Does your private school have college counseling? They should know where the student can apply to.
Test optional is getting less and less a good thing. Has the student taken a test? At some schools, a 25 can be an asset but at others, a 30 isn’t. But it’s good to take…and take again (with studying) - 3 times at least - in my opnion.
What level of overall rigor? Is the student taking most APs they offer? How is the math, etc. - to what level? By glancing, I’ll assume not a quant heavy student.
Nursing is a whole different ball game than Poli Sci - and will impact differently. We read of students getting turned down at “easier” schools. It doesn’t mean the student shouldn’t pursue it - but it does mean they should craft their list appropriately. btw - nursing is going to be heavy science oriented - if that’s an issue.
So let’s look at your list - poli sci wise.
Pitt - you need to apply early. It has gotten really really popular.
The average GPA is 4.13. Now you have a 3.3 but we don’t know how they weight but it’s likely well above a 3.3. Many schools add .5 for Honors and +1 for AP. So I’d agree - it’s likely a reach today - but the earlier you apply, your better odds. I suppose those on the reach level - it’s a reasonable reach - vs. say applying to Harvard. But for nursing, Pitt is going to be no chance - vs. say a Duquesne.
Tulane- you just never know. You have to ED - pure and simple - Loyola New Orleans neighbors Tulane, you can cross register, and is a likely (not sure about nursing).
TCU - big money school - same as Tulane in that sense. They might like to take your money. 77% are in the top 25% of their class. Do you know your student’s approximate rank? Likely easier than Tulane.
C of C - is likely by admission percentage but for students who go TO, 38% had a 4.0 - again, we don’t know your true weighted because each college weights differently. But at 3.5, it’s 19.5%. So very possible. They do not have nursing - so that might be a reason to remove.
C of C is very unique in its campus. For those who like it, I’m not sure there’s a match - but UT Chattanooga shares some elements - mainly cool city, walkable from campus (which isn’t like Charleston). They do have nursing and I think it’s likely (not sure about nursing) if and only if you submit the test as it’s now required in TN.
Fairfield - I guess we can say is a match. Low test submission - but there’s lots of jesuits out there - not sure which have nursing. Marquette, for example, is an easy admit but a good name. So you might look at others to see.
If you go nursing, you might want direct admit. Nursing doesn’t seem to matter where you go.
Here’s a list of direct admit nursing programs. You might look into (specific to nursing) -
Belmont (Christian), Marshall, FAU, Duquesne, Marquette off the top of my head. UAH but I don’t think is direct admit.
If going poli sci - and you don’t need matches - you need safeties - they are most important - I’d look at UTC (as noted), Loyola New Orleans, Marqutte, Frostburg, Marshall. Also, Coastal Carolina, Salisbury, Christopher Newport, Ithaca, some of the SUNYs like Geneseo, New Paltz, TCNJ. For big schools, WVU, Alabama, Ms State, Arizona, Arizona State. Miami of Ohio might be a match as would Indiana U and UNCW.
But safeties are your most important. One doesn’t really need matches.
Check with your school though - they know where students like yours has ended up.
Best of luck.
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