<p>Isn’t U of Wisconsin a state flagship? Georgia Tech is a state school. I’m from Canada and have friends and relatives who graduated from all the Canadian universities mentioned. They’re just big Canadian public universities. They’re fine, but I think they’re mostly enjoying some sort of “foreign = exotic and classy” association in the American mind. Has OP identified the dreaded state flagship? For all we know it could be U Wisconsin, UNC Chapel Hill, or another highly regarded public.</p>
<p>It could be that the state flagship is so strong that only a top 20 would justify the additional expense. Regardless of the state flagship, there will be outstanding students there, like the OP’s D, because some students’ families can not afford a more expensive college.
I don’t think it is as much “dreaded” as familiar. Elite universities are filled with outstanding students. State colleges have a wider range, so it may not feel as great an accomplishment to be accepted there intitially. Acceptance though, is just the beginning, and outstanding students will likely do very well in college too. I think the OP’s D is well prepared to succeed at the school she ends up in.</p>
<p>Virginia kids have this problem. Even some of the top 20 are hard to justify if you could go to UVA (or if it’s more to your taste, William and Mary) for a fraction of the cost.</p>
<p>Come on guys, it’s pretty evident the OP isn’t referring to one of the “uber” state flagships like Michigan. It’s pretty clear she perceives it as a major step down into mediocrity. No one who lives in MI feels that way about Michigan. </p>
<p>I’m still curious why top 20 became the magic bright line.</p>
<p>I have never seen anyone give up after one SAT test in January of their junior year! :p</p>
<p>The test cycle shows about 6-7 SATs and 6-7 ACTs pending by end of this year which is when most RD applications are due.</p>
<p>I would suggest taking SAT 2 more times by the end of the year and ACT 2-3 times. Do not do one after the other but space them (one in April and one in October/November). ACT is much closer to academics and someone getting As might do a little better on ACT than SAT. I also suggest focusing on SAT II tests and take at least a couple of subjects if not more.</p>
<p>It is not necessary to assume top 20 or bust. There are many fine schools out there and many which give large scholarships based on the GPA and scores. So it will give you more choices by having scores higher scores in SAT or ACT.</p>
<p>^^Both my girls jumped about 50 points from junior to senior year just in CR+M on the SAT with no real additional prep (just normal review of guidebook) so I agree that it’s too early to count out higher ranked schools. ACT might be a good option to try.</p>
<p>One other point, OP mentioned fact that so many of D’s HS friends also attend local University. We were in that position and when D decided to attend based on scholarship and top ranked honors college, she was worried about seeing the same people over and over. And she had a teacher question why she would pick this school over higher ranked schools she was accepted to (kind of wanted to know if that teacher was offering to pay tuition). In the end, she is very happy. It is a large school and she only rarely runs in to someone from her HS and has made lots of friends who also grew up in town that she never had met before. Plenty of rigor and close relationships with professors. She is junior and due to honors, has only had a few classes with more than 25 students - 2 upper level math class have less than 10 each.</p>
<p>If not in love with local university, depending on where you are you might find just as good a deal at OOS university and still be cheaper than private schools. Check out honors programs that look holistically at essays, etc and schools that waive OOS tuition (Uof SC is one but I know there are others). You still have lots of options. But you are smart to look realistically at what your options are if D can’t bring up test scores.</p>
<p>Here’s what stuck with me from the OP: "She entered into all of the events that the smart kids do debate, school newspaper, etc and shes done fine there as well. But not great .just fine. She has interesting ECs and a true passion. And Id say shes a happy kid way happier than me at 17. " </p>
<p>OP is realistic. With “just fine” and no “greats” in the EC’s and test scores, chances for “top 20” are not very good. OP’s daughter could take the ACT, study more for the SAT and retake, look into lots more schools beyond the “top 20”…if that would continue to make the daughter happy. Maybe that “true passion”, and spending hours refining personal statements that bring it out, could get her a read at a Top 20 that wouldn’t happen with her current test scores. But, if doing any of those things will make the daughter unhappy and/or anxious – or change her expectations of the remainder of her Junior and Senior years in HS — then forget it.</p>
<p>Hopefully, she will apply to her top state U (or, multiples, if there’s more than one) , it will have rolling admissions, and she’ll hear from the them early. And remain happy.</p>
<p>There are numerous examples on CC of kids who attend StateU or less than Top 20 because of financial…or other reasons. These kids do great and go on to amazing graduate schools – that their parents can help pay for, or wonderful first jobs.</p>