Hi, My son would like to take a PG year, he is academically strong- 35 ACT, GPA of 4.8, IB diploma (Math HL, Bio HL and Chem HL) , Student Athlete, robotics team (winning bronze in world robot cup) etc… only those three schools are still open for fall 2019… which should he choose and gives him best change to get into HYPMS, Caltech, Cornell? Thank you
Those schools are not going to give him what he needs. I’m not sure I even understand why you would be looking at them. Did your son apply to HYPMS and not get in? Maybe that’s not the end of the world. Take a gap year and refocus.
@vwlizard, he finished IB outside the U.S. and obviously his teacher recommendations were not on par if done by US college counselors…and his college counselors had no clue how to go about US admissions and how to guide him in doing college essay…
I would focus on WR. I do not know a lot about them, but they have college level courses and internships which might meet your son’s needs. Looking at their college matriculation lists, they do have some of the schools you are seeking, but I would not count on those results. How will you feel if you spend the money and don’t get the results you are looking for? While I’m sure the college counselors will assist your son in finding colleges that are a great match for him they might not be the ones you are currently targeting. In the end, though, they may be schools where he can really flourish.
Bridgeton is for athletes that need to increase academic rigor or tests scores while taking a year to become bigger and stronger in order to increase their chances of being athletically recruited (and not at the schools you are targeting).
I love Gould 9-12 grade level programming for the right kid, but I’m not sure they have much to offer your son PG.
It seems like you want to use a PG year at a boarding school to help your son get into an elite college.
My general advice is that this is probably not a good strategy.
Your son’s stats look good. But plenty of high stat kids do not get accepted to these elite colleges.
Yes, it is possible that your child was at a slight disadvantage, coming from another country and having teachers and counselors who may not be as familiar with the process of applying to colleges in the US. But it is also very possible that had your child come from an American school, the results might have been the same. The elite colleges are not a sure thing for anyone.
Look at the college matriculations for the schools you have listed. None of them seem to be feeders for the colleges you have listed.
In general, applying to BS with the goal of helping your child get into an elite college is probably not a good one. And as a PG, the teachers and counselors won’t know your child well by the time applications are due.
I am wondering whether a private college application advisor might be more helpful in terms of essay help. But this might not help in terms of recommendations or the outcome.
Does your child not have any college options? Or just none that are elite?
Western Reserve was really nice and had a strong tech focus when we looked. I know they do have kids going to Cornell also. It’s worth a look!
If I may ask, what sport does he play? Do you think he’s the kind of athlete that can make an impact on a school’s program? Also, are you expecting significant financial aid? I think this will affect your chances at certain schools.
@springfield18 he plays golf and swimming (junior varsity), he’s no tiger woods or phelps though…
OP @Depressed01 ask the admissions reps at the colleges that did not admit.
Bridgton Academy is an all-boys college prep school focused solely on the postgraduate experience. The academic program provides college prep courses at various levels. Further, Bridgton offers a College Articulation Program whereby specific courses meet college standards and thus carry college credit. An SAT prep course is offered and SATs are administered on campus. Bridgton’s program is intentionally tailored toward boys who are between the ages of 17-19 years old. Students complete Bridgton’s PG year with improved skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership. As a boarding school, students also become well-acclimated to living in a residence hall, which fosters independence and self-confidence-important attributes for success in college.
Office of Admission, Bridgton Academy
I’d encourage everyone to read the OP’s post on the College Admissions/ Selection board to understand the context. This is essentially a high-achieving kid who had zero understanding of the college admissions landscape and whose only error was applying to 5 extremely (excessively?!) selective schools and nothing else.
Personally, I would advocate for a meaningful gap year and a good private college consultant rather than a PG year.
But if PG is the chosen route, I think WRA might be the best bet for this kid.
@“Bridgton Academy” , thanks for joining in! Always helpful to have someone from the inside providing info. You have an interesting value proposition-- certainly attractive to PG kids who would chafe at being on a campus with 14 year olds and an environment designed for them.