Under 3.6 and applying to top schools ( 2010-11)

5boys · 11-04-2010, 07:56 PM

I wanted to restart this thread, but I changed it 'top schools", not just top 20. I thought it was a really good thread and it gave me a lot hope for my DS that will most likely be in this range. It was really fun and interesting to see some of the results last year. It's nice to just start fresh. If you haven't read through the thread from last year do a search!! Some of the results will surprise you.

PaperChaserPop · 11-04-2010, 10:06 PM

It's nice to see a renewed interest on this topic. Even though I don't have an '11er, I'll follow this thread. Good luck to all the parents on this thread...it will be a thrill ride!

Here is the link to last year's thread that 5boys referred to in the OP -

Under 3.6 (GPA) and Applying Top 20 Parents Thread

Olymom · 11-04-2010, 11:38 PM

Oh dear. My fear is that it will cause a lot of families to pony up application fees for long shots. We all adore when a long shot wins -- but most of the bets on long shots do not pay out. I hope families will closely scrutinize how their candidate fits into the school's past acceptance groups (for instance there is a difference between a 3.5 with a 2400 SAT and a 3.2 and a 1800 SAT).

GreatKidsMom · 11-05-2010, 01:41 PM

I'm glad to see this thread; we'll definitely report here. And, I seriously don't think that this thread alone will cause families to "pony up" for long shots...if I recall the original thread, most of the kids in this GPA range who were considering top schools had something else on their application that might help--difficult curriculum, outstanding extracurriculars, high test scores.

levirm · 11-06-2010, 07:20 AM

Thanks for starting a new thread on this topic. I lurked (mostly) on the other thread and found it really interesting!
For starters - did anyone apply early decision or early action to these top colleges?

momofthreeboys · 11-06-2010, 09:31 AM

I kept an eye on the original thread also. Some schools don't weight GPAs so yes, some of those 4.0 and up GPAs are really 3.6 and up GPAs unweighted. If anything the original thread "helped" parents understand how colleges may view all the different GPA reporting.

CountingDown · 11-06-2010, 12:51 PM

S2 (HS class of '10) applied Early Action to UChicago and Priority Decision to UMCP (both accepted), as well as to Georgetown EA (deferred, later rejected). College Park takes 90% of its applicants from Priority Apps and one must apply Priority for merit $$ consideration, so there was no missing that one at our house!

He did not apply ED, though if he had been turned down at UChicago in the EA round, doing ED II at Tufts was very much on the table, as Chicago and Tufts were far and away his two top choices.

sacchi · 11-06-2010, 02:44 PM

I also posted on last year's thread. My S was accepted ED at WUSTL with a 3.5 UW, 4.2 W with a rigorous schedule, in the Top 10%, and 35 ACT.

mathmom · 11-06-2010, 03:59 PM

Like CountingDown's son, my kid applied EA to Chicago and Georgetown. I'm sure it helped at Chicago. I think he was destined to get rejected at Georgetown in any event. (They don't reject anyone EA so the deferral meant nothing.) I agree that with a lowish GPA the rest of your application needs to work. My son had a good rank, rigorous curriculum and quirky activities he wrote about in his essays. He also showed his sense of humor in his essays.

colorado_mom · 11-06-2010, 08:18 PM

High SATs can offset a lower GPA. But the top 20 schools are tend to look for high SATs and GPA... are we talking 3.6 UW or weighted?

CountingDown · 11-06-2010, 10:39 PM

On S2's transcript, which included four year-long HS classes taken in MS, it was 3.49 UW/4.24 W. 9th-12th grade GPAs were almost .1 point higher. SAT 2290, 770/770/730 SAT-IIs, full IB diploma plus 11 APs. Terrific essays. Unusual combination of ECs/interests.

mathmom · 11-06-2010, 10:56 PM

In our case, academic courses unweighted was 87, school unweighted was 93 (it included 2 orchestra classes every year), weighted was 97. Translate how you wish to the 4.0 scale.

SAT was 790.690/670, all his reported SATs were over 700 including a 790 in US history, 7-8 APs (depending on how you count them), with 5's on all the three he took before senior year.

GreatKidsMom · 11-07-2010, 12:37 PM

With my S it is an almost 3.6 unweighted, a 4.14 weighted, SAT was 740/760/690 (lowest in Writing), 760 SAT II US Hist 790 SAT II Chemistry, full IB, top 10%. Not sure on essays, great ECs.

He is EDing to Wesleyan, which we know is a reach, but we are hoping his mix of being a Science/Theater guy will appeal to them.

5boys · 11-07-2010, 12:49 PM

GKM.. Is that your S's GPA through this year, or is it through Junior year? I'm have been wondering about ED app's for my S with a big upward trend this year as a Junior..... unfortunately he only had a 3.1 Sophmore year.. our school doesn't calculate Freshman GPA into total, so even if he continues to get all A's this year his GPA would only be 3.5 or so. I'm worried that colleges will want to see Senior Fall grades on him and applying ED might be a disadvantage.

luchteam · 11-07-2010, 02:03 PM

How about the under 2000 SAT students? My kid has a great GPA (4.0 uw and 4.6 w) and class rank (#1) but no stellar SAT or ACT scores. (SAT (1980): math 800, CR 610, W 570 and ACT (29) math 36, R:31, S:28, E:22). SAT II's are good (math 780 and physics 790) and AP Scholar with distinction. Will graduate with 10 AP's and 6 college classes. Needless to say a little unbalanced with the math/English thing. The top universities seem to want a little more balance than that--I mean why take a top math/science student when you can get one that is also good at English?

Anybody else out there in a similar boat?