Son's Angst and School Choice

Parents Forum
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<p>newtothewest – You mentioned that your son wants to work for the CATO Institute. A quick look at the speaker profiles of CATO’s senior fellows and other top staff in “Finance, Banking & Monetary Policy” shows that they hold degrees from Fordham, George Mason, Harvard, MIT, Swarthmore, UC Boulder, U.Chicago, UCLA, and U.Va. Some stratospheric names there, but some you might not have expected to see. (source: [The</a> Cato Institute: Speakers Bureau](<a href=“http://www.cato.org/speakers/search.html]The”>http://www.cato.org/speakers/search.html)) </p>

<p>In addition to George Mason and Claremont Mckenna, I’d suggest he look into [Hillsdale</a> College](<a href=“http://www.hillsdale.edu%5DHillsdale”>http://www.hillsdale.edu) in Michigan; I believe they have an internship program that would suit him, and he could make some excellent connections there as well. And his GPA and test scores sound highly competitive for Hillsdale admission and possibly merit aid. He may find other appealing options in the [Intercollegiate</a> Studies Institute](<a href=“http://www.isi.org/homepage.aspx]Intercollegiate”>http://www.isi.org/homepage.aspx)'s book “Choosing the Right College.”</p>

<p>Also, regarding National Merit:
If your son is graduating from high school next year (not graduating early this year), then at this point all you know NM-wise is that his score was among the top 50,000 or so and he is at least National Merit Commended. That does not make him a National Merit Scholar. Here’s how the process really works.</p>

<p>In the spring (April, iirc) of the junior year (well, the year before HS graduation), students whose PSAT scores are above a fairly modest but respectable score (200 in my son’s year, but this may vary) receive a “National Merit” letter inviting them to select two colleges for notification. This would be what your son has received if he is graduating next year.</p>

<p>A cutoff score is then determined for each state. The cutoff score varies from state to state because a certain minimum number of students are to be selected for NMSF status from every state, and of course the populations and score distributions vary from state to state.</p>

<p>If your son’s PSAT score is below the NMSF cutoff determined for his state, then he will receive a National Merit Commended award next fall (September, iirc).</p>

<p>If your son’s PSAT score is above the NMSF cutoff determined for his state, then he will receive a National Merit Semifinalist award next fall (sometime in September iirc) – and the award will include an application to become a National Merit Finalist. The application requires SAT scores, high school transcript, and a brief essay, along with some other application-y information.</p>

<p>If he becomes a Finalist, then he will receive an award next spring (sometime in February iirc) and he’ll be considered for a National Merit scholarship from his first-choice college (if it offers NM scholarships and if he enrolls), a participating corporation (usually awarded to the kiddos of employees), or the National Merit Corporation.</p>

<p>If he receives one of those scholarships, then he will be a National Merit Scholar. So you see, he can’t be called a National Merit Scholar until March or April of next year, at the earliest.</p>

<p>National Merit Commended status is kind of like an “honorable mention” award if the student doesn’t advance.
(source for NM stuff: <a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

<p>Approximately 50,000 students receive the honor your son has received. Approximately 8,200 of those go on to become National Merit Scholars.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much. That is what I am looking for. I got kinda “beaned” for the NMS thing, as I really didn’t understand the process. Other than the fact that whatever he gets, I’m proud of him.</p>

<p>I keep harping back on the 3.7 issue, but with everyone’s input, he seems to be strong candidate otherwise. Any east coasters like Washington and Lee? My son totally loves history. He thinks Jefferson was a demi-god.</p>

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<p>and he probably thinks Jefferson would be a Cato institute type today. </p>

<p>George Mason, I’m telling ya.</p>

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<p>I live close to Washington and Lee. It is intensely National now in footprint due to a massive new bunch of merit money that is competitive to win. Like its peers…top LACs, the classroom experience is superior and the sense of family and support is amazing there. Alum network is quite extensive for a small college.<br>
Wash and Lee is very Greek, partly due to its small town location and lack of anything else going on. (my Dad is a VMI grad) It is a college full of old school tradition but full of dedicated teachers as well.<br>
Sounds to me like your son might like a rigorous personal education. So figure out your FAFSA…because few LACs have merit dollars at all. Davidson also has some merit opportunities that are competitive. Furman has the Townes money now. Wake has a few merit options. Many Northeastern LACs are strictly based on your income with zero athletic or merit dollars…but they can be generous nevertheless.<br>
My second son took a merit offer at Vandy and is very fulfilled…in a better economy he might have gone to one of the wonderful LACs that offered him admission but frankly we simply couldn’t afford our EFC in the year of the recession anymore.</p>

