<p>Re: level of academic rigor at the cc's in terms of both professors and students. While the student bodies tend to include many students who are just "hanging out" and not interested in challenging themselves those that are gearing up for a transfer to a UC are probably not that group. And many CC professors are there because they love teaching, especially undergraduates and don't want to be bothered with the politics of research universities. This is not to say your d should go to a cc, only to look at it broadly. Also, the cc's really vary from one to another. For example, we are in the LA area and the one closest to me is not one I would encourage but other cc's not too far would be a much better choice. Good luck and see what the "admission gods" bring to your mailbox soon!</p>
<p>We received acceptance letters from private colleges; however, the letters don't mention any merit scholarships. Are we supposed to receive another letter informing us if she gets merit $ ?? i'll call Monday, but I'd like to have an idea before. Thanks!!</p>
<p>alias: you really should start another thread for your question...completely unrelated to this....</p>
<p>So, last September I was totally freaking out that my wonderful son would not be able to get into college because he was "average." Folks on this forum reassured me that, yes, there are terrific options for him and that he would indeed find a place. He applied to three schools -- all three seemed like reaches and we never felt that sense of safety because his grades and test scores were not that strong (1050 SAT, 3.3 GPA). </p>
<p>He applied to schools in October and then retook the SAT twice, lifting his score to 1250 and worked really hard in school, earning his first 4.0 ever!! He's still a B+ student (3.44) but he "got it." </p>
<p>Well, today he heard from the third school, the one who wanted to see his fall transcripts: 3 for 3! </p>
<p>Thank you, all, for being so supportive and for calming me down. Now, how to choose?!</p>
<p>stillnadine, congratulations to you and your son! It sounds like he worked very hard to make it happen!</p>
<p>Congrats Nadine! Which schools? It will give us all some ideas!</p>
<p>UNC Asheville, College of Charleston and University of South Carolina. UNCA was the tough one because they only accept about 18% OOS and with fewer than 600 freshman, I didn't think he'd get in. He showed a lot of initiative, calling admissions to follow up on his transcripts and working through a problem with a dual enrollment class. USC is too big, Asheville was always his first (and only choice) but now his girlfriend is going to CofC, so we shall see.... He even received a small scholarship to USC, in addition to the state's Life Scholarship but he's too "bohemian" for USC. The other two are much better fits. </p>
<p>I think he is going to do really well in college. He's a late bloomer but this year, he's been very focused, organized and committed to doing well in school.</p>
<p>csleslie51, first off, its not MY site. Its just a blog I ran into that I thought was appropriate for the discussion. That said, I think the blogger does give worthwhile commentary and I respectfully disagree with your assessment that the advice is dated. </p>
<p>In that article you cite, he simply argues that summers are important and that there are some things that could be potentially more helpful to your college app (notice I caveat with college app) than flipping burgers. There is nothing wrong with flipping burgers but your time, as with anything, can always be optimized depending on what you're aiming for. In the case of college app, I don't disagree with the blogger than flipping burgers may not be your best summer option.</p>
<p>I haven't read any updated statistics but I'd be willing to bet that McDonalds along with many end-consumer industries remain some of the largest employers of teens in the US today. How is that dated?</p>
<p>sevan9</p>
<p>^ It is dated because the general consensus on CC is that adcoms love job experience but look suspiciously upon "service trips abroad" or anything else that smacks of elite connections / money to spare.</p>
<p>keilexandra, I think it really depends. Serving as a volunteer English teacher in say Vietnam does not necessarily smack of elite connections / money to spare to me. </p>
<p>Now, I also just posted on another thread encouraging the OP on that thread to look within his own community for service opportunities as I truly believe there are plenty of opportunities within our own local communities that could use our time - particularly given where we are as a nation.</p>
<p>That said, back to the blog, the suggestion is from a college application perspective and the writer's advice is to do something that is meaningful and interesting to the applicant. He just specifically mentions looking overseas. Of course that is not the only way nor is it a guaranteed way to stand out for adcoms but I don't see anything wrong with the premise to his argument.</p>
<p>How I went from being a B+ student to gaining admission at Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton</p>
