<p>I wish so too GF… as the classroom experience is #1 top priority to my S. My S is also one who does much better in the harder classes. It just takes a lot to get his attention and the harder it is the better he can focus. Last year I had concerns that if he by some miracle got into one of his reaches it would be too demanding for him and thought that maybe he would be happier at his match or safety, but I changed my mind after his experience last Spring at his boarding school. He was in a very small environment with VERY high achieving kids that were mostly from Phillips Exeter type schools… he did AMAZINGLY well and absloutely loved the challenge. They told the parents on the last day that the kids were doing graduate level work… my S actually did a 50 page research/thesis paper in his ES class. It really made me relax about how he will do in college. </p>
<p>I also think that once boys get to college and there is no busy work, they will get those grades, as finally, the grades are mostly based on tests and papers, not homework.</p>
<p>My S is very vocal about why his GPA is where it is. He is incredibly self-aware and has done some amazing things is his life that will carry him far, his GPA is the least of his concerns. In fact, one if his teachers from his school in VT, and who is writing one of his recs, said this about my S…" XXX could have easily have gotten the A, but instead he choose to spend his time doing other equally impressive things, such as learning the sugaring process, learning how to birth a sheep, climbing mountains"… etc… My S just feels that learning can happen in all aspects of life, not just academics… the topic of one of his college essays.</p>
<p>I shouldn’t be here since my S had lower than a 3.6 AND he didn’t apply/get into many top 20’s. But I can attest to the statement:</p>
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<p>He has a 4.0 and is taking a double load and half grad level classes. He is really really happy for a change. </p>
<p>For those kids (California especially) who want to learn what they want to learn and don’t want to color maps… I recommend the College of Creative Studies at UCSanta Barbara. It has been perfect for our S. He will make it to MIT for grad school (probably, if he wants it still…that was his dream school).</p>
<p>I have a 3.67 ish GPA on a 4.3 Scale. Take Full IB and did 4 APs prior to that in Soph year. Have a 2200 Superscore. I’d have around a 4.2 on a 5 pt scale. </p>
<p>Applying to the usual top schools but my two top choices in the US are St. John’s and Deep Springs. My GPA will keep me out of the schools I’m applying to, I know that, but hey I’m going to give it my best.</p>
<p>Yep that’s my guess too. St. John’s isn’t my absolute dream school but I feel lucky that my safety ranks higher on my list (3rd?) than do some of my reaches. My top choice is also Oxford but that comes in with financial reasons too (no way we’ll qualify for aid and Oxford is just a lot cheaper). </p>
<p>I feel overall cool and in control of the process, which I think is really going to help me despite my obviously poor GPA. Really focusing on my Deep Springs app now, that’s gonna be a tough essay!</p>