<p>Does anyone have any suggestions as to where S might think about applying next year? His choices will be somewhat limited by both his desire to go to a college in southern CA and his (compared with most kids on CC) low stats. </p>
<p>S is currently a HS Jr with GPA of 2.9. He scored 1650 on the PSAT last yr (took it for practice), so I'm assuming his SAT score will be similar (although I plan to have him take a prep class). He has respectable ECs, which include 2 awards (for community serice/volunteering), plays guitar and is starting a band, and has a PT (paying) job which he loves.</p>
<p>I assume he will not be a candidate for the UCs, and perhaps not even some of the CSUs (eg. Cal Poly SLO). I am hoping not to have him attend a commuter school, if possible (because for this particular child, a residential campus would be a much better fit).</p>
<p>Any ideas where he might want to apply? He is thinking of a business major. We can pay full tuition and all expenses.</p>
<p>I don’t think of Cal Poly SLO as particularly “southern” California (Cal Poly Pomona, yes).</p>
<p>But in the addition to the other CSUs, and to Redlands, there are a number of schools in the SoCal area. Excluding the most and more selective you could look at Cal Lutheran (it’s not particularly Lutheran in its identity!); LaVerne; Chapman; Loyola Marymount; or the University of San Diego. The latter two are Catholic, but also have large numbers of non-Catholic students. Both have beautiful campuses; I think all have business majors.</p>
<p>I don’t know if any of these fit the bill in terms of admissions criteria for your son. Good luck.</p>
<p>Would he be willing to go to Arizona? What is his UC GPA? If he is a junior, it’s possible he could bring his UC GPA up enough to qualify for Riverside.</p>
<p>There is a program where students can start at Santa Barbara City College and then transfer to other colleges. Not surprisingly, they are a major pipeline to UCSB. There are private residential halls which give SBCC students a residential-college lifestyle.</p>
<p>I would check how his stats compare at the other Cal State schools. What is the local Cal State school he can attend in your area? I know that in my area San Diego State is a hard Cal State school to get into for the local kids if they don’t have the stats.</p>
<p>Redlands doesn’t have a traditional undergraduate business major - their Business School is more for working adults. However, it’s a good choice if your son would consider a liberal arts degree. Whittier would fall into that category as well.</p>
<p>First choice would be the program at Santa Barbara City college with residential. But be aware that the area is a large party atmosphere. If low grades were because of partying I would not expect it to get better in a residential college atmosphere.<br>
I don’t think Cal Poly is an option with those stats, neither would USD.</p>
<p>I am not sure about Santa Barbara CC unless the student is really motivated. I have seen so many males who just seem to have a slow time finding their way. The students who I have seen who are ready to transfer in 2 yrs have been students who are attending the CC due to finances but we strong students in HS. I know many males with similar stats to your son who are on year 4 at CC.</p>
<p>I have taught at Cal State Northridge for ten years and am certain your son would be admitted there with his stats. About 30% of the freshmen I teach live in the dorms (unofficial percentage, but it seems about right) and enjoy all aspects of residential life. The rest commute. It is a big school but there is a niche for everyone, it seems, plus lots of support for freshmen.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many of the private schools listed require much higher stats. Have you entered all of your son’s stats in college board 's “How Do I Stack Up?” tool? It gives you a great idea of what you look like compared to the freshman most recently admitted. Just add a zero to his PSAT scores to see where his SATs compare. There are many great schools where he will fit right in.</p>
<p>I suggest that you focus on helping him raise his GPA this year. He still has all of junior yr to do it. Then worry about the college list. A 3.0 and up opens the doors to many places he and he is very close. Look at the CSU website to calculate his CSU gpa or ask his GC. Good luck!</p>
<p>What’s his ‘local’ CSU? Some of the CSUs more readily offer admission (read - don’t require as high of stats) for students from its local ‘service area’. Some of these CSUs, like SDSU, have dorms. If they have dorms then even though it’s ‘local’ perhaps he could live on campus and not be at a pure commuter school - it all depends on the particular campus.</p>
<p>Great suggestions, thanks to all. S’s local CSU is East Bay, which is in a not-so-good town, and my impression is that it is largely a school for commuters or working adults. Quite honestly I wouldn’t consider it even as a safety.</p>
<p>Yes, not considering freshman grades would help a lot (he had a disastrous yr at a private HS and we yanked him out of there).</p>
<p>I think Redlands, Chapman, Loyola, and USD are uber reaches for him, but honestly I was thinking of Chapman anyway, and definitely Whittier.</p>
<p>Calv1n, thank you! I will look more closely at Northridge.</p>
<p>I had considered Santa Barbara CC, but the party factor was a concern (I can see him getting swept up into that).</p>
<p>Is there a big difference in the eyes of an adcom between a 2.9 and 3.0, all else being equal?</p>
<p>I think CSU-East Bay is investing in dorms and is trying to be a bit more residential, but it’s true that it doesn’t have the best reputation. What about Sonoma State? Or is that too close to home as well?</p>
<p>^Sonoma State is definitely on the list (although it’s not in s CA). I think it would be a great fit for S in all respects, although I’ve heard a couple instructors/professors there leave much to be desired (mainly frosh Eng, and Anat/Phys).</p>
<p>At Chapman, it is all about the major. Anything in the Dodge Film school is almost impossible to get into. Other majors have more wiggle room. He needs great essays. They will look at the whole kid, more than a state school.
If your local school is East Bay, and you’re right it’s a commuter school, have you considered Monterey Bay? It’s beautiful, has gorgeous dorms, and smaller enrollment. Almost everyone lives on campus. It’s a little chilly, but flannel is in. It’s close enough to come home every once in a while, but it would give him space.
I still recommend you compare his stats on college board. I’ve found it to be a great resource for my kids. It helped us find a school for my high achiever, and my slacker. Turns out he’s in good company, and more doors were open to him than we feared!</p>
<p>For my youngest son who is currently a HS sophomore I think we will be looking at the CSU’s to see which are more residential colleges. We’re closest to Northridge but all the kids from here commute there. I wouldn’t pay for my kid to go to SBCC (housing etc). If he were to go the JC route there is a perfectly good school close to home. Also as far as the UC’s many of my oldest son’s friends are heading off to Riverside this fall.</p>