Good schools for 1400 SAT (30 ACT) kids?

College Search & Lists
1

My D19 has never aced standardized tests. She got a 1230 on the PSAT last fall, then did many hours of test prep and eked out a 1390 on the SAT in March (730 EBRW, 660 Math). She wants to try one more time, in June, but my strong hunch is she’s going to stay within that same range and she’s losing steam on further test prep after doing so much of it from November-March. Her GPA is fine, 3.91 UW/4.15 W, with 6 APs total. Solid, consistent, interest-relevant ECs. She’s a big time introvert so her LoRs will be a wild card. I think she will write above-average essays and is willing to put in the time to take them to a high level. She does not do super well with rejection/disappointment (got SUPER out of sorts about being passed up for regional Honor Choir last fall, for example), so I am allowing her to try for one reach school only and I want all the rest of her choices to be matches and likely-admits.

The SAT scores, especially the 660 Math, in the absence of any hooks put a lot of well-known schools into the reach category for her, which make them not of interest. She plans to major in education and/or religious studies. Her career interests are still pretty wide open although they do share basic social-sciences features in common: K-12 teaching, education policy or leadership, clinical psychology/counseling, social sciences research/consulting, or nonprofit advocacy.

I feel like this middle ground is a weird place to be in. Lots of schools are reaches, and I don’t have a hard time finding fine likely-admit schools for her to consider. It’s the true match schools we can’t seem to find that readily. It’s like a 1390 (which is akin to a 30 ACT) doesn’t fit very well anywhere – too low for many, too high for many. Websites to help her find matches all seem outdated, given recent trends in rising numbers of applications and rising test scores for admitted students.

I’d love some suggestions for schools to consider that would be true matches, meaning she’d have a solid chance but admission wouldn’t be a lock of course, and the intellectual environment would be stimulating with like-minded motivated and talented students who nevertheless still walk on planet Earth, if you know what I mean. One recent insight I did have was that she could try for Honors programs at likely-admit schools, making the environment possibly really well suited to her.

Other ideal parameters, but none of these are must-haves… (At this point we’re still wanting to cast a wide net and consider various options rather than tightening up the list. We still have some time.)

– geographic convenience (anywhere in the US or Canada could be fine, but we’d prefer that it be possible to fly to the school without requiring infrequent connecting flights and/or a long-ish bus/train/shuttle ride and thus a 12+ hour journey from north San Diego/southern Orange County)
– small-to-mid-sized (2K-12K students)
– liberal arts opportunities given her career interests and not wanting to specialize too early (i.e., we don’t really want her to choose a teacher certification program for her BA, since she may go in a different direction)
– some potential for merit aid (we’re a full pay family but have three children and high medical expenses so finances are a factor).
– relatively low emphasis on Greek life (again, big time introvert who always has had only a small circle of friends)

Would love suggestions! I just have this feeling that we’re missing good ideas and need some insight. Thanks!

2

Hi! Just went through this with kiddo #2 who has a 30 ACT and slightly lower GPA than your daughter and no hooks. We focused on LACs for him, and he was accepted to most including somewhat-reachy (for him) Kenyon which it appears he will be attending. Kenyon is an easy flight to Columbus and then a shuttle or ride-share to Gambier. The website addresses the commute. If your daughter is a writer please put Kenyon on that list. They draw a fair amount of students from California. My understanding is that Greek life is very minimal and parties are open to all. They do offer merit awards of different levels.

Other schools that he applied to and was accepted were somewhat more Greek heavy or not as easy to get to from the west coast, so I won’t suggest those. We were also impressed with Dickinson and received good merit. Dickinson is larger than Kenyon and has a business school which is unique for an LAC. You would fly into Harrisburg for Dickinson.

Good luck!

3

Keep in mind that this summer, a new concordance table is expected to be published by the College Board and ACT. Just my opinion, but I have a suspicion that a 1400 may correlate to a 32, with 1390 somewhere around a high 31 or possibly first level of the range covered by 32.

More importantly, considering that college Class of 2022 is the first admissions season for which reported SAT scores are virtually entirely the New test, I would consult the class profiles for class of 2022 at various schools when those are posted on college websites in the fall, for the most up-to-date data.

Most schools seem to report SAT section scores rather than composite, which leads me to wonder whether those schools evaluate the section scores separately. (I don’t understand why they don’t do the same for ACT, or vice-versa - only report SAT composite - though perhaps schools prefer to limit their score reporting to what will be required on the CDS, which includes ACT composite but does not include SAT composite, regardless of what goes on in their admissions process.)

4

College of the Holy Cross
Santa Clara
Fordham
Lafayette
Connecticut College

5

University of San Diego. Like heaven and they have decent merit for that range!

