The B+ student parents' thread

[rodney]

wow, this thread needs it's own website.....keep it coming....my guess is we can probably beat the most posts on a thread by the time my 2011 sophomore has to apply......Straight B student, no honors, no AP's allowed by her school with her grades......

For those of you asking q's, it would be helpful if we could have some guidelines geographically (at least which coast would be helpful) for those who will not be reading the entire thread, but want to help out......

If someone is ambitious, you may want to compile a list from this thread and post it as a Part II
I would do it, but my older one is leaving tomorrow....and isn't done packing!!

[fendrock]

I think there are plenty of schools-for-B+ students that can be as academically challenging as the student wishes.

Of the ones I've listed above, I'd highlight Oxford College of Emory and Eckerd College.

Oxford College is a two-year program, and those completing it go on to finish their degrees at Emory -- where history shows they do just as well as students who start at Emory as freshmen.

Eckerd has a great record of students going on to graduate school, which again indicates to me that students can get a great education there. They make a special point of enabling students to work closely with professors on research.

Universities generally have honors programs, and frequently will allow other students to enroll in honors-designated courses, space permitting.

Personally I don't see it as a problem for motivated students to find a school which will provide them with academic challenges.

[jmmom]

I think my kid fits in this thread, although he is a rising college senior. But he's been through two application seasons (one as a transfer), so we might have some schools to offer for your consideration.

Before getting to that, I think the "B+ student" label covers a big pool. Some on CC equate "B+ student" with near-HYPS material but not quite. Some equate "B+ student" with "can't complete the curriculum at anything above a 2nd or 3rd tier school."

So, often we are talking by each other, because the school lists for that "almost-HYPS" student is not the school list for the second type of student I mentioned.

My thoughts are that the solid B+ student is likely in the top 20% of the high school class but emphatically not in the top 5% and likely not in (but could be near) the top 10%. To me, this indicator of where the student fits in the hs class is the cleanest way to sort him/her out from the A/2200-2400/molto AP classes with all 4s and 5s student. The 3.3 student with the really nice SATs (say 2100+) fits and, imo, the 3.8 student with the not-so-impressive SATs (say 1950-2000) also fits. This B+ student is also not the B student, as I'm looking at it. That is a whole other set of stats and schools to consider.

Although my S was a 3.8 GPAuw, he was just below the top 10% rank (probably the next kid on the list), had 4 APs (with test scores of 3 and 4 in the two that he took) and, like thumper's D, not a great test taker. He was 710/610 for a 1320.

Schools that worked for him re application success: Tulane, Santa Clara University, Lehigh (first two with good to great merit aid), St. Louis U., Vanderbilt, McGill, Miami of Ohio, UMiami.

Schools that he never applied to, but I think would have worked, included Lafayette, Fairfield (CT), Trinity (CT), NC State, Villanova.

Schools that he withdrew applications from, but with signs that a yes was coming, were Purdue and UMich.

He will graduate from Johns Hopkins. Whether that would have fit him as a freshman applicant, I don't know. He transferred there after a very nice (but still B+, lol) freshman year - 3.6ish GPA in a tough courseload.

There is a range of locations, sizes and styles among these schools. Some have been mentioned by others.

curmudgeon's mantra of "reverse commute" is a good watchword for these students, imo, in terms of application success and/or merit aid. Geographic boosts, for example, can enhance their chances at a school which might be a little above them for either admission or money awards.

[Karen Colleges]

Another book that gave me hope for the kid with a 3.18 gpa- 'Cool Colleges' by Donald Asher.
A couple things that I took away from it are:
1. Lots of kids who don't do well in high school can do great in college.
2. There are plenty of colleges where your kid can get a great education.

Oh, that same kid now has a terrific gpa in college and is much happier than he was in high school. It's all about finding a good fit.

[missypie]

"Academically challenging safety schools seem to be a problem."

