The B+ student parents' thread

[vulture3]

Hmmm...interesting discussions here. My youngest is a rising high school junior and a classic higher B/3.5 student. He barely squeaks into the top half for class rank - it's a crazy high school (older siblings were not in top 20% with 3.8s-but it's a long story that just makes my blood pressure go up). Sophomore PSAT - 180s. He's been self studying for upcoming PSAT and SAT and practices are going well. ACT may be a better test for him as the PLAN projected him around 30.

ECs are pretty good, but as in most areas, he's a dedicated participant, not the leader or driving force. Usually another good way to hang with friends.

This is our social child - gets along well with everyone and well liked - a killer wit and sense of humor. He will take a couple of honor classes and has one AP on his upcoming schedule, but nothing truly intense as we ultimately know he won't put in the necessary work. At one time he was on the accelerated math path but we pulled back due to his lack of personal motivation.

A few of the schools in #52 are on his list - but a lot of them seem pretty "reachy" for this youngster. (Am I too harsh? Has the college process with child #1 and #2 made me jaded?) Like his siblings, he wants to go "away". Part of me is already dreading the start of school because I know how tough junior year is.

Meanwhile, my rising junior maintains the Alfred E Newman approach to life! But me and "Alfred" are planning a college tour this fall (he has seen plenty of schools as a sibling - now it's for real), so we will see if that sparks any increase in motivation.

[dudedad]

"Any SEC types here?"

Exactly> Don't discount the big state U's if that is what interests the S or D.
Some of these even have decent merit $ for OOSers such as Arizona, Iowa and even MSU.

[jonri]

I can't claim to be part of your club, but would like to put in a word for the special small college within Boston University. It's a "two year and then move on to any school within BU" program, somewhat similar to Oxford/Emory, but seems to be less well known on this board. BU isn't a "reach" school, but the stats for kids in this program are a bit lower than for the school as a whole.

I think it's a great program for kids who need "support"--the kind who would cut class if nobody takes attendance. You're part of a smaller group.

For NYers, I've also heard really good things about Project Renaissance at SUNY Albany.

[mammall]

Would Colorado College be in the realm of possibility for this set of kids? D1 has a friend headed there this fall and I've just been bowled over by her descriptions. They do just one subject at a time. Beautiful Rocky Mtn setting. Nice nuturing size and culture.

[murmur]

My son suprised us with his specific college wish list - small (less than 5,000) and no major sports' teams and a drama dept that lets other students participate. We started with the Pope book and then the LAC's were discovered slowly as we looked at his intended major (psychology/neuroscience). His list is Carthage (Kenosha WI), Hendrix (AR), Allegheny (PA), Juniata, OH Dominican (safety that offered money based on ACT), and local university. Carthage's deadline was July 19th and he will be notified by mid september. An increase in his ACT will increase merit aid. This is his first choice - we loved the campus when we visited in July, but need to go back when school is in session. All of the schools were very good (except Juniata where we have not yet been), so I feel like he is where he needs to be. School starts tomorrow for him, me -would love to have had him finish the two essays on the Common App. him - no way, gonna waste away the last few days of summer. He worked hard over the summer and I have to remember this is his project, not mine to control. That is probably another whole post.......

[bblfraser]

I feel like I stumbled upon the Hogwarts Room of Requirement -- this is the forum I needed but couldn't find! My D is in your club and about to start her senior year. Her application list so far: Southwestern U, Trinity U, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall -- we visited all those this summer. We ran out of time and stamina to do any more trips, but also on our radar are: Rhodes, Millsaps, Hendrix, Eckerd, and Centenary. She's interested in a small LAC, preferably still in Texas. Texas tends to specialize in "big", so she's willing to expand her search a bit. The two schools in Pennsylvania appealed to her, but I think she'd really prefer to be more local. My husband and I want her to get a good education and be happy -- but we're needing to educate ourselves about some of these schools. We moved here from the northeast and our orientation and familiarity is there. So the three of us are all trying to broaden our horizons.

[missypie]

Bblfraser, did you see my son's list?

[abasket]

I'd also like to share with you all this thread I started awhile for somewhat this purpose - great schools, but lesser knowns...most of which would probably be great for "B" students!!!!!

Brag about your "lesser known" school!

[hayze]

I've got one heading into senior year 3.2 uw/3.4w with horrible SAT's 1040/1600, 1610/2400. She finally agreed to take the Oct exam. Stressful!!

[califa]

Thanks for this thread! May I join? D's a good student by the standards of her mediocre public high school, but not by CC standards. Unweighted GPA 3.7 (mostly A's with C's in math), soph PSAT 185 (66 CR & W, 53 M), ACT composite 29, so I think that skewy profile averages with the B+ category.

Right now her first choice is UCLA (alas, we're out of state now, so it's a reach). Also looking at UC - Santa Barbara, UMiami, USC, UT Dickinson, Rochester, Rutgers, Delaware, Auburn, American, but haven't done any college visits yet. She's looking at nursing, psychology, or foreign languages as possible majors.

I can't get D to do any test prep (her hs offers SAT prep as an elective but she refuses to take it or study on her own) and doesn't even want to take the SAT. Her math score (23) on the ACT was much lower than the others (27-34). She's taking AP's in subjects she's good in, but will not be taking any math junior or senior year, which will look terrible on college apps (long story; she has math anxiety and nonverbal learning disability and had a horrible experience with math last year - barely squeaked through it).

I don't know if I should force her into some sort of test prep or if that would turn her away from the whole process. D's mainly interested in running and drill teams and does her assignments but doesn't really study (except for math). How do you motivate your kids?

[crazed]

Abasket and MSUDad- another Spartan here... GO GREEN!!!

MSU is a great Big 10 school for the B+ on up student. I hear from my old roommate (in state with lots of her sons applying 2 years ago) that they seem to like 3.5 or better GPA.

My own son is a bit higher than this "B" thread but not your normal CCer. (Older sib was valedictorian and the competition was rough then so I know what we are up against and am trying to find appropriate schools for this son to apply to.) Reach schools barely interest me as he is planning on a difficlut major so I would like to find him good "fit/match schools and decent safties.

Current list (though not official yet)
Binghamton
Geneseo
Syracuse
U Rhode Island
U New HAmpshire?
College of Charleston
Va Tech
Clemson?
Bryant Univ

[phishfan0969]

crazed, may I ask what your son is planning on majoring in?

[septembermom]

crazed-My son is going into sophmore year at college and sounds very much like your son. Test scores were average (test taking is not his thing even after 2 SAT prep courses). He applied to several of the schools on your son's list. Can give you more info. if you are interested.

[2collegewego]

califa,

Take a look at these schools:
Optional List | FairTest

One of my kids had only about a 3.0uw with only one AP and some honors. SATs were right over 1800. Great ecs but no one seemed to care. Two schools I could recommend were U of AZ and Indiana University. IU gave merit. AZ, for those of you whose student struggles with an ld, has a SALT program for ld kids. I've also heard good things about how Temple handles ld kids.

[curmudgeon]

If expense is not a consideration, the list of great, potentially "transforming" schools is almost endless. It's when you factor in cash that it gets difficult. As we know, the most generous "non-gapping" sometimes even "no self-help component" schools are THE most selective, while the schools closest aligned with them in feel and fit save their "aid" for their most "distinguished by stats" applicants (whether by preferentially packaging need based aid or by pure merit aid).

It is quite the conundrum when $ signs are entered in.