6

More in the Midwest:
Macalester (St. Paul, MN)
Beloit (90 minutes from O’Hare)
Lawrence (100 minutes from Milwaukee or 30 from Green Bay)
Earlham (an hour from Indy)
Marquette (Milwaukee)

Elsewhere:
U of Rochester
Tulane (New Orleans)
Wake Forest (Winston-Salem, NC)
Boston College
Brandeis
Occidental (LA)
Reed (Portland)
U of Richmond
Rhodes (Memphis)
SMU (Dallas)
TCU (Fort Worth)
Pepperdine
U of Miami
GWU (DC)

7

If the midwest works for you, I’d suggest the following. The colleges usually offer shuttles from and to major airports

Earlham
Knox
Lawrence
Beloit
Luther
Augustana
St. Mary’s (women’s college near Notre Dame–maybe too small?)

They each have their own unique atmosphere, so let me know if you need to know more. They all offer merit aid to someone with your daughter’s stats. These have either no Greek life or very little/very subdued.

8

Maybe Denison? Thirty minutes from Columbus, Ohio. Has Greek life, but I’ve heard the importance of it has been diminishing in recent years. It’s a school I’m keeping my eye on for my D21.

Also, look at St. Olaf…

9

Focusing on schools with likelihood of merit aid and over 2000:

Denison
Trinity University(auto merit based on stats)
Hobart and William Smith
St. Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
Chapman (auto merit based on stats0
Rhodes
Univ of Tulsa
Wheaton (IL) (more conservative/religious)
Loyola Marymount
Case Western
University of Puget Sound

Under 2000 with high likelihood of merit:

Knox (auto merit based on stats)
Sewanee
Ohio Wesleyan
Hendrix
Hillsdale (more conservative)

10

What kind of religious studies is she interested in? Now that I think about it, St.Olaf may be ideal unless she is very conservative… St. O offers majors/minors in religeon and philosophy. I think religion is approached in a broad way, from a moderate to liberal position, but it’s a school that seems to embrace the idea of seeking one’s faith/meaning in life, even among students who are atheists, so she might find herself among like-minded peers there.

11

OP,

You’re actually in a great situation. I understand what you mean about a high-GPA, high test score, introverted student not being in the mix for schools that want superlative achievement. But I’d ask you to look at it another way. You’ve wisely decided that you want to focus on matches and likely-admit schools. This is a smart strategy. To be honest, this is how I’d like to see more students/families approach things. It’s great for the self-esteem, and as you probably know (your post shows strong awareness of the college application process), prestige and selectivity are greatly overrated. We don’t–or we shouldn’t–judge a college’s worth based on how many applicants it is rejecting.

This means that you can focus your attention on finding schools that your daughter loves. You don’t have to worry about the crushing disappointment some students (and parents!) feel when those rejections and waitlists come in because the student’s college list is reach-heavy. No, you can devote all of your energy to what is important: finding the right school where your daughter will be happy.

The other good news is that if you’re a full-pay family looking for merit money to alleviate the financial burden, your best merit bets are NOT going to be at reach schools; they are going to be from the match and, even more so, the likely-admit schools. The largest merit awards will be from schools where your daughter’s profile will be most desirable.

Obviously, there are far too many schools to list as suggestions. If your daughter is open to liberal arts colleges, the forty schools profiled in the book Colleges that Change Lives are a good place to begin. All of the schools in this book are typically generous with merit money. Understand too that private schools, especially LACs, are where you will find your most generous merit awards. The high price tags of these schools sort of forces them to lower their sticker prices, sometimes because a family is in need, but also sometimes because an applicant is so attractive (regardless of the family’s income level) that the school is hoping to lure her/him away from other schools. Don’t rule out larger universities. They too will offer scholarships to the students they really want, but do your research. Then come back to this board for advice on specific schools

12

For someone interested in religious studies and chorus, St. Olaf, Luther, and Augustana would be great choices in the midwest. St. Olaf would be the best in terms of easy transportation (Minneapolis close by), but would be the hardest for receiving merit aid.

Is it just me, or do the rural colleges seem to give more merit aid in general? Maybe as an encouragement to overcome the transportation difficulties?

13

Especially with some great essays,many if not, most schools are available. I like the lists provided. But if she does not handle rejection well. One of this lists included maccalister Bc wake forest which I would consider low reaches without more data. Or even a high match. Which means 50 50 or less to me. GWU and Tulane are nearish to that level as well. Imho Geography. Other kids in her class applying. Relative rigor and ap scores will weigh in as well

If you happen to be an underrepresented ethnic group. All of them are matches or better.

14

For an education major consider staying close to where you want to live. Getting student teacher jobs in the district in which you want to work can be a huge leg up in the job search.

15

Thank you to all for these great ideas! This is exactly what I needed. I was interested to hear some well-informed ideas, and around here in our school district I feel like a lone wolf. Most parents are focused on the mighty UCs if they have high-achieving kids, or on the most famous prestigious schools like Stanford, Ivies, NYU, etc. Meanwhile her GC is a typical public-school overburdened and under-informed GC, albeit very sweet. My D did a winter break test prep class at a college consulting company that caters to kids aiming for that same small list of reach schools and the UCs, so I’ve gotten all I can out of their advice. I appreciate everyone’s insights, therefore.

