<p>We are currently living overseas so my son is International but not! He is an IB Diploma candidate with @ 3.2 GPA, not much in the way of EC'S, good teacher recs, we'll be paying full ride. He'd like small LAC pref not in the south. We looked at St Michaels (VT) - he loved it, scheduled to look at Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall and some in Ohio. Still to take the SAT (he's a junior). Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for schools we should consider. It is difficult to visit when you live in Europe! Thanks in advance</p>
<p>He is not an int’l. </p>
<p>Is that his weighted GPA? </p>
<p>Can he bump that GPA up a bit this year? </p>
<p>It’s been on a steady incline so I am hoping for 3.4 at least by the end! Not sure if that’s weighted or not as it’s all IB and they don’t do GPA’s. I know he’s not international but we are living internationally at present! I am hoping for some leeway as his grades are consistently rising, he’s taking all IB classes and we are not looking for money…</p>
<p>I think college admissions committees take overseas IB grading into account. The 3.2 is probably unweighted, and the weighted GPA might be very respectable. I also suspect that IB programs in schools overseas are respected as having higher standards than most US high schools among college admissions offices. Look into the “Colleges That Change Lives,” and get some ACT/SAT scores as soon as possible. Earlham, College of Wooster, Franklin Pierce, and Wheaton (MA, not IL) are others to look into. Is West Coast under consideration? Look at Evergreen State, Willamette, and Puget Sound University. </p>
<p>Thank you. So far the list is College of Wooster, St Mike’s, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Dickinson, Otterbein, Clark, F & M. Our daughter was accepted at Puget Sound and was intending to attend till we ended up in Denmark and now attends Drew (NJ) - it makes from easier travel and similar to PS in many ways.
He is not as diligent as his sister and living somewhere there are many social programs and very few opportunities for volunteer stuff (esp if you don’t speak fluent Danish!) at a small school with not great sports facilities I guess i am looking for someone to tell me it’ll be ok, they’ll overlook some of that if his grades continue to improve and we are not asking for money! :"> </p>
<p>I think that most admissions officers will understand that paid employment is impossible, and other activities difficult, as an expatriate student. The international experience counts for something in itself. I think your son would have a solid shot at Drew, also, which would make it much more convenient for your family. </p>
<p>For a while he thought he could just take over his sister’s room and spot as she was supposed to graduate the same year as he enrolled in college! If only!</p>