Parents of the HS Class of 2017 - 3.0 to 3.4 GPA

Parents Forum
1961

Posting here - Also send to @eandesmom

My D17 stats are a little above the title of this thread. But she was a late bloomer in HS (no activities in 9th and 10th grade) and struggles quite a bit to keep her stats high. These 4 colleges especially would be good options for kids with stats just below hers…

DRURY UNIVERSITY (Springfield MO): AR 65%, AVG GPA 3.8, SAT NR, ACT 20-31 (26 AVG)
Accepted by stlarenas D17 (Rolling) Major: Undecided
GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $35,500 (private)
Merit: Trustee ($17k/yr)

TRUMAN STATE (Kirksville MO): AR 79%, AVG GPA 3.76, SAT 619 avg, ACT 25-30 (27 AVG)
Accepted by stlarenas D17 (Rolling) Major: Undecided
GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $17500 (in-state)
Merit: various ($8k/yr)

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (Fulton MO): AR 64%, AVG GPA 3.38, SAT 560 avg, ACT 21-26 (23 AVG)
Accepted by stlarenas D17 (Rolling) Major: Undecided
GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $36500 (private)
Merit: Churchill ($15k/yr) + school grant ($6k/yr)

PITTSBURG STATE (Pittsburg KS): AR 81%, AVG GPA 3.3, SAT NR, ACT 18-23
Accepted by stlarenas D17 (Rolling) Major: Undecided
GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $18000 (MSEP) - Flat rate tuition (same price for any # of credit hrs over 10)
Merit: unknown (hoping for Honors college acceptance and scholarship)

1962

@klinska Congrats on the honors!!

I would probably send an update to some of the schools. Depends on the school & and what type of school they are. A large state school I might not. (In my case neither the UC’s nor Cal States make it easy to add any information) When does the decision for the ED school come out? Might be a little late for that school. (I’m confused is it ED or EA? I thought with ED you couldn’t apply more broadly except schools with an early deadline.)

I’m right there with you. The only award my kid has ever gotten was NM Commended. So any award I’d want to include in their apps.

1963

@klinska Seems like it wouldn’t hurt, right? Prob is too late for American but you never know. I’d go for it.

1964

OUTCOMES A - L

**CARTHAGE COLLEGE ** AR 71% GPA 3.3, ACT 21-27 [ul]Accepted
smakl70 son EA Computer Science | GPA: 4.75/5, ACT: 25
Other factors: 1AP, lots of honors, 2 sport varsity athlete (not recruited), robotics
COA: $51,240 | NPC Merit $15,000 | Actual Merit $17,000 [/ul]

**COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ** AR 81% Avg GPA 3.59, M 520-630, CR 520-620, ACT 22-28[ul]Accepted
** Snoozn’s D ** EA Electrical Engineering | GPA 3.9 UW, 4.4 WT, ACT: 30 (E: 27 M: 33 R: 32 S: 27)
Other factors: 3 AP’s, honors (AP/honors only in STEM and English), 4-year high school engineering program, weak EC’s
COA: $26,402 IN STATE | NPC merit (merit not in NPC) + need-based $0 = $0 | Actual merit ? + need-based $0 = $0[/ul]

**DRURY UNIVERSITY /b: AR 65%, AVG GPA 3.8, SAT NR, ACT 20-31 (26 AVG)[ul]Accepted
**stlarenas D17/b Major: Undecided | GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $35,500 (private) | Actual Merit: Trustee ($17k/yr) : [/ul]

**ECKERD COLLEGE ** AR 73% Avg GPA 3.38, M 500-600, CR 500-610, ACT 23-28[ul]Accepted
Queen’s Mom’s D: EA | GPA 3.3 UW, SAT/ACT: 1200 new SAT superscore
Other factors: 4AP’s, lots of honors, URM, founded and president of school club
COA:$57,164 | Actual merit 17k: [/ul]

**ELMHURST COLLEGE ** AR 68% AVG GPA 3.32, ACT 21-26 [ul]Accepted
smakl70 son EA Computer Science | GPA: 4.75/5, ACT: 25
Other factors: 1AP, lots of honors, 2 sport varsity athlete (not recruited), robotics
COA: $45,178 | NPC Merit $16,000 merit + $2000 housing | Actual Merit $17,000 merit [/ul]

