Does anyone have any college suggestions for my junior year daughter who is very involved in leadership activites, but has only a 3.0? She has taken 4 AP courses so far, and has a SAT score of 1480. She plans to study some science field, but has no specific field in mind.
Thanks for any info.
This thread may have some ideas – http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1951765-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2018-3-0-to-3-4-gpa-p1.html
If she were my child, I would find a school that looked at the student holistically, had great academics, lower level of anxiety-producing competition among the students, and that provided room for growth as she found her footing. One way to do that is through a school that’s part of a consortium. Another way is to start her in community college and she can raise her grades and transfer. I’m guessing that she doesn’t want to do that, though.
Women’s schools
I like women’s schools as they look at women holistically and they often offer opportunities to branch out later. Often men are present in classes because of the consortium or cross-registration opportunities. And often men are allowed to spend the night in dorms etc.
- Agnes Scott – takes lower grades, allows cross reg at Emory and other area schools, and offers excellent academics.
- Mills in CA-- takes lower GPA, cross register at several local schools including an art school and UC Berkeley, which is a top academic university.
- Mt. Holyoke–takes higher grades but with her test scores, since they look at students holistically, she might even get merit there. Part of the 5-college consortium with free busing to Smith, Amherst, UMass Amherst and Hampshire
- Simmons: in Boston and can cross register at several local schools.
Co-ed Schools
- Union–needs women and with her scores they’d snatch her up. I am not a fan of Greek life and this is one drawback here
- Clarkson and several other engineering schools: they need women and her test scores show that she has the rigor. consider WPI, RPI, Rose Hulman, Colorado Mines, New Mexico Mines, etc.
- St. John’s of Annapolis and New Mexico: to campuses for one school; they read great books and need women.
- The CTCL schools like Ursinus, Hendrix, Beloit, etc. https://ctcl.org/
Up until now, I would have said Lehigh because using the 2015 Common Data Set (see tab CDS-C) they considered Academic GPA only “considered”, not “important” and not " very important".
http://www.lehigh.edu/~oir/cds/lucds2015.htm
This was very unusual and unique. I knew of no other school that did this.
However, I see that for the 2016 Common Data Set, Academic GPA is now in the “Very Important category”.
http://www.lehigh.edu/~oir/cds/lucds2016.htm
If this is an actual change in philosophy, it’s unfortunate. I used to think that they like to admit students who were not afraid to challenge themselves and take risks (curriculum rigor was always very important), but more more concerned with taking that risk than succeeding in it.
I doubt Lehigh has actually changed that much, so it might be worth talking to your local Lehigh rep.
The other thing about Lehigh is that their admission rate for early decision was 60% whereas it was 26% overall.
Another suggestion would be Mt Holyoke. They have been known to take students with top scores but some blemishes on their GPA.
Have your daughter talk with the college counselor at her high school to find out where students with similar stats to hers have been admitted in recent years.
How does she rank in her high school class? Does the high school have a reputation for tough grading, or are her grades lower because her time and energies are spent elsewhere? Have her grades been consistently at the 3.0 level, or is there a downward (or upward) trend over time?
What’s your budget like for her college education? There are schools where applying Early Decision will give her a definite admissions tip, as mentioned above, but if you have budget constraints that’s not going to be useful advice.
What are your local options? Budget? Why Is her GPA so low? What makes you say her classes are very difficult?
It is good to take challenging classes but with a 3.0 GPA she did not rise to the challenge.
Thanks for all the comments! They have all been very helpful.
For a little more info, we live in California and she really wants to go to a UC school, but her grades (even weighted ) are probably not going to get her in. She goes to a well known top school and has already taken 4 APs and wants to take 2 more next year. She will probably CLEP out of science, math and perhaps English. She is extremely (to a fault, IMO) interested in a volunteer organization where she is a leader and has won many awards, but this consumes her time. She does well on standardized tests but would rather spend time with her volunteer organization than take test prep classes. She is not clear about what she would like to do or major in, but science interests her.
