of schools I looked at don't have their applications (& essay topics) online yet.</p>
<p>My very average S2 applied to his first choice rolling admit state sch. in Sept. It's a "directional" state sch. but evenso with his rocky grades from jr. yr. combined with an unimpressive SAT, it was not a sure thing. We hoped the old "early bird gets the worm" adage would apply. He got his acceptance letter in early November and we were done.</p>
<p>Thanks, Packmom!! Really appreciate hearing this. It validates the 'earlier is better' idea. I had no iconcept of how to play it; although, I was leaning toward earlier ,son was inclining toward later.</p>
<p>S1 desperately wanted to go to Penn State (OOS) but had less than stellar sophomore grades, great SATs. He applied by October and indicated he would go only U Park campus but would go in the summer. They accepted him for summer admission. He took a couple of classes and had a head start on the fall. It worked out great.</p>
<p>Singersmom07--that's so interesting. Son likes Penn State (& it has good program in his major) but every time I mention that to someone, they say, "no one gets on the Main Campus until after their 2nd year."</p>
<p>That 'will go in the summer' concept is fascinating--never heard it; sounds like a really good admission tip; wonder if it works for other schools too...!!</p>
<p>Btw, if I could ask--did your son have lots of great extra-curriculars? Son has a few things he likes, but never did the whole school club thing much at all. Hoping that won't be too much of a deterrant to admission...</p>
<p>jolynne - we're in state for PSU and my son attends - we also have learned from friends and family who have applied in the last couple of years.
PSU Main looks for at least a 3.5 - they may allow it to go a bit lower with top standardized test scores. From what we have seen, it is best to apply as early as possible. That said, in general, only the kids who exceed the the min GPA and test requirements hear early in the process. We had family members with good (but not stellar) profiles apply in September and not hear until late January!
Some of this depends on what school you're applying to. Business, Engineering and Sciences can be tough. If you're on the borderline, it may pay to apply to DUS and then try to transfer into your major of choice. DUS is the easiest program to get into.
Also, agreeing to do summer session helps A LOT.
You might want to consider applying as early as possible to DUS, and agreeing to do summer session. If you don't hear by December, you can send in an updated GPA.
In my experience, the folks at PSU are pretty friendly. It might help to give an admissions rep a call and talk through your concerns.
Good luck. My son loves PSU!</p>
<p>Jolynne--When does the first marking period end? How soon thereafter are grades posted? Those dates can be all over the map, depending on the school calendar, whether the school is on a quarter, trimester, semester system, etc. If the date at your son's school would put his Rolling Admission applications on the late side, you may be able to "split the difference." That is, if your son continues to do well as a senior, the school counselor can get mid-term grade reports from his teachers and mention this in the reference. Even if these aren't official grades it will certainly help your son if adcoms see that he got off to a running start in the fall. Good luck!</p>
<p>I think it really helped for my son, OOS at Michigan, which has a sort of modified rolling. Applying by the first deadline, he got his acceptance just before Christmas. Friends with better SATs and grades who applied later were either waitlisted or rejected.</p>
<p>Either way, it makes their senior year a whole lot more relaxed and pleasant knowing that they're in someplace while everyone else is sweating it out til April.</p>
<p>Many schools with rolling admissions have a set application date for students interested in receiving merit scholarships--with your son's test scores, he should be eligible for some of these--and at many of the state schools, these are heavily based on test scores, more so than GPA or class standing, so I would think that it would be a good idea to get that application in.</p>
<p>I've seen Wisconsin defer pending the next set of grades. If S's schools also do that, then if S is at all in the ball park he really doesn't have anything to lose, and a lot to gain, by applying early.</p>
<p>Jolynne - students certainly do get PSU - Main campus as freshmen. From what I have seen they do have very good grades/SAT's and have applied early.
PSU does run a nice summer school where some kids go up and take a class or two. The kids I know who have done say it really helps them to get to know the campus.</p>
<p>There is another issue to consider -- most schools that have rolling admissions rely only on grades through junior year to make the admission decision (both Penn State and Mich mentioned above do that). In other words, waiting for some better grades to crop up senior year is not going to make a difference.</p>
<p>My son applied 3 years ago to 4 rolling admission schools, 2 of which were typical rolling and the other two were modified rolling admisssions. He had the SAT scores sent to all of these schools before he applied (he requested that they be sent probably in July). He applied as soon as his hs would allow, and the teacher recs were completed. I think that was about Oct. 1. He had an acceptance to one school in hand about 10 days later! This really helped him to relax.</p>
<p>Editing this, about Penn State, my son did not apply, but many from our hs do apply. We are OOS, and hardly anyone from our hs is admitted to the main campus. Our hs is very competitive with grade deflation, IMO.</p>
<p>Jolynne, S1 had a sport and a lot of music applied for business but changed later. Music was passion but he did not play outside of school bands. He continued some at PSU, Blue Band, some classes, etc. He was also OOS with no financial need and double legacy. It was about 8 years ago and his GPA was only around 3.0 but his SATs were over 1400. We understood from admission that agreeing to go in the summer instead of fall was the final criteria that got him in and on main campus. Without that he would not have made it.</p>
<p>I think that it would be worth mentioning your concerns with the guidance counselor also, so that in the letter of rec. they could specifically mention the fact that the grades have risen quite a bit, and that they are expected to remain at that high level throughtout the senior year.</p>
<p>Thanks so very much for all that helpful info! Have read every word of it to son (he just woke up!) and he's been very interested to hear. Appreciate it! When son does the early process, will definitely ask GC to forward the earliest recorded grades, as well.</p>
<p>Son asked, mhc48, whether your son was at Mich State or Univ of Mich? He's expressed an interest in those schools, too (his grandpa went to college there!). We're going on family vacay there in a few weeks.</p>