**HOPE COLLEGE ** AR 67% AVG GPA 3.5-4.0, ACT 24-29, SAT 1090-1300 [ul]Accepted
smakl70 son EA Computer Science | GPA: 4.75/5, ACT: 25
Other factors: 1AP, lots of honors, 2 sport varsity athlete (not recruited), robotics
COA: $39,00 | NPC Merit $10,000 | Actual Merit ? (has merit awards but amount unknown) [/ul]

**HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY /b: AR 75%, AVG GPA 3.26, SAT M (489) CR (505), ACT 18-24 (20 AVG) [ul]Accepted
**curiocitycat333’s S /b Major: CS | GPA 3.24 (W) 3.5 (UC GPA), new SAT 1520,
Other: 4APs, Concert Band (4 yrs), Marching Band (4 yrs), Color Guard, Robotics Club (4 yrs), CIT (2 summers)
COA: $23,954 (in-state) | NPC Merit $0 | Actual Merit $0
[/ul]

**JUNIATA ** AR 77% Avg GPA 3.72 , M 520-630, CR 520-620, ACT 22-32[ul]Accepted
Coyote-son RD (but submitted 11/1) History/Computer Sci.
GPA 3.8 UW, ACT: 31; SAT: 1360 (math went down 30 points on second try)
Other factors: moderate ECs (Robotics, some community service, internship)
COA: $51,740 | Cost for Coyote-son: $26.7K[/ul]

**KNOX COLLEGE ** AR 64% Av GPA n/a M 590-660 CR 580-630 ACT 23-29[list]Accepted
kt1969’s D EA: Computer Science | GPA 3.25 UW new SAT 1230 superscore
Other factors: no hooks, 1 AP and lots of accelerated/honors, minor ECs
COA: $54,654 | NPC merit $20,000 + 0 need-based= $20,000 | Actual merit $20,000 + unknown FA = $20,00 [list]

1965

OUTCOMES M-Z

**NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE ** AR 64% AVG GPA 3.6 ACT 22-27 [ul]Accepted
smakl70 son EA Computer Science | GPA: 4.75/5, ACT: 25
Other factors: 1AP, lots of honors, 2 sport varsity athlete (not recruited), robotics
COA: $46,830 | NPC Merit $18,700 | Actual Merit $19,000 [/ul]

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY /b AR 78% Avg GPA 3.58, M 490-630, CR 480-610, ACT 21-28[ul]Accepted
** Snoozn’s D EA Electrical Engineering | GPA 3.9 UW, 4.4 WT, ACT: 30 (E: 27 M: 33 R: 32 S: 27)
Other factors: 3 AP’s, honors (AP/honors only in STEM and English), 4-year high school engineering program, weak EC’s
COA: $41,765 OOS | NPC merit $5,000 merit + need-based $0 = $5,000 | Actual merit $8,000 + need-based $0 = $8,000[/ul]

**PITTSBURG STATE /b: AR 81%, AVG GPA 3.3, SAT NR, ACT 18-23

[ul]Accepted
** stlarenas D17 /b Major: Undecided | GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $18000 (MSEP) - Flat rate tuition (same price for any # of credit hrs over 10)| Actual Merit: unknown : [/ul]

**TRUMAN STATE /b: AR 79%, AVG GPA 3.76, SAT 619 avg, ACT 25-30 (27 AVG) [ul]Accepted
**stlarenas D17/b Major: Undecided | GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $17500 (in-state) | Actual Merit: various ($8k/yr) : [/ul]

SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY AR 76% Avg GPA 3.46, M 510-610, CR 500-610, ACT 23-287[ul]Accepted
klinska’s D: : EA Political Science/College of Arts & Sciences | GPA 3.66 W, SAT/ACT: 1270 new SAT single test
Other factors: 6AP’s, 10 honors, limited ECs
COA: $57.6K | NPC merit $26) + need-based $0 = $26K| Actual merit: $28K [list]

