Starting w son- his info

He is a rising Jr.
3.8 unweighted gpa
4.1 weighted
PSAT 1350 (taking SAt prep course and test soon)

He plays the cello in school orchestra since age 7.
He is in the county orchestra all hs
He volunteers and received awards for volunteering in town music program for younger children each summer
He works as a math tutor.

Jr year he has AP Psych, Ap Com Science, AP Chem, AP Spanish on schedule

He is interested in Business and possibly medical

We live in Northeast. We looked at BU, Northeastern and Bentley. We also looked at UCOnn, Fairfield U.

Bentley is more his style. Possible NE but too large

Need for questions answered:

  • Other schools he should consider?
  • anything else he should be doing at hs?
  • what school would merit $ be possibility for him?

Thanks!

Did he try the ACT? He needs those SAT scores up 100 points for merit at those schools.

Did you check out Babson? Did he like UConn or the other big schools? Size is a factor you can use to search but you have to explain the pros and cons of smaller versus larger schools. Smaller usually means smaller class sizes and closer relationships with professors however it also means a lot less selection of different courses or majors and minors and a lot less sections to choose from. Larger schools have more of an anonymous feel, smaller schools can feel a little bit more provencial.

Are you looking at only schools that can provide merit?

What’s your budget for him v. your EFC?

If he’s a strong musician he should look at St Olaf, which is very strong for premed/Stem/music and offers merit.

Can you list what classes he’s taken for eaxh of these subjects since 9th grade?
English
Math
Science
Social science
Foreign language
Electives

In broad strokes, you need to look Midwest for merit v. Northeast. Schools like Denison and Wooster.

In addition, your S should definitely try the ACT as well with practice tests. While they are closer than they used to be, some kids do better on SAT over ACT and vice versa. Schools don’t care which, so get the higher score.

You should set up a tour of some of the Midwest schools that offer merit while school is in session to assess fit for your S.

Good luck!

My S wanted a mid-sized urban school with a good business program. He liked Bentley but in the end chose Fordham and loved it. His concern about Bentley was it was such a business oriented school and he wanted a more well-rounded student body and he was concerned that if he decided busienss wasn’t for him that Bentley wouldn’t a wide variety of other majors that he could move into. He also got some merit aid at Fordham which was a plus.