<p>who is elie? agree that this family would be wise to consider building their list from the bottom up.</p>
<p>I apologize for not having read every post in this thread. I just want to add a caveat. It sounds like your exceptionally bright child might really excel in a reach school if he gets in. My question, though, (which you certainly don’t have to answer here) is whether the struggles he had that led to the low GPA might repeat themselves in the less sheltered, more demanding environment of college. </p>
<p>If the problems that side-tracked him were situational (e.g., family problems such as a divorce), then it might not be a poor predictor. But if it was due to peer problems, drugs and alcohol, emotional problems, etc., one might wonder whether the stress of a high-reach school is really worth it, since these problems might emerge again due to the pressure.</p>
<p>@thumper: at a magnet school where the average combined SAT score is 1275, yes 2100 is phenomenal, tippy-top, and everything.</p>
<p>The magnet may also explain the 2.5 in addition to the other (personal) explanation. To be included in the bullet-point for the guidance counselor.</p>
<p>^maggiedog is right though: whether the GPA is situational or not is important.</p>
<p>FWIT, even the high-level schools in the Midwest tend to be more laid back than on the East Coast (ie., Carleton v. Swarthmore).</p>
<p>OP, can your son take online Latin? Or try to self teach Latin for a subject test (in December only I think = if so, register soon - you can take up to 3 tests on that day and high scores would indicate intellectual ability and academic knowledge to balance his 2.5) or even for APLatin (not sure it’s feasible though due to the structure of the Latin test, I find the French or Spanish tests much easier to self study for).
Another thing you could do, although with LAUSD it’s quite possibly impossible, is have him try dual enrollment next quarter only, perhaps with an evening class: his ability to get an A in a college class will definitely “speak” to admission officers. It may be possible for him to register outside dual enrollment by using his SAT 2100, too, but you’d have to pay the course fees, not sure whether that’s feasible.
A 700+ in different subject tests would also work and may take less time than a college class during one quarter.</p>
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<p>I think that the 1275 is just the 2 scores ( Math + CR), the 2100 is obviously all 3 (Math+ CR+ Writing). So this is not a valid comparison.</p>
<p>maken,
"name of UG is hugely irrelevant. "</p>
<p>Absolutely not true. At the Med School weekend just concluded at UC Davis, the representative from one of the med schools shared with the audience its “points system” for grading applications. The quality of the UG school was graded on a scale from 3 to 30. Where you go to UG actually does matter."</p>
<p>-My D. is 3rd year Med. Student. We know lots of Med. Schools’ admission criteria as well as lots of Medical students. From our experience for the past 3 years (not only with one Med. School and having more information than coming from one person), it is hugely irrelevant. It is also supported by many posters in meidcal school threads here on CC.
After saying that, CA Med. Schools are practically out of touch. Lots and lots of CA applicatns (including those who graduated from all kind of Ivy’s and other very top elite colleges) are applying in Midwest and get accepted in disproportionate numbers. So, your information might be true in regard to Med. Schools in CA. However, most including majority of applicatns from CA end up at Med. Schools outside of CA.</p>
<p>Auto correct…should say I believe…not Elie!</p>
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<p>Actually, MiamiDAP, the presenter who went through the points system its med school used was . . . The University of Miami.</p>
<p>Miami’s daughter went to undergrad at Miami University in Oxford Ohio…not University of Miami. She goes to medical school in Ohio (see past posts)…not at University of Miami.</p>
<p>We do not know anything about Med. Schools in Florida. Maybe it is also true there. We are familiar with Med. Schools in Midwest, including the ones on the top 20 list.</p>
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<p>But how much do those points actually matter at that medical school’s admissions? I.e. does it turn a 3.2 GPA into a 3.7 GPA at one school and a 3.7 GPA into a 3.2 GPA at another school (or equivalent effect on admission), or is it down to the level of a tiebreaker for the last spot for applicants at the very edge?</p>
<p>I just don’t get this thread. To the OPs own admission her son is a rather unmotivated, underachiever with a 2.5 gpa. There has been no information forthcoming on why he is to be considered a special snowflake. The OP solicited no opinions or advice, just unabashedly stated that her seemingly unqualified son would be applying to reach schools that thousands with perfect gpas are rejected from each year. She flippantly states that she expects affirmative action to be a factor, which I consider a slap in the face to the many African American students who spend 4 years working to maintain a near perfect/perfect gpa. Then, we find out that her husband is an Ivy league grad so we can’t attribute this post to naivety…yet 189 posts so far offering advice and support? This strikes me as so odd because posts by highly motivated kids with 4.0 gpas, higher test scores, and great ECs who announce plans to apply to similar reach schools often receive terse, discouraging, reality check type responses…</p>
<p>@Fallgirl: I went and checked to be sure, but yes it is C+M+W, and so the comparison stands, and I stand by my characterization of 2100 as tippy top, phenomenal, etc.