I am wondering if attending a two year community college (hoping to transfer to a UC school ) is the best option for her. I don’t know if they would have any classes to interest her. Initially, we were all disappointed to think of her going to a community college, but I am thinking it might be a good choice. Also, we would not qualify for any aid but don’t have unlimited funds. Any thoughts?
Our D went from HS to CC and then applied to transfer after she got a 3.8 in her 1st semester of CC. She did get accepted to attend a private U after completing 3 semesters of CC. CC was actually a great place for her to explore courses not offered in HS and boost her GPA and confidence (it was easier for her than HS). CC is under-rated and can be an excellent place that offers nice transfer options. There are even a few scholarships for kids who do very well in CC, especially if they join the CC honor society.
Why don’t you calculate her UC GPA? If her UC GPA for grades 10&11 are at least a 3.0, then she’d likely get into (at least) UCR, UCM, or UCSC
You don’t have unlimited funds, but can you pay $60k per year? Yes? No? If no, how much?
Have you looked at WUE schools? Lots of good options for her stats.
If she really wants to go to a UC, then community college is a great idea. College can be overwhelming and distracting under the best of circumstances and it sounds like she doesn’t really have time management under control. I’d worry that if she went away to college immediately she’d get sucked into the many clubs and causes that presented themselves.
Two years of CC will give her time to learn to focus on academics. This has to happen if she wants to major in one of the sciences.
She got a very bad report card for the 3rd quarter. (Two Ds and a C). She insists she will get at least Cs and a B in those, but I still think that will only get her close to a 3.0. Whatever we pay for her college, it would be out of house equity, and I’m not sure we should be spending much unless her grades improve. We have talked about sending her to the community college for two years, and then transferring. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.
I think she should go to community college, so she can get the kind of grades she’s capable of when working her hardest on academics and then transfer.
She really doesn’t have any time to improve her GPA for college applications. She hasn’t expressed any interest in college? Then CC seem perfect. She really should consider a little self study and a resit SAT though, if her cold score is so decent. Will the UC transfers still look back at her SAT after 2 yrs of CC?
Good questions!
Came here to say something similar to @mom2collegekids . What would the local CSU be for you? Since local kids get preferential admittance AFAIK.
Really amazing SAT score - suprised with her low GPA. Agree with the above that her local CSU may be a good option or maybe even ASU which is maybe one of the strongest universities that she can get into with her grades.
If she wants to go to a UC, then the primary thing is her GPA and her test scores; her volunteering and the academic reputation of her high school are not going to be determining factors. If she is UC eligible then she may be a candidate for Merced or possibly Riverside. If she wants to go to a different UC, then her best path forward is by starting at a community college and taking the courses (and getting the grades) that will allow her to transfer to her desired UC. Transferring from a Cal State to a UC is much more difficult.
Many, many, many students take the CC to UC path due to lack of funds. We are also in CA, and I’ve seen several of my children’s friends go this route.
Helpful information regarding UC admit rates and GPA only. Test scores, major, EC’s and essays are not considered in these admit rates. Going to a CC and then TAGing into 6 of the 9 UC campuses is a great alternative along with a local CSU if she does not want to delay attending a 4 year university.
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.00-3.39
UCB/UCLA/UCSD: 1%
UCI/UCSB: 2%
UCD: 4%
UCSC: 18%
UCR: 38%
UCM: 67%
UC TAG: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/guarantee/
Here is also data for UC transfer GPA admit ranges for transfers:
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major
CSU’s admit by CSU/UC GPA and test scores where they calculate an eligibility index. High Test scores can makeup for a lower than average GPA. As stated above, for her local CSU, she would need to meet a minimum EI to have a chance at an acceptance unless the major is impacted.
EI= (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math+ CR).
SAT is not considered for UC transfer applicants.
What is her UC GPA?
Use this to calculate then post the answere
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Most of the feedback you will get is conjecture without it.
Also, why does she want to go to a UC?
What attributes is she looking for in a school that can only be met at one of their 9 undergrad campuses?