<p>The title of this blog rubs me the wrong way. </p>
<p>The entire purpose of this thread is to come up with good fit suggestions for students who will not be going to Harvard, Stanford or Princeton.</p>
<p>Congrats to StillnadineS!!</p>
<p>Regarding SEVAN9 and his/her "Hopeless to Harvard" blog reference - two things......................</p>
<p>First, this thread is for the "rest of us", people with B/B+ kids who fortunately have lots of good schools to chose from and should be comforted that there will be a good college for them. My daughter (high school class of 2010) fits this category and I know we will find a good school for her.</p>
<p>Secondly, my son is at Harvard. I read several of the "How to get into Ivy" books when he looked at colleges. Every one told him that he wouldn't get in (he neither worked summers nor taught English in Vietnam - he played video games) yet he got accepted to two Ivies and rejected by six others - go figure.</p>
<p>My best advice to people going through the process for the first time is not to play mere lip service to "fit". If you were "hopeless" and somehow repackaged yourself so an Ivy accepted you, going to that school may not be wise because the fit could be very bad. Those schools aren't for everyone who can get into them.</p>
<p>I thought I’d bump this thread and see if anyone has any updates on college acceptances for these B+ students???</p>
<p>My definitive B+ D, plans to major in Animal Science, accepted at UVM, Colorado State, Montana State (all with merit aid!, altho UVM is token), also UDel and UMass, WL at Virginia Tech, denied at Wisconsin and Cal Poly SLO (no surprises there). The Animal Science focus helped as I think the Ag Schools are not quite so competitive. She’s happy, we’re happy, but now is anxious about making a choice (all pretty different places).</p>
<p>DS getting ready to graduate UVM! So I’m reporting on the B+/A- kid from the POV of finishing up. Can’t say enough good things about UVM. Wonderful prof’s, great relationships with profs in the upper class years, lots of opportunities, many maturing experiences, happy support ppl in a city with an upbeat, quirky personality. Great mix of kids from genius to watchin’ TV - exactly the mix S. enjoyed in H.S. Beautiful campus in glorious ski country. Classes ranged from doable to seriously challenging - depending on what the student decides to explore. All the overseas exp you could ask for. </p>
<p>A wonderful experience = all we could hope for.</p>
<p>New here and found this thread interesting. My D (on the high B+ side at the end of junior year, when this whole process started) wants to be a linguist and needed schools with deep foreign language departments. She had to eliminate a lot of good match schools because they didn’t offer either Italian or Chinese, both of which she studied in h.s. and wants to continue at college. Standardized testing also isn’t really her forte - never has been. (1710 SAT, 24 ACT) She applied to eleven schools and was accepted at the following six:</p>
<p>Bard (merit scholarship and really is “test optional” - she didn’t send any scores)
Manhattanville (merit scholarship and honors program)
BU
SUNY Purchase
SUNY Albany
UMass</p>
<p>We’re doing the accepted students tour over spring break. Right now Bard has a slight lead.</p>
<p>I have been following this thread with interest and I hope it survives for the next few years. Many of the schools seem like good fits for my HS freshman D. She is an A student at a B or lower High School. Most of the kids go to State U, State Tech, and CC, unless they go directly to work. They offer two Dual enrollment classes by graduation; that’s it, and no AP’s. She is in honors classes, but they are not that rigorous. If D went to a competitive HS she would have to work her behind off to maintain a B average. </p>
<pre><code>I recently asked GC about taking the PSAT in 10th grade, and was told don’t worry about it, only about 10 Juniors ever take it, because we are an ACT school and all Juniors take that once, in April. No need to take it more than that. She is retiring this year, thank goodness, but who knows how good the next one will be.
</code></pre>
<p>I have no idea of major areas of interest yet, unless teenage fashion and texting count. I will follow your lead and look into some of the schools discussed here.</p>
<p>Update – S finished up 6 for 6! (American, Goucher, Susquehanna, Washington (MD), McDaniel, Lycoming). Offered merit $ at all but AU. Should mention that application to AU was dual/applied to Learning Support Program as well as “regular” admission. Stats are slightly different for LD admits at AU.</p>
<p>He almost certainly will attend Goucher (only willing to attend their Accepted Students Day, which is Monday).</p>
<p>Tranquil, if cost is not an issue and if your D is comfortable with the “quirky, artsy” crowd that is often seen at Oberlin, Wesleyan, Vassar, etc, Bard is the way to go. Congratulations on her great choices! Clearly she picked a nice variety of schools which leaves her with a lot to think over.</p>