When comparing 1275 and 2100, I was quoting post #155 from OP:
“Average SAT score 1275 (CR+M+W)”
However if it’s a typo and 1275 is CR+M only, I stand corrected for the phenomenal but I still maintain that it’s quite an achievement as it’s likely at least 200 points over the school average.
@proudMom: OP’s son attends a school where that 2.5 places him at least in the top 15% district-wide. And “reality check” is the content of 80% of the posts (not sure if you’ve read them all? :p)</p>
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<p>Plenty of the 189 previous posts were “reality check” or “you need to start your list with a safety” type of responses.</p>
<p>MYOS I missed the post where it said that 1275 was for all 3 SAT sections. If the poster’s information is correct then I would seriously question the rigor of that magnet school.</p>
<p>At the Med School weekend just concluded at UC Davis, the representative from one of the med schools shared with the audience its “points system” for grading applications. The quality of the UG school was graded on a scale from 3 to 30. Where you go to UG actually does matter</p>
<p>This is not the norm. undergrad name hardly matters if it matters at all. Maybe if the student attended some Podunk Directional U that has known antiquated science facilities. </p>
<p>I would wonder what the actual words were. IF the student did his premed prereqs at a CC (especially a known weak one) or online!!!, then I could see cause for concern. But, a UMiami rep would hardly have much concern as to whether an applicant came from UFlorida, Florida State, UC Riverside, UC Davis, UArizona, or Santa Clara.</p>
<p>First, yes 1275 is all 3 sections. This is right about average for the schools demographic according to the National SAT results. This is public school in CA, specifically LAUSD so if you dont understand the context I cannot explain it.</p>
<p>@ProudMomX there is no need to be disrespectful. You don’t have to consider him special at all! You are right. I never asked a single question (“flippant” “unabashedly”). It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the advice. But for the record he IS special. And I’m going to make sure he knows it. And just maybe some adcom can look at his stats, read his essays, and say “I think this kid deserves a look.” And not that you need to know all my business but my husband is in fact a cornell graduate, whom I met when my son was 10 years old. Thats part of those family changes I talked about.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son and I certainly hope you will keep us informed of his results!</p>
<p>I think you are doing yourself a dis-service by lumping the CSU system into one bucket. Walk around SDSU or Long Beach - then head over to Sonoma and Chico. But for the name, you’d never guess they were part of the same system. The smaller campuses are, by nature, more nurturing. Some loce that, others hate it. </p>
<p>You’ve clearly taken all the feedback to heart and are considering your son’s best interest. Why not take your son on a tour of a few very different CSUs (big, small, rural, urban) that you KNOW he’s qualified for - if possible when in session? Stop some students and ask what they like/don’t like, etc. The vibe is completely different at each campus. I went to Chico a skeptic and left pretty convinced it was the right place for my son. Chico may or may not be a fit for you but, an open mind during this process really works wonders. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>One more thought - Several CSUs have introduced honors programs. They offer a more in-depth and engaging look at the GE classes in a smaller classroom. They also give you priority registration and a few other perks. My son is in the Chico program and is really enjoying it. There are GE and major specific versions. I know Sac State and Pomona have them as well. I understand many campuses plan to add them.</p>
<p>There’s a supplemental application that includes an essay.</p>
<p>They are kind of hard to find so, it could take some digging.
[Honors</a> Program - Honors Program - CSU, Chico](<a href=“http://www.csuchico.edu/honors/]Honors”>University Honors Program – Chico State)
[About</a> Honors - CSUS GE Honors Program](<a href=“http://www.csus.edu/honorsprogram/about.html]About”>http://www.csus.edu/honorsprogram/about.html)</p>
<p>There’s some info on the Chico and Sac programs.</p>
<p>“at a magnet school where the average combined SAT score is 1275” </p>
<p>What kind of magnet school is it? Magnet for what? Obviously, it can’t be a magnet school for gifted kids. </p>
<p>My D had SAT over 1600 in the 6th grade, without any coaching (she took SAT to enroll into John Hopkins gifted program). I think that school has to work hard to have average combined SAT score at 1275.</p>
<p>Was it a magnet school for arts? However, it doesn’t explain his GPA. Typically, artsy schools are very accommodating with GPAs.</p>