I am helping a kid to select from these schools for ED app: Syracuse University, Bentley University, and Santa Clara University.
Two main concerns: 1. Easier to get in - 2. Good job placement after graduation.
The kid’s grades and test scores are not stellar. GPA is around 3.3 - 3.4. SAT CR is 480 (international student - planned to retake in October), Math 630.
Please give your opinions. Thanks.
Personally, I think SCU and SU are out of reach with that CR score.
Bentley might be as well.
Does this kid need financial aid too?
Why is it necessary for her to apply ED?
My S had much higher GPA (3.6)and SAT (1400) scores 4 years ago and did not get into Bentley. Why apply ED?
Unless the SAT CR score comes way up, I’d consider other schools. The ones on your list are likely out of reach.
If she does not have a clear first choice, or she will need to compare financial aid and scholarship offers, then applying ED is unlikely to be suitable for her.
Even if this student needs no financial aid…she has a combined CR/Math score of 1110/1600.
I think all three of these schools are reaches. If she is applying to be directly admitted to Syracuse or Santa Clara for business, I don’t think either will be an “easier admit”.
Bentley…what does she have to offer on her application besides her GPA and SAT score? Has she created her own business, for example?
Best to come back when you have her new scores.
Currently those colleges are out of reach.
The kid does not need FA. He is applying ED for a better chance. His ECs are mainly soccer and dance.
My opinion…even as a full pay, these schools are iffy for admission even ED.
The business programs at Santa Clara and Syracuse are VERY competitive for direct admission as an incoming freshman. This student would have to have something very special to offer the schools to be considered. They get plenty of extremely well qualified ED applicants.
Bentley is a business college primarily. They really look at business things on the application. It doesn’t sound like this student has been involved in any business ventures…I don’t think that is going to tip the scales in her favor.
You say she is international? Where from? If it’s a very underrepresented country, maybe this will help her…but it would similarly help her regular decision. If she is from a highly represented country, being international could actually work against her. Remember that her application will be reviewed with others from the region in which she resides.
The edge for applying ED…remember also that many ED applicants are athletes, and legacies. Syracuse has many ED admits who are athletes.
If you are looking for a sure thing in terms of admission…I’m not sure any of these schools currently fit that.
What is her primary language? And has she also taken the TOEFL?
This kid is from Indonesia. TOEFL score is 89.
What are the alternative schools that you would recommend for ED? Thanks.
I don’t think with the critical reading score that this student is competitive for any school with ED. This student should be applying to schools with rolling admission. I looked at two in my region with reputations for taking students with lower scores and he would still be bottom 25 percent with that CR score. I don’t know if they give leeway to internationals or not.
I think with a sub-500 CR school you should be looking at rolling admission schools - directional universities or secondary campuses of state schools.
@coolweather Look is US News in the A schools for B students section and look for schools with AACSB accredited business schools. Also look in Regional Universities section. Princeton Review has a group of 380 schools rated “top” which isn’t selectivity based like many rankings.
Once more…with vigor.
Why does this student need to apply early decision…anywhere?
There are going to be plenty of competitive students apply for admission from this region.
I agree…look for a couple of rolling admission schools with lower admission requirements.
For example, University of Alabama has rolling admissions…application is online for submission right now. This student won’t get any merit aid from the school, but would get an admissions decision within a couple of weeks. If she doesn’t get accepted to Alabama, that will give you a sense of where she stands. If she does, you have one acceptance in the bag.
My son is applying to Bentley and Syracuse (Whitman), and we visited both schools and had interviews at both. I think both are outstanding with great placement, and I think they are high match schools for my son (full pay, 3.7 gpa, 1210/1600 sat, graduating from well known private, challenging curriculum).
At Whitman, we asked about their admission statistics (as opposed to the whole of Syracuse) and it is harder to get into than Syracuse University arts and sciences. My son was slightly under in terms of SAT scores. And on target for average gpa.
Bottom line, I think they are pretty challenging to get into though I can see the appeal! Maybe some of my son’s lower matches/safeties would be better fits for your student. Check out Bryant, University of Vermont, University of Colorado Boulder, College of Charleston as other possibilities.
You could still try to do ED at one of the reaches, but definitely have some other schools’ (preferably one rolling which we couldn’t seem to find one that we liked) applications all ready to go.