<p>Shrinkrap: did the UCR waitlist turn into a rejection, or is that what you are assuming?</p>
<p>Would your S consider Merced? Frankly I think it would be a pretty good campus. The school is small still and lots of individual attention.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap- thanks for sharing. Do you think your S’s UC and Cal State results were in anyway effected by him not attending a Ca public HS?
H and I visited Merced about 2 yrs ago on our way to Yosemite. I thought it was worth a driveby since we were in that area of the state. We were not sold. While the campus is attractive it is very small. Or at least was 2 yrs ago. The surrounding area was pretty barren. No dining, no Starbucks around the corner. I think a student would feel pretty isolated without a car.
Adding- S is graduating this spring from U of Pacific. He was telling us the other day that his best friends are a diverse group. 1 white, 1 african american, 1 hispanic and 1 asian. While Stockton is not the nicest college town my S has developed an extremely close knit group of friends. The school is a good size. Large enough that you don’t feel like you know everyone but small enough that you know plenty of people when you walk across campus. Also the new president has done a great job of reaching out to parents regarding safety issues.</p>
<p>“Shrinkrap: did the UCR waitlist turn into a rejection.”</p>
<p>No, but wasn’t sure there was a difference. I guess there is.</p>
<p>"Would your S consider Merced? "</p>
<p>He was accepted for engineering at CPP and I think that would be better… and cheaper! But he’s probably heading to a private. It’s not costing us much more than a UC.</p>
<p>“Do you think your S’s UC and Cal State results were in anyway effected by him not attending a Ca public HS?”</p>
<p>It would be a stretch to blame someone anything, but his school does not offer honors, and only a few AP’s. I’m convinced it’s hard to get into a UC without the extra points, but a 3.1 is too low to blame on that. </p>
<p>And his class rank suggests it wasn’t just a “rigorous school.”</p>
<p>His sister went to the same school & got in at all but UCLA. She didn’t get ELC though, because only three kid’s did, and she was number four.</p>
<p>You know, this is a crazy year for admissions. I have twins so I am very tuned in to all levels of the spectrum for the California state schools. One twin is ELC (but going ED to a private out of state school) and the other twin could have gone to a UC any other year but this year. Soooooo many of their friends did not get into the UC/Cal State of their choice. UCSB last year was such an easy school to get into and this year all the kids who had UCLA and UCSD as their top choices have been rejected and going to UCSB instead. Secretly, I hope that all these schools get left w/below average yields and find their USNWR ratings plummet when they figure out that all these kids applied to 100 schools and have no intention of going to their safety , and that all the kids that they denied or placed on their waitlists have become happy with their safeties that offered them tons of money to go…I can dream!!!</p>
<p>I agree about this year being crazy and I think a lot has to do with the multiple applications also. The problem seems like a vicious cycle, kids apply to a lot of schools because the competition is so high, yet the competition is so high because of all the schools kids are applying to so many schools.</p>
<p>Yenmor, I think you are right about the vicious cycle. I’ve heard of several students who’ve applied to multiple schools as they are worried about the competition and/or are hunting for the best financial aid/merit aid offers. Everything seems a bit skewed. sigh.</p>
<p>The kids applying to many schools to be able to compare offers/awards has been happening for quite a while. My friend had her kids all apply to many schools. The oldest applied to 14 and got offers from all of them. He ended up going to USC because it offered one of the best packages and were willing to adjust so he could attend. He recently became a pediatrician!</p>
<p>Hang in there–this too will pass!</p>
<p>The funny/odd thing about this whole process is that I think it turned out to be a bit easier on the 3.0 to 3.3 kid. Out of all the schools my D applied to there was really only one real surprise and it was a school that she decided she was not really interested in after all (Catholic University). Some of the rejections may “stung” a little, and I think that might have been a blow to the ego after all of the acceptances, but she understands that they were reaches and she never expected to get in. She never really had a dream school and that she is likely to attend (Humboldt) seems like a great fit and she is really excited. </p>
<p>It just really breaks my heart to read these threads and read the deep disappointment from kids who either really really wanted to get into their dream school and or the shock at not being accepted to schools where they really thought they were a shoe in. The sad part also is that if they were a couple of years older having the same stats that would have very likely gotten them into that upper tier dream school a just a few years back.</p>
<p>Been lurking on this thread… </p>
<p>My S is grade 11 now, will be applying to schools this fall. He hasn’t yet taken the SAT but I can guess how he will do. I’m not sure if I’m terrified for him or hopeful, based on what I’ve read-- maybe both??</p>
<p>Can anyone suggest schools (public/private) he should apply to in CA, AZ, OR, with the following <strong>predicted</strong> stats? SAT 1700/2400, GPA 3.0 (unweighted), no APs, good ECs (awards for community service, music ECs including stage and recital performances (guitar)).</p>
<p>Where does he have a reasonable shot at getting in?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Been lurking on this thread… </p>
<p>My S is grade 11 now, will be applying to schools this fall. He hasn’t yet taken the SAT but I can guess how he will do. I’m not sure if I’m terrified for him or hopeful, based on what I’ve read-- maybe both??</p>