We toured Occidental in February this year, and it’s a strong choice for her. I had also booked a tour of LMU this weekend and we will make a return trip to Oxy to attend a choir concert and chat with their choral director. I’m a graduate of Pomona, and have been in a gradual 5-year process of letting go of the idea of having D apply there. We can’t afford to have her apply ED, probably really shouldn’t be considering a full pay school anyway, and in the RD cycle she just really doesn’t have a chance. It’s been on the bubble for a few months and I think I’ve finally convinced myself an application there would be a waste of time and money and a bit hard on my heart when they turn her down.

There are many great selections among the suggested schools and I’ve already begun researching.

@Hapworth I’ve heard of the Loren Pope book but haven’t obtained a copy – I think it’s time for me to do so. Thanks for the reminder. Part of me thinks my daughter’s SAT score is a blessing in disguise. It’s an excellent, strong score, but it’s not a 1500’s score. I personally know of two boys, also juniors, who have scores in the low 1500s. One is, as a result, aiming for Stanford. The other just visited Dartmouth and Duke. Both may indeed get into those schools, but I think my daughter’s status makes us more clear-eyed on reasonable expectations. My son, a freshman, has a teammate who was shocked to be shut out of the UCs despite what seem like good stats. I can see what strategies don’t work, and we’re not going in those directions.

@inthegarden My daughter is fascinated by comparative religions, and is an observant Catholic in the social justice model of Pope Francis (in other words, relatively liberal). She compelled me last fall to begin taking her to other places of worship so she can experience and study them. In the last six months, she has gone to nine different churches/mosques/temples/meeting places. I’m hoping she will write up her observations this summer when she finally has some time, and put together a little blog to document her experience. I have accompanied her to nearly all these visits and it’s been deeply enriching for me too. The experience is helping D clarify that understanding the religiosity of cultures, and cultures within cultures, helps us understand the human experience, and that religious practice provides insights that can be leveraged in education, social services, and mental health. I’ve heard really positive things about St Olaf (and myself spent a summer in Northfield as a college student on a summer research grant at Carleton, and enjoyed it). It could indeed be a good fit for her, and I’m looking into it.

Thanks again!

16

Lewis and Clark has religious studies, pre professional education track, and possible merit.
https://college.lclark.edu/academics/pre_professional/education/

There is nothing wrong with her test scores! Lots of good colleges out there for her! Wow when did 1400 come to be bad?

Whitman also comes to mind. And there are many test optional schools if desired.

17

Boston University would be a high match and has a great education program.

18

I’ll put in a plug for Willamette in Salem, OR… it’s an easy 1-hour ride to Portland airport. They don’t have an undergrad major in education but if your daughter wants to teach in CA she’ll need to do that 5th year teaching credential program anyway and she can do that back in CA. Willamette is in the CTCL consortium.

19

OP,

Okay, you’re a Pomona grad, and as I stated before, your posts show a strong awareness of the college landscape. Others are newbies. They’re unaware of LACs. They’re unaware of merit money. You’re ahead of the game.

Occidental is a great example of a strong match school. Plus, Oxy is a great school. I wouldn’t rule out Pomona, unless your daughter truly will be crushed by a rejection (and you too!). She’ll get a mild boost as a legacy. Yeah, there’s still the full pay issue, though. :frowning: If you concentrate mostly on matches and likely-admits, a single reach or two should be okay. Again, if your daughter can handle rejection. The very definition of “reach” means that rejection is a very real possibility.

Listen, I don’t like to mention specific schools, because we all have our faves. That said, one of my faves was mentioned by another poster: Whitman. I have heard nothing but good things about Whitman (plus, there’s a really cool indie band, Chastity Belt, who are Whitman grads). This would allow your daughter to still be on the best coast, but still feel like she is going away to school (because she is!). The only negative some mention about Whitman is its lack of racial diversity; it’s a bit whiter than other places. Whitman will be on my radar when my daughter, who is fourteen, looks at colleges in a few years (or, rather, I hope that my daughter puts it on her radar).

Again, your daughter is actually in an awesome–even enviable–position. She has so many great schools to consider. Just because Stanford and the Ivies are not play is no loss at all. As an LAC grad, you should know this already. :slight_smile:

20

Earlham is one of the CTCL colleges and they offer a Religion major as well as a new 3+1 combined 4-yr (9 semesters) bachelors/Masters in Education program.

I think they were mentioned upthread as being 1 hr from Indy which is true but the Indy airoort is on the far side of the city. Earlham runs inexpensive shuttles to and from Dayton airport. They are also very easy about staying in the dorms during some breaks, offer free summer storage, are priced lower than some, and would probably offer your D merit aid. Very diverse student body including 20% international, from many different countries not just China.