Hello,
My son is currently a senior. I want to see what his chances are for colleges, so I would appreciate very much for any input. We are from the DC area.
Weighted GPA: 3.5. He didn’t do well in freshman and sophomore year, but junior year GPA was 3.99 (weighted).
New SAT score: 1530 - 770 Verbal, 760 Math. Essay: 20 (out of 24)
ACT score: 34 composite - English - 35 , Math - 36, Reading - 34, Science - 31
SAT Subject Test: Math 2 - 800, Chemistry - 760
Junior year courses:
AP Calculus AB (5)
AP Computer Science (5)
AP US History (5)
AP Econ - Micro (5), Macro (3)
AP Chemistry (3)
AP Language (3)
Physics
Current senior year courses:
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistic
AP Literature
AP Biology
AP Physics C
AP US Gov
Debate
EC:
Robotics Club - top regional team
Chess Club - top state and national school team. Won individual top place in national high school championship.
Marching Band
Physics Club
Selected to participate in the VASTS NASA program during junior year
Founder and President of a non-profit chess and tutoring club for K-8
Head Coach for elementary baskeball team
Internship with non-profit environment health science research company during summer of junior year
Commended status for National Merit
Currently working part-time at Kumon
I know his GPA is low, so not sure what will be reach, match, and safety schools for him. We are looking at different schools - in state and out state. Would schools like Duke, UPenn, Cornell are way out of reach ? How about UVA ? Also, will getting As in the first two quarters of his senior year help ? Or it is too late/doesn’t matter anymore ? Should he retake the SAT or ACT for better scores, since those were his first time, so maybe second time he will do better (or worse) ?
Does NOT need to test again. Higher scores will not make any difference.
He should use his time to work on apps and get the best grades he can for the mid-year report.
To @bucketDad yes we are, although we’re also open to out-of-state schools. To @ryanPA he’s undecided. It looks like he has to apply to many schools, but I wasn’t sure what schools he should apply to because of the GPA.
@ccntt6 I’m in VA as well. Do you have access to Naviance for your son’s school? For my daughter’s school the Naviance data provides good data for the VA publics. For UVA in particular it shows that grades carry much more weight than test scores. VA Tech might be a better option.
Or VCU @ccntt6 (and I know I’m biased here) but University of Mary Washington would be a good safety, I love it here-great teachers, low price, easy to get scholarships. It all depends on what he wants to study (VTech and UVA are good if he’s into science, UMW and VCU are good for more liberal arts oriented studies). I’ve lived in VA for my entire life, so Naviance is a great place to start. It helped me and my fellow classmates two years ago.
Unweighted GPA is low. How many Cs and Ds did he get? Showing an upward trend is definitely helpful. If he can get all As in senior year he might have a better shot. In this case applying RD may be better.
@sgopal2 he didn’t have any D. He had some C, C- in sophomore year. Smart kid but having undiagnosed condition plus attended one of the top high schools. What is a ORM ? @MaddyDUMW thanks for the suggestion. We will check out University of Mary Washington. He’s into science.
If he has a learning disability, or some other medical reason preventing his full potential, then did you seek help? Does he have an IEP? These are all things that admissions people will want to know. If you can show that he improved after his condition was treated, then these are all good things.