<p>I am finding Naviance more frustrating then helpful. First most of the schools son is interested in are blocked because there were not enough applicants to keep students identities annoymous. Second no one else has the combination of high test scores and lower grades.</p>
<p>My S had lower grades and high test scores, he was often to the right of most dots but also below them. I took those to be somewhat reachy…but also looked at whether the school listed test scores highly in what they consider.</p>
<p>The privacy block is annoying (though I get it). We seem to have a minimum of 3 apps for the graph to appear which is pretty reasonable. Only two of his schools didn’t have a graph. In those cases I had to look at the average gpa and scores (for all applicants) listed in the section below and try to ballpark chances.</p>
<p>Cappex has graphs too, though I think they are composed of only kids who put their info on Cappex?</p>
<p>I have a DS’ from 2010. When we were looking for him, Naviance was new and lots of schools were blocked. Now, three or four years later, many schools are no longer blocked because they combine the results from a number of classes and voila, more data. DS was also high test scores, low grades. He was fine in the end, but it was a nervous 6 months.</p>
<p>DS got an invite to apply to National Honor Society Chapter in our HS (have to have GPA over 3.75). Has to write an essay, get recommendation and other things he would prefer to avoid. Is it worth it? I would prefer to avoid nagging if there is nothing to be gained. I read that NHS requires community service but he already volunteers so that particular gain is moot. Any experience anyone?</p>
<p>Mom24boys–I have found the same thing at our school, the blocks, while understandable for the most part, are annoying. So far only one school our son is looking at is “unblocked”, some of the schools have 50+ kids that have applied there and are still blocked. I don’t know if there is a form some kids sign that blocks their information that causes that or what?</p>
<p>I wish the search engines would categorize by ‘reach’, safety, etc. We are finding that most of the schools they are looking at aren’t showing up on the searches. Most of these schools the kids come in at or near the top of the applicant pool and we would like to see more possibilities for other schools like that. They know their “reach” schools already but we want more of those mid-range ones that they have a high chance to get into but still qualifies them for good merit aid.</p>
<p>Momof NEA-NSH is a good thing but in our school the kids are required to attend the meetings (before school) and if you miss more than 2 you are kicked out. Same goes with the volunteer work, if you miss 2 you are kicked out. Not all schools are that strict but I would have your son check with kids in the NHS now to see what the rule is at your school.</p>
<p>A</p>
<p>Those finding a lot of schools blocked on Naviance should perhaps talk to your GCs about the level at which it’s set (this is controlled by the individual HS, I think). Let them know that you’re trying to do some of this work on your own but that this tool, as set up, isn’t as helpful as it could be. The GC might just go ahead and print out the scattergram for you individually. My GC did, and I didn’t even ask her to. She’s so nice. :)</p>
<p>In the schools’ defense, even though 50 kids may have applied to the school, maybe only one got accepted. And if they unblock that school and there’s only one acceptance and everyone knows it’s Sally then everyone also learns Sally’s GPA and SAT score because she stands out as the one positive data point.</p>
<p>ETA: For reference, I think that ours is set at three data points in the accepted and denied categories. The scattergram the GC printed for me that’s blocked is for a school we’re visiting this week. There are three yesses and one no, so it’s blocked because the no, techinically, could be identified.</p>
<p>I guess I didn’t think of it that way. I know that one school has a high number of applicants and attendees but maybe only a couple of declines? I will have our S ask the GC for the graphs and see what she says.</p>
<p>Wow - lots of good conversation. And congrats on all the great SAT scores. S2 is taking it for the first (and hopefully only) time in March. I need to dig out his sister’s SAT study guide and see if he’ll look at it. </p>
<p>S2 finished his busy week and we all survived. He sang in 2 competitions yesterday, but since we were running to get to the next event, he didn’t get to stay to hear the results. His school choir teacher should have his results from the first one on Monday, but the other (a national competition) said that they would post results online sometime this week so fingers crossed. If he is a finalist, he will go to Chicago in May to continue to compete. The judges were verbally very complementary after he performed, but that doesn’t always mean much. </p>
<p>He got to cap off the stressful week with a very fun time with friends at the school dance so “all’s well that ends well.”</p>
<p>Doing some college visits this weekend/Monday so we will see how those go.</p>
<p>Winter break here for schools even though winter seems to have forgotten to get to Boston.(no complaints though)</p>
