<p>OP is ALANA +1st gen + Low Income AND has taken an extremely rigorous academic program at a competitive high school where he has almost a B average (in fact OP, could that GPA become a 3.0 after your senior year first term results?) I think this would compare favorably with a 3.6 student without hooks. Remember, it’s also about crafting a class. If your friend or child’s classmate didn’t have something exceptional going for them, instrument, sport, regional or national award, etc, Gettysburg probably had lots of unhooked students with his/her credentials. Colleges don’t just look at GPA, but at what a student can bring and OP really has something to bring to the table.</p>
<p>MYOS1634: It is my opinion that OP doesn’t have a real chance at Gettysburg. Sorry if you disagree. A 2.9 isn’t going to get in without some spectacular hook. Students with far more hooks and higher GPA’s aren’t getting in so unless you are aware of some fascinating hook we haven’t heard about, I don’t think it will be worth the time or effort to write the essays and pay the application fee. I am aware of how colleges craft their classes and how there is some wiggle room for certain applicants. . . ie athletes, etc., however, OP is just a good solid student with good classes and good extras, just not enough in my opinion to get OP into Gettysburg. The student whom I was aware of had National awards, amazing recommendations, a bunch of hooks and had a sibling who had attended to go along with a similar SAT and a 3.6 gpa and ended up on a waitlist that nobody was taken off of. Just trying to keep it real… IMHO.</p>
<p>The student you describe may very well have been a victim of Tufts syndrome …</p>
<p>Gettysburg (like many selective private colleges) does not publish GPA distributions in its Common Data Set. However, for the class entering in 2011-12, 71% were in the top 10%; 89% were in the top quarter. Kenyon is a peer college where 59% were in the top 10% and 86% in the top quarter. Kenyon does publish GPA distributions. For the class entering in 2011-12, only 1% (one percent) had HS GPAs below 3.0; only 5.4% had HS GPAs between 3.0 and 3.24. 61.5% had GPAs of 3.75 and higher.</p>
<p>I agree with beenthereanddone. Gettysburg is highly unlikely.</p>
<p>Gettysburg isn’t peer with Kenyon - it considers its peer group to be Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Franklin&Marshall in the region, and wider St Lawrence, St Olaf, Wheaton. It considers itself below Bucknell and above Ursinus.
The two most selective on the list would be Dickinson and F&M, but neither publishes GPA range or median GPA - for a reason: they vary widely. Another “peer” is Muhlenberg, and average GPA is 3.29. Bucknell, which is judged to be “above” Gettysburg, has a 3.5 average GPA.
Even if you don’t want to look at rankings for the exact numbers, you can form groupings such as Top 3</p>
<p>Randolph College, Roanoke, Lynchburg, and several others in nearby and warmer Virginia offer good fin aid and reasonable admissions.</p>
<p>Hi, OP speaking. I appreciate everyone’s advice even though I didn’t really follow it. Here are the schools that I ended up applying to, their admission decision, and their FA award. I didn’t factor in books and personal expenses into the final cost of attendance and FA award includes the $5500 direct loan.</p>
<p>Albright College - Technically deferred (They wanted me to interview and I didn’t because I didn’t really want to go there)
Drexel University - ACCEPTED! (5 year, 3 co-ops) $41,980 out of $61,418.
Goucher College - Rejected
Ithaca - Haven’t heard back from yet
Lycoming College - Accepted. $40,346 out of $45,307
Penn State - Harrisburg - Accepted. $22,212 out of $25,108
Rosemont College - Accepted. $44,446 out of $44,740
Saint Joseph’s University - Accepted. $29,745 out of $55,006
Temple University - haven’t heard back from yet
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown - Accepted. Estimate of $20,000 out of
University of Scranton - Wanted me to interview, I didn’t so waitlisted. Took myself off the list already.
West Chester University - Accepted. Estimate of $15,000 out of $16,241.50</p>
<p>When I first started my college hunt, I was mainly focused on the cost but now I am worried about prestige/future job placement because if I get a high paying job after college, I can just pay off the loans. My cheapest school is Rosemont but with a population of like 500 students, who has heard of it?</p>
<p>I am majoring in Economics (might change to finance) with a possible double major in Marketing. </p>
<p>Does Rosemont still cooperate with some of the larger schools in Philly?</p>
<p>CONGRATULATIONS! That’s an impressive list, and impressive financial aid awards.
You did a very good job with your list. 
I’d go with Penn State Harrisburg, Pitt Johnstown (if you can do the 2+2), or West Chester. Wait for Ithaca’s and Temple’s offers though, you never know.</p>
<p>Hi Myos1634! Thanks, I appreciate your advice during my college process. I decided to go with Lycoming College. Lycoming sent me a revised financial aid package where excluding the $5,500 direct loan, I would only have to pay about $1,200 out of pocket and $1,000 was awarded to me for work study so really $200 making it my cheapest school. I am so excited to start!</p>
<p>And KKmama, to answer your question, Rosemont offers a 3 + 4 and a 4 + 4 med program with Drexel, and a dentistry program with Temple. If I was going into those fields, I probably would have gone to Rosemont.</p>
<p>Lycoming is a very good college. it’s small and rural, but Williamsport is cute, you’ll have the Little League Tournament and TV crews to contend with and then it’s quieter but stil nice. There used to be a paddleboat you could take, cool if you ever have visitors or want to go with your friends (even if it’s not the Mississippi it’s still a nice ride) and the former Millionaires Houses are cool (not sure you can visit as I got a private tour.) And if you nede big-city excitement, 3-4 hours and you’re in NYC! You’ll love it there. And the financial aid package…full ride and no loans… WOW and WOO-OOOH!!!
I’m very happy for you. Congratulations!</p>