<p>It’s fine to look at all of these possibilities and the student should certainly spread a wide net as all who want financial or merit aid should. However, it is not a sure thing, and with those stats, it is not even likely, in my opinion. Not so much because of the grades, but because of the test scores. Too many out there with those grades and higher. The test scores are the filter whereas schools may give some leeway to grades as long as they are respectable and the curriculum was rigorous. So one thing this student should do is make sure that s/he has some good safety choices that are pretty sure to take him/her and that are affordable. This is something all kids should do anyways when there are cost constraints and conditions for getting the money. My son had to make sure that he had some affordable safeties on his list and was glad for them as it felt good having those as given. The rest are all lottery tickets.</p>