<p>Can anyone suggest schools (public/private) he should apply to in CA, AZ, OR, with the following <strong>predicted</strong> stats? SAT 1700/2400, GPA 3.0 (unweighted), no APs, good ECs (awards for community service, music ECs including stage and recital performances (guitar)).</p>
<p>Where does he have a reasonable shot at getting in?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Bflogal I think our sons are twins. Mine is in SoCal, has a 3.0 while taking a pretty rigorous program at a small private HS., if he gets 1700/2400 on the SAT that will be cause for a celebration in our home, his ECs are jazz band throughout HS, and he’s a virtuoso on the guitar and as a party DJ, but that’s not what I think schools are looking for.</p>
<p>After a number of school trips, fairs and from talking to senior friends, he’s in love with Bennington but even if they let him in I don’t think he’s an attractive enough student to cause them or any other nice private college to send a generous aid package. </p>
<p>His three second choices right now are Santa Cruz, Chico and Humboldt. All are somewhat similar and we’ll see what happens. </p>
<p>One other thing for those who have met the regional admissions reps for many of these schools: I wonder if they’re paid or receive bonuses based on the number of students in their area who get in or who apply? The reason I ask is at a college fair I spoke with a number of them, especially those where I know my son doesn’t have a chance and they all seemed so upbeat saying, “Well, we admit lots of kids below our average gpa and sat scores!” I just wonder if there’s some financial incentive for these people to give false encouragement to kids who wouldn’t get in some schools.</p>
<p>morton, where is Bennington? My S will definitely apply to many of the CSUs (including Chico), but my concern is that the CSU system doesn’t consider anything other than GPA and SAT/ACT. S’s relative strengths are his ECs, not GPA (and SAT is still unknown, but like you, a 1700 would be cause for celebration in our home).</p>
<p>I am also wondering if a school (eg, Sonoma State) that has an imbalance of females/males (ie, many more females than males) would boost S’s chances of getting accepted, as I assume schools strive to maintain some sort of balance. But again I could be completely wrong about that. Does anyone know if that can work in a candidate’s favor?</p>
<p>Also, is there any way at all on the CSU application to indicate something about ECs?</p>
<p>Hi, Bennington is in vermont, near the Mass. border. </p>
<p>As to what the CSU’s consider, that’s my impression, there’s a formula of gpa and sat and you’ve got to be above a prescribed number to be accepted. However, the admissions rep at Chico said that number varies from year to year and at least in recent years, they’ve accepted more since more qualified students are applying and using CSUs as safeties then turning down their acceptances for school’s elsewhere.</p>
<p>Regarding the boy-girl thing, it’s my understanding that there’s an imbalance toward girls at nearly every school and that gives boys a bit of an advantage as schools try to even out the classes. </p>
<p>As for EC’s, I was told by a UC rep that half their decision is based on gpa/sat, the other half on the personal essay, fwiw.</p>
<p>Bump… Any new acceptances/decisions to report from our Senior parents? I hope the Junior parents will keep this thread alive.</p>
<p>Son is deciding between Montana State and University of Montana. Both schools’ OOS tuition is about what Californians pay for in-state. Plus U of M offers scholarships even for OOS students: my son, no scholar, got $3K a year for 4 years from U of M. </p>
<p>Interestingly, in most states the U of – whatever, is more prestigious/ranked higher than – Whatever State U. But in Montana, that’s the reverse: Montana State is more selective, and ranked higher than U of M, in large part because of its engineering and science/tech programs.</p>
<p>@katliamom: Those are great schools! A lot of kids I know attend either the U of M or Bozeman, and they love it.</p>
<p>I was impressed with them too! Affordable, mid-size schools in beautiful settings (do college towns get any prettier than Missoula??) with a commitment to undergrad education. Pass the word.</p>
<p>I will be really interested to hear what everyone decides. For us, I know it will come right down to the last few days. We are about to embark on the “last road trip.” Heading to SLO, Santa Cruz and then home for one night and flying to Oregon. It’s interesting that right now Oregon State seems to be in the “ascendancy” and we haven’t been there yet. At their local event everyone was terrific and when the financial came in they really “showed the love.” Son has honor’s college acceptance and some nice merit money. </p>
<p>This thread has been so helpful for me. It shows a different perspective from most of the rest of CC. I hope everyone’s kids makes a decision that makes them happy.</p>
<p>We visited U of Montana as well recently. Both son and I were very impressed. School is now on his short list, the price is doable and the information day was very well done. The school seems to treat its OOS students very well. Plus, Missoula is gorgeous indeed.</p>
<p>Hi digitalmom,</p>
<p>I know of a couple of kids in engineering at SLO and they both love it, great college town and instructors, although during their summers back in L.A. they have had to enroll in summer school classes at UCLA in order get enough credits for graduation in four years.</p>
<p>As for Santa Cruz, we were just there on a college tour and the campus is by far the most beautiful of the one’s we’ve seen. It’s a huge property built on a hill among the redwoods with families of deer roaming around. My son, however, didn’t get the feeling that there was a “center” to the campus and he wasn’t crazy about how the kids have to take shuttle buses everywhere to change classes because its too far to walk sometimes…</p>