What happens to B minus students at selective colleges?

<p>f their SATs were notThe only kids I know who have B-grades and commensurate test scores who get into the more selective colleges are athletes. On rare occaisions, URMs from highly disadvantaged backgrounds who achieve at tough schools such as the ones in the ABC and Prep for Prep programs may get a break, but my experience has been that even those kids who are doing remarkably well at prep schools when they are from such disparate backgrounds do not get into the most selective schools though they may be accepted into schools that their stats would not ordinarily support. Such kids tend to do well in college, as some of those prep schools that have these programs are very rigorus and do an outstanding job preparing kids for college. Many of these kids, even the lower end of the class find the first two years of college vey easy after going through such programs. So unless the kids are accepted to some true sweatshop programs in college, they will tend to do well as they are very well prepared and are used to working their tails of on material that is very difficult for them to comprehend. Many athletes in that situation, if they are not from rigorous highschools either do not make it through college, are helped by the athletic program to get through college, and take a suggested route through the "slacker" courses that some colleges have. Duke, an outstanding school that offers some of the premier courses and classes in the country, also has academic paths that their basketball team, among others , can take that do are not so academically strenuous. No can do at MIT. </p>

<p>But if you are talking about a kid who just is not with the program, a bright kid who just isn't doing his work who somehow gets into a tough school, that is a different story. They usually flunk out. The dysfunctions that prevent getting better grades in highschool usually translate into failure at college. As NSM says, the transcript is the single best predictor of future academic success, not the test scores. Now if you get some wildly creative kid who has a mismatch with his school and can't abide by busywork but knows his fundamental well, he may do well in college, particularly if he goes into a field where his classes and activities are more in line with his interests. A friend of ours had all kinds of problems with her artistic but academically demotivated son while he was in highschool, but he is in his glory at Pratt. How he would be doing in a more traditional school would be questionable especially if he had to take core courses like the one you have take in highschool. He was just mentally done with that part of his life. I can tell you that kids with very strong grades in tough courses tend to do very well in college even i so high, but the other way around is a different story.</p>

<p>I really love this forum. I have now landed from being in outer space. We will work with our teen to find a school that is loved and likely reaches. For me, this board has really made me think about kids loving their safeties...and more importantly to be happy if that is their only acceptance. We visited 13-14 schools during spring break... and it just seems to me that even less selective and second tier school (by whatever definition) have high GPA's 3.5-3.9. My kids SAT scores are 1590/2400 (new test). So I, my angst is how low do we go in school selectivity. I see a new renewed passion but it is so hard to "come from behind" and have a strong finish to increase chances for some schools. Ultimately, most kids, as mentioned will survive, change a school, or make do with their choice. Thanks for your insight.</p>

<p>For the sake of this thread, my personal definition of a highly selective school is a school that only accepts students with an A average..... so by definition, the B- student will not get into a "highly selective school." But the good news is there are many very very good colleges that are not highly selective. More good news, or at least something to hope for, is that a lot of bright kids are bored with the crap they are force-fed in high school, but will find interesting subjects and get turned on in college and do much better. The early core requirements can be a problem, but once they discover their area of interest they work hard and do well. It really does happen!!</p>

<p>IMHO-- You have got a classic underachiever. </p>

<p>A kid like this, or a kid who has had a psychological issue, worries the adcoms because they think he might be a bad bet despite the brains. </p>

<p>The best advice I can give you is that the app must be carefully crafted to convey that he is <strong>ready to work</strong> in College (if he is.) You have got to give the adcom a reason to see him as a "2400!", not a "B-."</p>

<p>There are going to be schools (a la the ones on the Merit Aid thread) that will bite for a kid like yours-- if he gives them a reason to do so. His SAT could buoy up their stats. </p>

<p>Are there any As in there, classes/teachers he loved? He will need great essays, great recs, and a GC "turned himself around" letter if he is to be able to go to a good school.</p>

<p>My other suggestion is to hold in the back of yur mind the possibility of a gap year if the "turnaround" hasn't taken place or if the crop of schools isn't what you hope.</p>