US News Article: A+ Schools for B Students

College Search & Selection
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<p>"For students whose academic records are admirable but not perfect, the college search can be an opportunity to shake off the myopic focus on brand-name institutions. Instead, "the goal is to find that ideal fit, that great institution that is best for each individual," explains Scott Friedhoff, vice president for enrollment and communications at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. "There are just outstanding schools for every student...."</p>

<p>"For a student with a B-plus average to hear that Harvard University is admitting 9 percent of its applicants, the response may be, 'How can I ever get into college?' " notes Friedhoff. But the average admission rate at U.S. colleges and universities stands at 70 percent, and the numbers for many schools speak for themselves: Allegheny accepted about 57 percent of its applicants in 2007, Purdue University nearly 79 percent—and Evergreen all but 3 percent.</p>

<p>...[E]xperts say students with middling numbers only stand to gain from keeping an open mind. "It doesn't hold you back to go to a college that is lesser known," says Eileen Wilkinson, an educational counselor at PrepMatters, a tutoring and educational counseling company based in Bethesda, Md. "In fact, it can be just the opposite—it can be the thing that will assist you dramatically. There are opportunities for B students to shine and be the top of their class."</p>

<p>Creativity is crucial. Many schools, especially smaller ones, seek students who will add breadth and depth to the incoming class, so students who come with very specific talents or attributes may enjoy an advantage.</p>

<p>"We will enroll 7,000 freshmen, so I don't have to worry about having trombones for the marching band because we will get them," said Pamela Horne, dean of admissions at Purdue, a large public university in West Lafayette, Ind. "But my colleagues at Kalamazoo College [in Kalamazoo, Mich.] need to make sure they have tenors for the school choir." Some small colleges, such as Goucher, in Baltimore, a former women's college, may look for strong male candidates to improve their gender balance, Wilkinson says. Many schools try to take students from every state; others like to admit first-generation college students. And Division III institutions want good athletes, even if they might not make it to the pros."
A+</a> Schools for B Students - US News and World Report</p>

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<p>A+</a> Options for B Students: National Universities - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report</p>

<p>A+</a> Options for B Students: Liberal Arts Schools - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report</p>

<p>Great list</p>

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<p>is this the first year they made a list like that?</p>

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is this the first year they made a list like that?

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</p>

<p>No, they have had this list for several years, as well as others that they used to list under an "Honor Roll" category which recognized different kinds of programs that could be found at some schools; when S was applying to scshools 3 years ago they had this list as well as other lists like colleges with good first year experiences programs, or good creative writing programs, research opportunities or capstone project programs. I thought they cut back a little this year.</p>