<p>My daughter is putting together a list. So far, she has many reach schools, but not enough safety schools.</p>
<p>She has a 3.56 gpa
1810 SAT score (she is taking it again in October)
Undecided major</p>
<p>We live in Pennsylvania. She would love to go to Penn State Main, but she knows it is a reach. A few other reach schools she has liked after visiting is JMU (her sister goes there), Pitt, VTech, and UNC-Wilmington. She would like to stay within a 7 hour car drive from home and she likes large state universities although she is open to other options</p>
<p>We visited a few state schools where she could get in - West Chester and Millersville, but she did not like them at all.</p>
<p>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>What is your college budget like? Can you pay the full Cost of Attendance (COA) at a $55k/year school, or is your limit lower than that? Is she looking for some places where she would get a bit of merit-based aid?</p>
<p>Our maximum budget is $30,000/year. We definitely can not afford $55K, especially with two kids in college. If she can get merit aid, that would be great. However, I assumed that with her average stats, she would not be able to get enough money from private schools to get her close to our budget.</p>
<p>Thanks…any feedback would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>*She has a 3.56 gpa
1810 SAT score (she is taking it again in October)
Undecided major</p>
<p>We live in Pennsylvania. She would love to go to Penn State Main, but she knows it is a reach. A few other reach schools she has liked after visiting is JMU (her sister goes there), Pitt, VTech, and UNC-Wilmington. She would like to stay within a 7 hour car drive from home and she likes large state universities although she is open to other options</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Tell her to take the ACT as well. She may do better with that. There’s one in Sept.</p>
<p>What is her M+CR SAT?</p>
<p>You say that she’s undecided as a major, but being undecided will keep her from being considered for any dept scholarships that she might be eligible for. Could she possibly narrow some interests? Business? Education? English? Nursing? </p>
<p>Does she like big state schools because she likes big Div 1 sports like football?</p>
<p>Does she want to join a sorority?</p>
<p>Your $30k budget is generous considering you have 2 in college. You’re right that her stats probably won’t get her much merit at big state schools, but she may get enough to get costs down to $30k.</p>
<p>Blue Hen - I am a little more hopeful about your D’s chances than you are. I think she will get it to PSU Main and Pitt as well. Is the GPA you listed weighted or unweighted? Is she in public school and if so does she take honors classes? Make sure she applies early to Pitt and Penn State, even before her Oct SAT scores are in. For Penn State, check the box to be considered for summer admission. </p>
<p>Penn State uses a weighted GPA and the best single sitting of SAT, all three scores. Pitt superscores SAT/ACT from different test dates and also mixes and matches between SAT/ACT. For Pitt, make sure she submits an activity resume, personal essay, and teacher recs in addition to the required items. Pitt will also look at her senior year course rigor, and may defer a decision until first marking period grades are in, so make sure she doesn’t slack off!</p>
<p>I would think of Temple or Drexel as safeties. I also think JMU is probably is very likely to admit.</p>
<p>Of course she should apply to U Del also- go Blue Hens!</p>
<p>Link to Penn State common data set for you, Blue Hen: [C</a>. Freshman Admission](<a href=“Error Page”>Error Page)</p>
<p>mid 50% SAT
SAT Critical Reading 530 - 630<br>
SAT Math 560 - 670<br>
SAT Writing 530 - 640 </p>
<p>GPA
Percent who had GPA of 3.75 and higher 27.30%<br>
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 29.86%<br>
Percent who had GPA of 3.25 and 3.49 26.36%<br>
Percent who had GPA between 3.0 and 3.24 10.19%<br>
Percent who had GPA of 2.50 and 2.99 5.17%<br>
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 1.03%<br>
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99 0.10%<br>
Percent who had GPA below 1.0 0.00%</p>
<p>mid50% SAT/ACT
SAT Critical Reading 570- 680
C9 SAT Math 600 - 690
SAT Writing 560 - 660
SAT Essay 8 - 9
C9 ACT Composite 25- 30
C9 ACT Math 25- 31
C9 ACT English 25- 32
C9 ACT Writing 8 - 9</p>
<p>GPA</p>
<p>Percent who had GPA of 3.75 and higher 67%
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 16%
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 10%
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24 4%
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 2%
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 1%
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99 0%
Percent who had GPA below 1.0 0%</p>
<p>mid 50% SAT/ACT
SAT Critical Reading 540-640
SAT Math 550-660
SAT Writing 540-650</p>
<p>ACT Composite 24-29
ACT Math 24-29
ACT English 24-30
ACT Writing 23-29</p>
<p>GPA</p>
<p>Percent who had GPA of 3.75 and higher 40%
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 23%
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 19%
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24 11%
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 7%
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 0%</p>
<p>So- To me it looks like your D is a “match” for PSU main and U Del. Pitt may be more of a “high match” due to GPA- but if she has good rigor of courses, that should be good too. Also, are you using her weighted or unweighted GPA?</p>
<p>Agree with pamom59. Pitt and PSU are both very good schools too. Ohio U is nice also and has a college town. Suny University Buffalo is also a good school at a good price. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I agree that she will get into Penn State Main and Pitt. She could take a look at York also. The SUNY schools are reasonably priced for OOS and easier to get in from OOS too - so she could look at those.</p>
<p>i think that most of the schools you mentioned are matches for your daughter. For safety schools i would suggest you take a look at Temple, Drexel, Hofstra, St. Joe’s, URI, george mason, catholic u, towson, suny’s, cuny’s, and there are plenty more.</p>
You’re right that her stats probably won’t get her much merit at big state schools, but she may get enough to get costs down to $30k.</p>