<p>S was working on Robotics all day long today and will be spending the next five days on it from day break to night. The competition is only a month away and the team is working hard to complete the task. Mean while, he also has to prepare for his Drivers ed test- i have promised to take him this week. He enrolled in a linear algebra class in a nearby university two weeks ago, the class meets every thursday. So he has homework from that along with his AP US HISTORY homework from school. His English teacher also has assigned some reading over the break…
So a busy week for my S13- but he is enjoying the fact that he doesn’t have to go to school for a week and get to do things he likes…</p>
<p>Also…congrats to all good SAT scores…</p>
<p>Megpmom…best wishes for your son…</p>
<p>^ Thanks, Donivrian. We found out today that he is a finalist for the Classical Singer competition, so looks like we’re going to Chicago in May. He will have to miss his dance recital because it is the same weekend - first time in 15 years that we haven’t made it to dance recital with at least one of my kids. But he’s chosen a career in voice, not dance so it’s time to make hard decisions. Now I just have to break the news to his dance teacher.</p>
<p>Yea, Megpmom!</p>
<p>4 colleges in 3 days. S went to Grinnell based on recommendations here, HATED it. The admissions counselor for his “interview” was downright rude. His tour guide spent more time texting his friends than talking to DS. It’s a really small school, which DS prefers, but this was too small. Facilities were not very good. They set his schedule up we ended up with an hour and a half between the tour and dinner. He asked to talk to some professors, didn’t get to talk to a single one. Wanted to meet with advisers for some EC’s he was considering, none were set up. I guess I fail to see the draw of this school? What did we miss?</p>
<p>He liked Central though. He went there because it was close to Grinnell and they have his major. They set him up to talk to everyone he wanted to see. The department chair spent an hour talking to him about the program and just life in general at the school, etc. Everyone was very friendly, a lot of students coming up to say “hi”, “welcome”, asked about programs he was interested in, etc. The couple that he talked to with similar majors spent some time just chatting with him. Going into this he was looking at this as a safety school coming in on the top end of the applicant pool so good chance of great merit aid. It’s now on his list of “top” choices.</p>
<p>Also went to Drake, again because they have his major. He will probably apply there, nothing great, nothing bad just kind of oh hum about the school, but if they come through with lots of money wouldn’t count it out.</p>
<p>We did a quick trip up to Washington University in St. Louis. Looks like a great school for D2 on paper but none of us loved it. It’s a beautiful campus and everyone was nice (as a matter of fact the “nice factor” was mentioned several times during the presentation and tour.) But it just seemed very…vanilla. Nothing grabbed D’s attention and she decided not to sit in on a class. It’s still on the list but remained color coded yellow; nothing made her move it up to green or down to red. </p>
<p>It was a bit windy & it was interesting to watch D in the cold (it was in the 40’s so it really was a nice winter day for St. Louis, but it wasn’t like a southern winter day!) I still think that weather is going to be a partial factor in her decision making. I’m actually wondering if her list is going to end up being seriously revamped after our Spring Break trip.</p>
<p>Happy Mardi Gras!!</p>
<p>40’s is on the cold side for St. Louis in the winter, isn’t it? We done drive by “tours” of Wash U. I agree, nice campus but nothing special. We’ve heard they are strong in the sciences and a good feeder for medical schools though.</p>
<p>My big brother goes to wash u and loves it. He can’t get over the campus. Have you been all around the campus or just driven past? I suggest a tour. Lots of jews there though. Which obviously isn’t a problem, it just seems to be the college they congregate to most! 40s is a little chilly for them, but it’s been in the 50s mostly, and when you come from Minnesota you take hat you can get. Honestly not sure why I’m on a parent forum, probably just bored. I have influenza…</p>
<p>We did the tour & info session. The campus buildings are very new or recently renovated. When you first pull up it’s very “ooh! impressive!” but after walking around for a while, it started to feel a little generic. I can’t put my finger on it. There was absolutely nothing wrong or bad; we didn’t leave disliking it at all. But when we did our “rack and stack 'em” post visit drill in the car, it was hard for us to come up with anything that stood out, KWIM?</p>
<p>Looking at weather their average January high/low is 39/21 so cooler than here for sure. </p>
<p>Feel better eagle39!</p>
<p>RobD, I like it the way your D has organized her spreadsheet- color coded etc…</p>
<p>We haven’t started the tours yet. St. Luis is a city we go very often due to family there. I wish S applies to Wash U. But he seems not that interested.</p>
<p>At present, what my S has is a list of colleges he wishes to get into in navience- most of them high reaches. I need to make sure he adds some safeties to the list that he likes.</p>