<p>I don’t really think Pitt or PSU main campus are attainable for most B students in-state any more, at least that’s been my recent experience. My youngest was offered pretty good merit money for a Pitt branch campus, but he was not interested. The state supported schools - West Chester, Kutztown, Millersville are pretty nice. If you haven’t visited, I would make the time for that. Right now West Chester is pretty hot, mostly IMHO, because of it’s location. I think IUP [Indiana</a> University of Pennsylvania](<a href=“http://www.iup.edu/]Indiana”>http://www.iup.edu/) is the largest in that tier and I know a few kids from our HS that went there and really liked it. They have a very cool honors college. [Indiana</a> University of Pennsylvania - Cook Honors College](<a href=“http://www.iup.edu/honors/]Indiana”>Cook Honors College - IUP)</p>
<p>I think West Chester, Kutztown, Millersville are great choices. So far my daughter says they are way too close (insert rolling eyes here). We have time, but she may have to accept at some point that we can’t afford exactly what she wants. I will be bringing up Bloomsburg and IUP at some point, and West Virginia as well. Penn State serves as her dream school - it motivates her to study, basically. But she knows it’s a long shot.</p>
<p>SansSerif, I hear you. My kids were also not excited about the closest state schools. I was able to get all of mine to apply to Millersville and/or Kutztown but none really wanted to attend and all ended up at privates 7 - 15 hours away. However, they weren’t looking for the big school atmosphere and that’s why it would be really good (and soooo much more affordable) if you can find one of our state schools that would suit. I know kids that are also happy at Bloomsburg, Shippensburg and Lock Haven. We’re pretty lucky that there are good schools all around the state. [Welcome</a> to the PA State System of Higher Education](<a href=“http://www.passhe.edu/Pages/default.aspx]Welcome”>Home | PA State System of Higher Education)</p>
<p>@sansserif- other option is to apply to Penn State specifying Altoona as the preferred alternate campus; its far enough away from home; and offers the chance to transfer to main campus after 2 years. And is close enough to main campus that she could drive there on weekends</p>
<p>Great suggestion pamom! One interesting thing is that all PSU students at any of their campuses have the same chance of getting football tickets and Altoona is within driving distance of University Park.</p>
<p>I’ve thought of the Altoona campus; I’m sure we’ll include that in any PA road trip for campus visits. </p>
<p>However - my daughter is a bit shy at times; she’s not one of those kids that makes friends easily. Which is why I’m not so sure the PSU 2+2 or community college route would be good for her. I think the four year classic college experience would be good for her if we can swing it; it made a big difference for me and I think it might for her as well.</p>
<p>SoCalDad, enjoyed your orientation postings. Seems you have enjoyed “the journey” throughout.
What fun to watch my son burst into post-HS life! He’s finding jobs & working, organizing trips, playing sports with friends, reading books, going out, even helping around the house! The B student days are behind him; so far he’s excelling at life!</p>
<p>And this is what is most important!! This is what I was trying to focus on in my post to momom2, who didn’t like the comparisons being made between her DS and his cousin. Doesn’t matter if you are an “A” student or a “B” student, or if you go to a top LAC, an OOS public or your state flagship.</p>
<p>lisztservce, thanks for sharing… it’s great to hear the joy in your post!</p>
<p>Checking in…so much of everything resonates around here; very, very different kinds of kids in our small extended family…thank goodness college admissions are behind us; momom02: we will get you through this; I know you can’t believe this from anonymous people on a website, but,like RVM stated, many of us have had the situation you describe…</p>
<p>A note for lurkers and members: there has been a marked change the last couple of years from UMD-college park (again) for OOS students…</p>
<p>1) our public HS in Nj is sending 15-20 there…much higher than normal; about 5 are freshman connection</p>
<p>2) high SAT/ACT kids with “B” averages represent the largest change…it seems (to me at least) that they are prioritizing test scores over GPA…</p>
<p>I haven’t been following the school on CC necessarily, but thought that should be noted here…</p>
<p>3) Smith business is a MUCH harder OOS admit than it had been in the recent past; many top kids were given alternate admission into arts and science…</p>
<p>Just observations…</p>
<p>Net-net…if you have a “B” student with high test scores, OOS, this could be a possibility…</p>
<p>I was just dropping in to see how the ACT went for the kiddos taking it. I hope they did splendidly!</p>
<p>All 3 of my kiddos are off this week (2 at camp for five days, one in Appalachia for a mission trip) and I am enjoying the quiet today although I think I’ll be feeling weird about it by Wednesday! </p>
<p>Trying to decide if I am going to have my D dip her toe into trying the ACT in the fall. She did pretty well on the SAT, by my standards anyway, but since she is applying to several schools in the Midwest, it seems like it might be worth looking into. I wish there was some way to predict whether it would be worth the time and effort for her to do or not…</p>
