<p>WWU might be more of a reach for 3.0-3.3, at least for in state. Not sure if they are more lenient with OOS applicants. It used to be more of a safety for lots of IS, but it is becoming a more popular first choice and consequently harder to get into. (D - 3.5gpa - has it on her list.)</p>
<p>My niece goes to Gonzaga and I’m told they offer a lot of aid. Not sure how much is need vs. merit, though. Another one of those colleges getting more higher-GPA apps. She never considered Whitman because of the cost (and Walla Walla has a much lower COL than Spokane).</p>
<p>Whitworth is considered to be very churchy, but is a good choice esp for ROTC.</p>
<p>Re: Santa Cruz
Yup, Shrinkrap. I’ve thrown away my hard-earned money on worse things than a shot in the dark like this! S has visited and loves UCSC. He has good ECs and an essay (finally…) that may do the trick. If not, so be it. At least he will have tried.</p>
<p>With regards to SF State…if your student wants to live on campus, they might have to turn in a housing deposit before they find out if they are even offered admission. Deadlines are very early Housing is in very short demand on that campus.</p>
<p>Hey all-
I have kids who have done BA/BS at various UCs as well as Whitworth & one did a masters at WWU. Feel free to ask me anything or pass on questions your kids want me to ask my kids about the various experiences.</p>
<p>Whitworth DD loved it and is willing to answer questions.</p>
<p>UC/WWU was surprised and impressed with her experiences at WWU, she was not a WA resident at UG, but WWU would not have been highly ranked enough for her, but later when she took some summer classes there she was amazed how much nicer it was to take a science class from a prof who spoke English as a first language and who taught the class himself ;)</p>
<p>My kid, with a GPA in that range—as far as the western state applications, got into U of Washington (in state), Seattle University (with merit aid), Santa Clara (with merit aid) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The last one was surprising, but I think some of the California state schools are enthusiastic about getting out of state students who pay the big bucks. So I wouldn’t let the statistics deter you. He did have very good SAT scores and attended a highly rated school. All of the schools you listed sound very reasonable.</p>
<p>^^^ I still think getting into UW-Seattle with a 3.0-3.3 is a reach. The middle 50% is 3.6-3.91. Too many of my older D’s friends with grades in the mid-range were either waitlisted or denied. </p>
<p>WWU is a gem. Bellingham is a nice place, it’s close to BC, and only an hour to Seattle. A number of teachers in my area (including a sibling) graduated from there. I also work with plenty who got their accounting and/or business degrees there. My younger D would be more than happy to attend. </p>
<p>Seattle U is still having some issues, but is a vibrant school with a lot to offer. They have an excellent degree program in imaging technology (think ultrasound, etc.)</p>
<p>A few posts back I see that someone’s child in this range was accepted to SU with merit aid. How long ago was this and does anyone think it could be a match for our 3.0-3.3 students who are just starting the application process now?</p>
<p>I met an alum at a conference this summer who absolutely loved his time there and suggested we look into it. The website has me sold. (Cost is a bit of a freakout…) My son is thinking of adding it to his list if it’s not a crazy academic reach. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Just wondering- why is it that our colleges can say this:</p>
<ol>
<li>Source: CSULB’s Dean of Admissions who speaks at each student orientation</li>
</ol>
<p>CSULB’s had 47,000 applicants this year for 5,500 freshmen spots. The only school that had more was UCLA, with CAL coming in at third. The average GPA for incoming freshmen was 3.5 GPA.</p>
<p>AND</p>
<p>Most students are coming in with sub-par math and English skills, so unfortunately they have to take remedial classes.</p>
<p>How can so many kids at our schools have very high GPAs AND sub-par skills? It does not make sense, when you hear the story about some great kid who did not get in and how many apps there are for the spots, how can any of the kids admitted have a need for remedial education?</p>
<p>^ I agree that this is a bizarre state of affairs. One can only assume that rampant grade inflation explains how students reading and writing at such a low level can pull off 3.5 GPAs. Some HS teachers give As to kids for simply showing up with a heartbeat and brainwaves, it seems. But standardized test results should be the acid test, perhaps.</p>
<p>I teach English at CSUN and have had students in remedial classes really indignant because they were placed at that level. They insist that they had been in AP or Honors English in High School and earned As (no mention ever of AP exam results, though.) Many of these students need to be taught close reading and annotating skills (by me) in order to get the gist of what an article or chapter is about, and many have no idea about how to write a coherent college level essay. So yeah, no amazing insights or answers – just echoing your bewilderment.</p>