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<p>*I keep harping back on the 3.7 issue, but with everyone’s input, he seems to be strong candidate otherwise. Any east coasters like Washington and Lee? My son totally loves history. He thinks Jefferson was a demi-god. *</p>

<p>OK…is that his weighted GPA? If not what is his weighted GPA?</p>

<p>Also, what is his “UC GPA”???</p>

<p>What is his GPA including all classes - including PE and electives?</p>

<p>How much can you afford to pay each year? If you can afford any school then awesome, if you can’t, the you need a strategy for that.</p>

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<p>To mom2collegekids-</p>

<p>You are sounding kind of locked into the SoCal system. That’s great that you drove into it and sounds like you succeeded. It’s too late for my son to get into the grove. As, I have said, UC schools are tops in the county, but to get in you have to have had the mindset from day one. My son is not there.</p>

<p>My philosopy with paying for my son’s schooling is that I want him to get into the best school he can. How it’s paid for is not his concern, nor anyone else’s. If I have to do some odd fincial things to get him throuh, so be it.</p>

<p>I’ve done it before with my daughter through grad school. They both understand that the pot will be dry for thier education. They appreciate our commitment.</p>

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<p>You are sounding kind of locked into the SoCal system. That’s great that you drove into it and sounds like you succeeded. It’s too late for my son to get into the grove. As, I have said, UC schools are tops in the county, but to get in you have to have had the mindset from day one. My son is not there.</p>

<p>I have NO IDEA why you think that. My kids aren’t in the UC system.</p>

<p>My philosopy with paying for my son’s schooling is that I want him to get into the best school he can. How it’s paid for is not his concern, nor anyone else’s. If I have to do some odd fincial things to get him throuh, so be it.</p>

<p>Then good, money is no object!!! :)</p>

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<p>newtothewest,
With a 224 PSAT, your son WILL advance to NMF status next year UNLESS he scores much lower on the SAT[ which he HAS to take in order to advance to NMF, so make sure he does that], his grades tank, he does not do the short required NMF essay next Fall, or he does not get a good recommendation from his HS counselor. Given that he DOES advance and scores in the 2200- 2300 range on the SAT, you may want take a look at the numerous colleges that offer 1/2 to full tuition scholarships to NMF’s- starting with USC where my son goes. He was a NMF with a 3.75 UW GPA, ands was accepted at Dartmouth, Chicago and many other top colleges . He was not accepted at Stanford. Stanford is a huge reach for just about any student so I advise you to focus on helping your son find some matches and safety colleges he would be happy to attend, and if he gets into Stanford it will be a gift from the admissions Gods, rather than a huge disappointment if he is rejected[ which is likely, as it is for most students who apply]
Now, since he has already taken all the math classes he can at his HS, I strongly recommend he sign up for Stanford’s online EPGY AP and advanced math classes. Taking these rigorous classes will be looked upon very favorably by selective colleges. [And If he is accepted at Stanford he will receive college credit for them.]
[Education</a> Program for Gifted Youth](<a href=“http://epgy.stanford.edu/]Education”>http://epgy.stanford.edu/)</p>

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<p>newtothewest you’re not paying attention. The top 12% (soon to be 9%) of all California high school kids are automatically accepted into the UC system. Your son has a spot there. He’s in (unless he gets a D in a class in his senior year). It’s up to him whether he wants that spot or not. Of course, you’re free to refuse to let him apply if your mindset is not there. But please, get over the “he can’t get in” schtick, it’s simply not true.</p>

<p>My kids aren’t in the UC system, nor do I live in SoCal.</p>

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<p>You mentioned that your son loves history. And, since you stated a preference for West Coast vs. East Coast schools due to distance, you might look at Whitman College. Very strong history department – and, I believe, a very well-regarded Semester in Washington program. With his stats, it may be a match with potential for decent merit aid, too. (Also agree that Claremont McKenna might be very attractive to him. A bit more of a reach than Whitman, but also a very strong history program.)</p>