<p>vandygrad: Thanks for asking… today is a happy day in ACT land! DS’ composite stayed the same, but he went up FOUR points in science so he is now at a super-score of 32. This was the goal and he did it!</p>
<p>Seriously, he never studied the science before because that’s his “bread and butter.” But, as the ACT experts here know, the science is more about reading than science. So he practiced (a little) and it worked!</p>
<p>All schools both of my kids considered accept ACT on par with SAT. So it doesn’t matter if your DD is applying in the east, midwest, west or south. I think she should definitely try the ACT. My DS did fine on on the SAT, but the 32 on ACT is a higher conversion by about 100 points, I think. </p>
<p>My DS was only tutored this year in CR for SAT. And that didn’t help that much. It did help his ACT, as did the ACT practice tests. I would recommend trying it. She can at least do a practice test and see how she feels about it (although DS did better on the real thing every time than on the practice tests).</p>
<p>SanSerif: I don’t know if you mentioned your daughter’s SAT scores. Pitt does take a “holistic” approach and could take an applicant with a lower GPA but higher SATs or hooks like art or music talents. Some other schools already mentioned that might be fits include Indiana, Miami of Ohio and Kansas. Also, Ohio University (Athens) might be worth a look. </p>
<p>Kansas has a reasonable OOS cost of attendance and guarantees no tuition increase for 4 years. It also has a beautiful campus in a really nice college town close to Kansas City.</p>
<p>@LINYMOM- congrats to your son on his excellent test scores. He should have lots of choices and a shot at merit money depending on the schools. Now that you have all his scores etc. you should be able to finalize his college list? I found that making up a spreadsheet really helps, especially to organize things like application deadlines and notification dates. I do tend to overanalyze sometimes but in case anyone is interested in my spreadsheet categories they were as follows:</p>
<p>Public/Private
USNWR rank</p>
<h1>Undergrads</h1>
<p>Location
Type of Area (rural, urban, suburban)
Campus Size (acres)</p>
<p>Driving Time
Public Transit</p>
<p>%In-State</p>
<p>% Male
% White</p>
<p>%Live on Campus</p>
<h1>yrs Housing Guarantee</h1>
<p>Classes under 20
Classes over 50
Freshman Retention %</p>
<p>Frat/Sorority %</p>
<p>SAT mid 50%
%accepted</p>
<p>Football Team (yes/no)
Division
Big Sport (bball, football, hockey)</p>
<p>Tuition/Fees
Room/Board
Total</p>
<p>Merit Aid
Net Cost</p>
<p>RD deadline
RD notification
EA /priority deadline
EA notification
Common App (yes/no)</p>
<p>pamom: I’ve got a spreadsheet in process already. I don’t need as much info as you have though. I include: Common data set info (test scores), our HS Naviance acceptance info (test scores, GPA), tuition/room and board, merit aid, application deadline.We’ve got about 9 schools on the list. That’s enough for me (since I’m the only one who looks at it!).At this point, the only thing DS needs to know is: when are apps due. I think he will have to have half in by November 1, the rest by January 1. DD had hers all in before the end of October. Going to aim for that this time too.</p>
<p>Hi Everybody! Been on vacation, now that we’re back, with July lurking around the corner… it seems like it’s time to focus on THIS!! Congrats Linymom (and your S)! </p>
<p>pamom and linymom - Thanks for the spreadsheet idea - I’m on it! This will be my goal for today! Also, isn’t it likely to get all aps in around the same time, (meaning that most use the common ap)? </p>
<p>One more thing to note - a friend of mine suggests placing emphasis on Freshman Retention. Her two kids (rising college senior and junior) transfered after Freshman year. She later noted that both schools had under 75% Freshman retention rates. Just a note of advice that I wanted to share. She’s an amazing, involved mom!</p>
<p>Created a spreadsheet on about 10 schools last Summer. DD has scanned it once. LOL! Really though, the spreadsheet keeps me sane - no double duty (continually referring back to site for same info), all info in one place, & college comparison ready. A worthwhile endeavor.</p>
<p>Welcome SansSerif! Your D will be a HS sophomore in Fall 2012? (You mentioned her frosh gpa.)</p>
<p>Momom2, your honesty was refreshing and therapeutic for me! My admission? I detest parents who toot their child’s horn on fb - and by extension, their own horn. Publicly announcing how Johnny “got straight A’s in all Honors” or Sally “won gold due to her goal in the state soccer championship” is tantamount to saying “My kid’s better than your kid” & “I’m the best Mom ever”. Why can’t “friends” be happy with “Johnny enjoyed his junior year in high school. He worked really hard and was happy with his grades” or “Sally’s soccer team had the best season ever”? Comparing children on fb - so insensitive and conceited. What about friends with special needs kids or friends with kids in rehab or friends with B students? (Like us…Ha! Ha!) My evil side thinks, “Braggarts beware: Pride cometh before the fall”. My personal feeling: I love & respect the relationships of my true friends, my siblings, and my kids too much to brag & compare. I speak the pride to grandparents only…and, well, maybe a little here on our thread. :)</p>
<p>Congrats, LINY. So awesome when they work towards & reach their goal!</p>