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AR 79% Avg GPA 3.39, M 500-610, CR 500-600, ACT 22-27 [list]Accepted
klinska’s D: : EA Political Science/College of Arts & Sciences | GPA 3.66 W, SAT/ACT: 1270 new SAT single test
Other factors: 6AP’s, 10 honors, limited ECs
COA: $47.8K OOS |NPC merit ($6K) + need based ($0) = $6K | Actual merit: $6K [list]

**UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT **/u AR 71% Avg GPA 3.53 M 560-650 CR 590-690, ACT 26-30[list]Accepted
klinska’s D: : EA Political Science/College of Arts & Sciences| GPA 3.66 W, SAT/ACT: 1270 new SAT single test
Other factors: 6AP’s, 10 honors, limited ECs
COA: $55K OOS| NPC merit ($15K) + need-based ($0) = $15K| Actual merit: ?? [list]

**URSINUS **/u AR 83% Avg GPA 3.19, M 520-630, CR 520-620, ACT 23-30[list]Accepted
eandesmom’s S: EA Environmental Studies| GPA 3.35 UW, ACT: 25C superscore, 26 writing
Other factors: 6AP’s, 3 honors, founded school club, member of another, student council, strong music and theater EC’s, Presidents Silver Award community service 10/11th grade, 2 jobs , involved in local politics
COA: $65,012| NPC merit + need-based =$30,610| Actual merit 24K + need based (?) = $24K: [list]

**VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY ** AR 82% AVG GPA 3.67, ACT 23-29 [list]Accepted
smakl70 son EA Computer Science | GPA: 4.75/5, ACT: 25
Other factors: 1AP, lots of honors, 2 sport varsity athlete (not recruited), robotics
COA: $48,370 | NPC Merit ? | Actual merit $20,000 [/ul]

**WESTMINSTER COLLEGE /b: AR 64%, AVG GPA 3.38, SAT 560 avg, ACT 21-26 (23 AVG) [ul]Accepted
**stlarenas D17 /b Major: Undecided | GPA 3.7, no SAT, ACT 30 (31 superscored)
Other: 6APs, 11 honors, 2 varsity sports only Jr. and Sr year, Paid job at Kumon, few volunteer hrs, Student Council cabinet member Sr. yr only (really no activities, sports, or job in 9th and 10th grade)
COA: $36500 (private) | Actual Merit: Churchill ($15k/yr) + school grant ($6k/yr) : [/ul]

**WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY **/u AR 85% Avg GPA 3.43, M 500-600, CR 500-510, ACT 22-27[list]Accepted
eandesmom’s S: EA Environmental Studies | GPA 3.35 UW, ACT: 25C superscore, 26 writing
Other factors: 6AP’s, honors, founded school club, member of another, student council, strong music and theater EC’s, Presidents Silver Award community service 10/11th grade, 2 jobs , involved in local politics
COA: $22,236 IN STATE | NPC merit + need-based = 0 | Actual merit $1K: [list]

**Snoozn’s D ** EA Electrical Engineering | GPA 3.9 UW, 4.4 WT, ACT: 30 (E: 27 M: 33 R: 32 S: 27)
Other factors: 3 AP’s, honors (AP/honors only in STEM and English), 4-year high school engineering program, weak EC’s
COA: $34,664 OOS | NPC merit $8,000 merit + need-based $0 = $8,000 | Actual merit $11,000 + need-based $0 = $11,000 [list]

**WHITTIER COLLEGE ** AR 63% Avg GPA 3.51, M 470-590, CR 460-560, ACT 20-26[list]Accepted
Queen’s Mom’s D: EA | GPA 3.3 UW, SAT/ACT: 1200 new SAT superscore
Other factors: 4AP’s, lots of honors, URM, founded and president of school club
COA: $59,825| Actual merit 24K: [list]

1966

So much going on! Congrats to @curiositycat333, @stlarenas, @snoozn, @kt1969, @MomStudent2017 and probably
others that I missed because I think that is just yesterday’s batch!

@klinska I’m no expert but if it was my kid, I’d be encouraging him to send an update. I think the worst that can reasonably happen (if it’s politely worded etc) is that they’ll ignore it. And it might help her applications, you never know.