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<p>A word of advice from someone with a slightly alternate viewpoint.</p>

<p>Feel free to disagree with me, but in my opinion your son and I are similar college applicants. I am in BC Calculus and AP Physics C (however, it sounds like your son is even more advanced than I am in science and math), I have good test scores (national merit finalist, 2300 SAT) and I have a middling GPA (~3.65, about 30% in my class). I applied to Stanford-caliber schools (Yale, Princeton, etc.) and I was rejected by all of them. I wish someone would’ve sat me down last August and told me: “ok, you probably won’t get into an Ivy, but you can still get into a great school. Here are some schools that accept kids with high test scores, tough classes, and average GPA’s.” I still got into a great school that I am happy with, but I feel like I wasted a lot of time dreaming about Ivies and not enough time researching “fit” schools for me. I have perused my school’s naviance data at some length, and there are a few schools in particular that seem to like the high test score/mediocre GPA crowd. These schools are: Tufts, Wash U. of St. Louis, Emory, University of Chicago, Grinnell, and Carleton. If I were you, I would ask your schools guidance counselor about schools like this. Of course your son may get accepted into Stanford and all of this may be moot, but I think you should work on finding a good “fit” school for your son. Just my perspective.</p>

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<p>^^ OP, Drought has given you very, very wise advise. My son [ 3.75, 2330 SAT]was accepted at 4 of the colleges he mentioned above.</p>

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<p>drought a 3.65 in a rigorous curriculum is not mediocre. Give yourself some credit :wink: I hope you will be happy where you landed. You have prepared yourself well.</p>

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<p>OP’s kid’s stats are better than the stats of 3 kids I know who just got into the UCs - Davis, Santa Barbara, UCLA and Santa Cruz among them. I’m baffled by his opinion, but hey, to each their own (I guess.)</p>

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<p>Please at least let your son look into the UCs. Set up a meeting with his guidance counselor to get an accurate picture of what the reality is for your son. You may be pleasantly surprised. It’s at least worth one meeting.</p>

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<p>I understand the distance being an issue. We are a military family currently stationed in Texas. We set up our finanical guidelines his Sophomore year and let him work within that framework. We were hoping for UT, the only school he applied to that he could drive too, but he’s off to Boston. Of course, my sister lives in MA and that makes a big difference for us in terms of peace of mind.</p>

<p>It’s funny you should mention Washington and Lee because that school was recommended to our son by the counselor we hired to do review of the schools he was applying to (we wanted to make sure he had solid match and safety schools.) But it was for a, well, interesting reason. Apparently Washington and Lee is looking to “diversify” a bit and our son being gay was allegedly a plus for them. He didn’t even consider it as the school is too conservative and he really wanted to get out of the South. I support his choice but Lexington is beautiful and I would not have minded visiting there for four years! </p>

<p>I really think your son needs some solid safety schools. What does he like about the schools he’s already interested in? Use that to help him brainstorm. We found that making the safety school list really helped our son seperate out his “wants” vs “needs” in terms of what he was looking for in a school.</p>

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<p>newtothewest,</p>

<p>If you are looking for schools with generous FA and your son is interested in history you may want to take a look at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. It is in close proximity to Philadelphia and New York but secluded in a small, safe town.</p>

<p>Your son may qualify for a Marquis scholarship due to his NSM scores and his geographical location. For an East coast LAC it is fairly conservative and has a beautiful campus. What struck me about your post is that you are so close to your son. Lafayette is a close knit campus and graduates consider themselves part of a strong family. It is a strong program that may appeal to you.</p>

<p>Best of luck and please let us know how the searching goes!</p>

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<p>Not sure but maybe the OP feels her son is out of the running for the top UC’s due to his GPA. Our local HS kids have been told it will take at minimum at 4.0 weighed GPA to get into even UCSB. The OP’s son has a transcript with half his coursework coming from OOS high school. In that case he would probably have no weighed grades for his first two years of HS. Also the OP states her son is at a private school so I don’t think the top 12% figure applies.
Granted it is worth the application.</p>

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<p>My S was accepted this spring to 2 UC’s - UCR and UCSB with a 3.6 GPA and 1980 SAT</p>

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<p>Just who is going to college here?</p>

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<p>My S was accepted this spring to UCD with a 3.65 GPA and a 33 ACT.</p>