<p>And my DS attends a rigorous Catholic school where with some teachers achieving an A requires every ounce of what the kid has to give, intellectually and in terms of consistent effort… some days we wish for a smidge of grade inflation!</p>
<p>I apologize for not reading the entire thread, but I have a son who is a very fulfilled rising senior at the University of Denver. I don’t know if DU has been discussed on this thread or not.</p>
<p>As a math tutor at a small Los Angeles community college, I can supply part of the answer to the sub-par math scores: kids simply forget the material. In California, before school starts, the Cal states and UCs require a math proficiency test. Many kids who take calculus in high school end up placing in intermediate algebra. They just forget the stuff - we all do to an extent, because it’s something we don’t work at everyday - but that’s really okay because the kids are a bit older in college than when they first tackled algebra, so the material (and algebra covers a lot of deep ideas) sticks a bit better.</p>
<p>Loopyloo, your explanation makes complete sense, especially to a non-math person like myself who probably forgot math stuff the day after I took my last required math exam. </p>
<p>I hope I didn’t come across as the wicked witch of the west in saying what I did about students’ sub-par reading and writing skills as college freshmen. I do, however, think that those skills should have been established over the course of high school and depend more on a good foundation and ongoing practice than remembering material. So I wonder how students managed As in classes that required challenging reading and writing (other than English) if those skills were lacking…and, of course, how said students find their way into selective colleges. </p>
<p>But let’s get back to the issue at hand; which colleges are good matches for our darling sons and daughters who for whatever reasons have 3.0-3.3 GPAs?!</p>
<p>Yes, I think Seattle University is realistic for kids in this range. Their website has a scholarship chart with merit money starting at 3.0 gpa. The amount varies according to corresponding SAT/ACT scores. I also understand SU looks at applicants holistically. They place a lot of emphasis on community service. When my S took the SAT this spring SU is one of the colleges he chose to receive a free score report. They responded with a letter letting him know they had received his scores (which are high, as is his gpa - his sister is a better fit for this thread) and reminding him they look at the whole package, including community service!</p>
<p>Calv1n, the acceptance with merit aid to Seattle U was fairly recent, for the freshman year 2009. Memama has some good info on the last post. Definitely not a crazy academic reach for 3.0-3.3, at all, a match…particularly if there are other things to add. They give out ALOT of merit aid…that chart memama referenced will give you an excellent reference point.</p>
<p>I am looking for specific experience with Whitworth, George Fox, Cal lutheran, Point Loma, and Pacific Lutheran. Does anyone know how any of these calculate GPA ( i.e. are high school “Bible” or religon classes included)? </p>
<p>Hey, all; any experiences with Oregon State admissions? I saw one post earlier in the thread that makes me think my son’s chances are good but any and all additional input is welcome. </p>
<p>We’re Oregon residents. He will be a senior this year. He has a 3.04 (unweighted; as far as I know his HS doesn’t weight GPAs, but weighted would be 3.16) with some honors classes and SAT of 1850. He has some college transfer credit from a dual-enrollment program with the loal CC (credit for the honors precalc class he took at the high school). He’ll be taking AP Calculus this year. ECs are limited to marching band for four years (also concert band freshman year and wind ensemble the other three years). His one EC is instrumental music (marching band all four years, wind ensemble three years–freshman year was symphonic band).</p>
<p>Without his grades in music his GPA is more like 2.8 (2.97 if weighted for honors classes). He is one of those late-to-mature kids who should have a higher GPA but who has not always made grades a priority. He’s shown quite a lot of growth in the last couple of months so I’m hopeful that he’s going to do well this year, but it’s late in the game. </p>
<p>He is not in need of financial assistance so availability of scholarships or aid isn’t an issue, if he gets in.</p>
<p>He’d like to attend Oregon State, with an eye toward computer science (although I think that there are many, many interesting opportunities there in science and engineering that would be a great fit for him). Quite a few kids from his school go there and he’s been to the campus several times for band competitions and for a prospective student visit last February. </p>