Also reporting in with our own piece of good news from yesterday: an acceptance at Trinity University (the one in Texas). Yay! @eandesmom I will PM you info for the outcomes doc (assuming I can figure out how send a PM) but will probably wait till the end of next week because there are a couple more EA schools still to hear from.

1967

:-SS Waving to all here! :-SS

This is a CRAZY time of year for me at work. I personally process about 1000 hand signed xmas cards that might be signed by 1 or 8 people, depending on the client, match it all up with gifts (at various levels) or not, and oversee the buying/mailing /shipping or personally hand deliver the gifts. In many ways it is my favorite time of year as it’s such a happy positive interaction with the clients but…my hand hurts after all that signing (many with actual personal comments/notes). So, I may get a little behind in the next week or two but I am trackign all the outcomes that come my way. PM really helps so thank you all!

As you can see, we’ve exceeded the characters for a single post. I’m not sure how long it will last at 2 posts broken up alpha but am happy to keep it up if everyone finds it valuable. I did consolidate some lines as you will see but that doesn’t help the character issue, it just makes it shorter to read lol. If anyone’s info is incorrect or missing or you ahve updates, just let me know.

@klinska YAY for the DL! S still doesn’t have his. For that matter SD14 doesn’t have hers but that’s another story entirely. S has taken drivers ed but is SO distractible (extroverted squirrel chaser) that he freaked us out on the road. We really intended ot get it done over the summer but he was so busy there was never time for solid practicing. It needs to and will happen before he goes to college but I have to admit, it’s really not that big of a deal. We do not have an extra car most of the time and I am ok not paying those extra insurance rates!

I would update all her schools. For a couple of reasons. Acceptance is one but even for ones she is already in at, you never know if it could have a merit impact. Good news is never a bad thing to report and it is good news so congrats! That said, she should be the one doing the emails on these I’d think so it may come down to whether she is willing to do so (my S would likely not be).

@stlarenas that is wonderful! I have heard of this myth of revised awards, how fun to see one so soon! I have heard good things about Truman!

@MomStudent2017 shoot, I just saw your post, I’ll get you added in. The PM’s help me not lose people :slight_smile: Congrats, that is wonderful! Ohio University was on our list for a bit.

@CoyoteMom UGH on your S’s name mix up at George Mason, glad you were able to get it straightened out. UGH on the grades, that is so frustrating. So far so good here (except for a missing/not missing assignment in Sr Civics that I hope gets fixed int he gradebook soon) however S felt he did really poorly on a Calc test this week so I am a bit nervous about that. I haven’t checked to see if that grade is in or not. The good news is if you have until 2/3, that should be time to make improvement. HUGS though!

@kt1969 any acceptance is good and merit is even better. Funny to find out that way though.

@rolani88 congrats on all your apps and getting some fee waivers! I’m a bit jealous of the waiver at UPS lol. I think casting a wide net is wise as long as they are all affordable, it looks like a good list to me, although U Denver is pretty pricey I think and not known for merit but maybe they have good FA? I’ve not looked at that one closely. I agree with the UVM comment, we looked at UDel but the financials didn’t work but UVM seemed to be a better possibility for merit, and admittance, a lot of students on this thread have applied there. Thank you for the update, please keep us all posted!

@snoozn Congrats on Michigan Tech. Your D should likely get WUE there wouldn’t she? It could be a real OOS contender.

@93pilots Congrats on Trinity! That is wonderful.

1968

oooh Heroic Keeper of Decisions. I like that.

LOL!

1969

I was considering sending in our original NPC calculations, but because of our weird situation, the numbers were WAY off and pretty much useless. Still waiting on financial aid.

1970

Thanks, @eandesmom ! I looked at it again and now there are more details on the St Edward’s website [still no notification though]. The $23,500 includes the $5500 that can be borrowed, so it’s really 18K. Nothing to sneeze at but less than the 20K on the NPC. Wondering how/when they will actually notify.

Congrats to all on new acceptances!

1971

@snoozn Regarding a car… I did tell S17 that if he ends up at Humboldt we would seriously consider a car for him. But that’s mostly for the opposite reason than your D, it’s so remote it’s hard to travel to except by car. And it’s a long drive away from home. And it’s since it’s of his least expensive options, so a car really wouldn’t break a bank.