Do you really believe that? I went to No Name State University that happened to have a nationally ranked program in my major. I really think that at the time, a student could get into the school (but not my major) with a composite 13 on the ACT (Isn't that just bubbling in your name?) I worked my tail off in some of the classes. Sure, Psych 101 was a breeze. But the 8 hours of Anatomy I had to take was a killer - certainly academically challenging. And when I got into my major it was VERY challenging. (And I was more the A+ student than the B student.)

[missypie]

I also take a bit of the "blame" (if that's the right word for it) for Son's unweighted B average and pass some of it to the school/GCs. They push AP classes like crazy-when Son is done, he will have had 11. If he would have taken 4 fewer, he would have a higher class rank and GPA....if a student gets a C or even B- in an AP class, it doesn't help him in his weighted average and kills him when schools only considered unweighted averages.

Inexperienced parents not knowing how to work the GPA system is not an indicator of future failure in college.

[DougBetsy]

Can I join? Meet Son:

Entering 11th grade
3.59 UW GPA
178 on Sophomore PSAT (65 CR/59 M/54 W)
3 on APUSH exam
48/318 (top 15%)
(He's got more stats - some better, some worse - but I won't bore you)

working list of colleges
Colgate
William & Mary
University of Virginia
Wake Forest
Lafayette
Gettysburg
Franklin and Marshall
University of Richmond
Elon
Dickinson
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Loyola College of Maryland
Salisbury
University of Delaware
Washington College

[ohio_mom]

northeastmom -
not familiar with Wittenberg academics. It is affiliated with the Lutheran church, and requires 30 hours of community service to graduate. I don't think I would call it a party school.

One of my son's friends is at Ohio Wesleyan. The academics were not especially challenging for the introductory science courses, but improved as he progressed through his major. As a good student, he has had excellent opportunies there, done research, and so on.

[ohio_mom]

DougBetsy -
are you VA residents? UVA and William&Mary tricky for OOS applicants.

[DougBetsy]

DougBetsy -
are you VA residents?

Nope.

UVA and William&Mary tricky for OOS applicants.

We know.

[fireflyscout]

Son is 3.5 UW, just outside top 15%, 33 ACT. His list is (in alphabetical order):

Allegheny
Missouri S&T
RPI
Rose-Hulman
Stevens Institute
WPI

[thumper1]

My daughter (the one with the great GPA and 1230 SAT CR/Math) applied to these schools:

Santa Clara University (EA)
U of San Diego (EA)
U of South Carolina (Rolling admissions...she applied very early and also got a great OOS merit scholarship...the McKissick)
Salve Regina (her safety)
Davidson (her mega reach and the one place she didn't get accepted).

[northeastmom]

firefly, we visited Allegheny and really liked it. It is kind of rural though, and trips to the airport in winter might get interesting.

For anyone looking at small schools in PA, besides Susquehanna and Allegheny, Juniata is a good school. Juniata has an isolated campus as well, but the Amrtak line is right there. Students seem to go to Penn State from there for additional entertainment.


Ohio_mom thanks.

[DougBetsy]

For anyone looking at small schools in PA, besides Susquehanna and Allegheny, Juniata is a good school.

I agree. They seem to have a creative approach to majors (programs of emphasis.) Plus, we know (and love) several alum, so it would be a pleasure to see one of our kids join them. Juniata rolls on and off Son's list depending on his mood du jour.

[MSUDad]

A 1320 SAT and 3.8 would be a bit outside what I was considering to be a B+ student.

In my OP I suggested under 3.7, so I'm talking about the 3.0-3.6 kid with SATs from, say 1100-1300. Obviously still a range there, but something to work with. Certainly valid to post about your 3.0 who rocked the ACT, but perhaps share the 3.98 and 34 ACT in one of the other, many, threads here.

Scattered thoughts:
We visited Ohio Univ last year and I thought it was great. Not sure if DD is interested.

A 3.5 at my kid's school is 50% tile (USNWR Silver HS, great programs, easy grading). A school that cares about class rank is going to grade her down for that.


Possible topics:
1. Scholarships
2. What kid of reception people are getting from college visits when the 3.4 gpa is mentioned.
3. Any SEC types here? I thought those schools might be matches.