Not sure the exact grades needed for these schools, but pretty well know colleges that might have easier admissions:
Arizona State University
Chapman University
University of San Diego
Loyola Marymount Univ
Pepperdine
Cal Lutheran
Eckerd
Other So Cal colleges that I don’t know much about, except for name only:
U of Redlands
U of La Verne
Whittier
Queens University of Charlotte
My DD had a 1240 CR/Math and she was top 5% of her class. She was told that Chapman, Peoperdine, and U of San Diego were matches. So I think they would be a little harder for this student to gain acceptance to.
But like I said…a strong and compelling letter from the school counselor, and some of those test optional schools…might be just the right thing.
What about Rollins? ETA…Rollins is also test optional.
@emilybee - It’s hard to opine, obviously, without knowing more details and the high school currently attended and its academic rigor. My suggestions were based on watching many classes of my own kids’ school matriculate and knowing where some kids in the lower half have matriculated and been successful. They would most definitely be on the more reachy range of her list but not impossible.
You might want to also consider Austin College in Sherman, TX as well as other “Colleges That Change Lives”. They are more holistic in their application process and provide a very supportive environment.
We only visited Austin College, but the administration and faculty are truly vested in the students and want them to grow and succeed. We have several friends at Austin College who love it!
There are some great suggestions here. A few thoughts, while her boarding school is highly regarded, this young lady is now an average student at best. Her grades are Bs and Cs and her SAT’s fall in the 40th - 50th percentiles.
Her personal circumstances are beyond the reach of her guidance counselor which is how I came to be involved in the first place.
She’s a lovely, well spoken girl who needs an environment she can be successful in.
You guys have been great! Thanks!
Sorry, I’m really not trying to be obtuse… 
Does her GC know her personal circumstances?
@Youdon’tsay
Not nearly in enough depth to be of help. I wish the school knew everything but, it’s not my call.
Gotcha.
Well, my understanding of one advantage of a pricey boarding school is the wonderful college advising. I would advise her to let the GC know, if only via the brag sheet she’ll most likely have to do for the GC. If there are real extenuating circumstances that could help explain the lackluster SAT scores, etc., it would help for the GC to know and let the colleges know. She’s paid to be an advocate. I’m assuming, of course, that we’re not talking something truly horrific such as sexual abuse at the hands of her father or something.
@PokeyJoe, besides warmer weather, does she have any other preferences? For example, does she prefer a women’s college, would she like to join a sorority, is she really into going to sporting events, does she prefer a large city over a small town, is a “party” scene important or is she okay with a “dry” campus, etc.
Mills College in CA might be another option if she wants an all womens college.
I think this girl is very lucky to have you as her mentor and advocate.
The University of Redlands, Redlands, California. Great climate. She might want to look into the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, Redlands’ “school within a school.”
@Youdon’tsay Her circumstances do not involve sexual abuse. She has told everything to one professional, not on her school campus, and me.
@doresearch She might be interested in pledging. Definitely co-ed. She would love a party school but, that has lots of bad potential. If she applies to a known party school, that suggestion won’t come from me.
Just want to reiterate that a B student at Exeter or Andover will be looked at very differently from a B student at your average public school. That said, I too, think the test optional schools look like a good direction. Vegan does not immediately make me think of schools in the SE, but people from that part of the country can probably give better advice in that regard. I think the CA suggestions are good, and American is a definite possibility though when I lived in DC we used to joke that it had northern charm and southern efficiency. They definitely have winters there, though not like Boston this year!
Check out Washington College in Chesterstown, MD
Another school to take a look at is UNC Asheville. Small, public liberal arts school with a communications major. Great college town with a feel very different from many southern schools.
@PokeyJoe, based on the additional information you provided, you might see if she would consider Baylor. She is just under their current Mid SAT range. Baylor is a dry campus, but there are “parties” off campus for those who want to seek them out; it has active Greek life, great D1 sports, but is still small enough that you don’t get lost in the crowd. It is on the conservative side, but I know liberal students who feel very comfortable there.
Another Texas suggestion is St Edwards in Austin. It is a small LAC in the heart of diverse Austin, TX. St Ed’s gives students personal attention and is committed to their success. Their mid SAT CR M is 1128. It does not have Greek life, but I have heard of students joining UT Frats or Sororities.
Since money is not an issue, she has lots of options. It is just a matter of finding the best fit for her.
Best of luck and please keep us posted.
I’ll go back to my suggestion of Furman. Lovely campus in SC. Lots of school spirit, and greek life is where its at. But the school is good.
If you are looking at UNC schools, also look at UNC Wilmington.
Maybe St Leo’s in Florida? I think Sewanee is not realistic though. My co-worker’s son went to St Leos, he was a late bloomer with a gap year, and is now in Med school
Agree with Rollins and American- depending on what she means by warm weather.
The GC may not be very helpful but don’t discount 100% what you are hearing- if the prep school typically has kids “punch above their weight” admissions wise because adcom’s know how competitive the grading is and how rigorous the course load is, some of the suggestions may not be outlandish even though they may seem out of reach based on published stats.
But of course the main thing isn’t getting admitted- it’s getting a good college education by finding a school which is a match academically.
Can you find out what she thinks “Communications” means? If she wants a pre-professional degree in PR that’s very different from an academic degree in Rhetoric/Writing, which is different from a more technical degree in journalism or digital media. Folks here can be helpful with more targeted suggestions if you tell us what she thinks she means when she says “Communications”.
Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL? Her scores are well within their range and it’s a dry campus, medium-sized, in historic, sunny St. Augustine.