1972

Riddle me this…

S received a hand written holiday/greeting card from an alum at one of his schools. It is not a school he has been able to visit or interview with. It was not a request for an interview, more of a “hey I’m happy to hear you are interested in my school and here is why it is so great and what it did for me with a feel free to contact me with any questions” kind of thing and included an email. He tossed the envelope but I don’t recall it as being a local address at all.

Not planning on having him contact the alum, but not really sure what to make of it either lol. Any thoughts?

S’s comment after seeing it was that they must pay people to write those and he couldn’t imagine anything he would rather not do.

My response was I thought it was very nice and that no, alum’s are generally not paid for that kind of thing, they actually like to do it.

@kt1969 nope, nothing to sneeze at but I definitely dislike it when things come in less than the NPC.

@“Queen’s Mom” that makes sense on not reporting your NPC, but that has to be frustrating (unless things are coming in better lol).

1973

@eandesmom That’s interesting about the card. Hmm. If your son is still interested it would be good for him to follow up, but I know my D wouldn’t do it if it were her. :slight_smile: My D did get a holiday card from the student who interviewed her at Mt Holyoke. D17 was very dismissive. :slight_smile:

1974

@kt1969 oh he is definitely interested in the school but really has no questions to email this alum about (has never heard from this person before either) so it’s pretty awkward for him to contemplate what he’d even manufacture to say in an email. I suppose he could email back a thanks for the card and positive feedback on the school and wish him/her (can’t tell) happy hollidays. But, I can see from his standpoint how that would feel forced and phony.

1975

THANKS for all the congratulations! Expecting both ED & Reach notifications next week … so nervous about the ED. CONGRATULATIONS on all the new acceptances, honors, etc! =D>

1976

I’ve lurked here a bit… S17 has higher gpa than this thread’s name, (93.7 UW, 95.5 W), but his scores are more in line–1340 SAT, 28 ACT, and he’s really not interested in Ivies or super reach type schools (although he now has renewed interest in UChicago, eye-roll!). And reading back a bit, you all seem really cool :slight_smile:

He’s admitted to MSU as a James Madison major (residential college within MSU for social/political science), and we’re waiting on merit & other aid from there. He’s also applied EA to 2 SUNY’s–Albany & Buffalo, we’re NYS residents. They’re easy match/safeties for him, but I’d just like to know so we can get on with decisions, etc…

I can’t remember who mentioned the name issue with schools. I think we’re finally getting S name issue worked out. When he registered for the PSAT, he somehow got into the College Board system with a name that’s 1 letter off from his given name–both would be recognized as “normal” names. He took the PSAT and 2 APs under that name without us noticing, although I was amused at the amount of college mail we were getting for the wrong 1st name. Then came time to register for the SAT, when I finally noticed the error–what a PAIN to get his College Board name changed! All his scores are now under the right name, but we still get mail for his alternate persona…

1977

@eandesmom I think I’d have my son write a simple, thanks for the note, I’m good with everything, the school looks great, thanks for contacting me, I appreciate it.

It can’t hurt.

Good luck to all of your kids in here with EA decisions coming out soon! I hope they get into some fantastic choices!

1978

@eandesmom I agree with @RightCoaster although even as I type this I am thinking this type of note would be sort of a tough sell in our house. I would suggest it but wouldn’t actually force it, I think. Yikes, so many little things to worry about.

1979

Thank you @eandesmom for all that you do. I too am inundated this time of year, however, just let me know what you need. I am a good souz chef, and I take direction well. Delagate! You have staff.

1980

@eandesmom - The answer, I think, to your riddle is “Advertising Gimmick!” At least, that’s what it looks like to me. Coyote-son got a handwritten note just as you described, also from a school that looks like a good fit on paper, though we haven’t visited yet. (And also from a "local’ alum in our State, but from almost 2-hours away!)
I can barely get Coyote-son to write a proper email thank you for an interview with an actual Admissions Counselor - but I don’t think it’s necessary to reply to this unofficial alum note - I think it’s meant simply to impress us by reinforcing the school’s personal and friendly reputation. Anyway, that’s how I’ve interpreted it.