The OP’s daughter sounds a lot like me: I had the highest SATs in my graduating class but just barely made the top 10%, and then only because I was in all honors classes. I wasn’t lazy, just unwilling to waste my time on subjects that didn’t interest me or weren’t taught well. If I enjoyed a subject or class, I’d get an A. If I didn’t like the teacher or subject, my grade would depend on how easy it was to b.s. my way through the class. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “does not live up to his potential.” My 10th-grade social studies teacher once took me aside and lectured me about being an “ass-dragger” who was squandering his “gifts.” I had pretty decent ECs: editor-in-chief of literary magazine, exchange student, talented artist. I’d also received an Empire State Scholarship of Excellence from NY state to entice me to go to a college in NY (it was based solely on SAT scores). When it came time to apply to college, I was rejected from HYP and Brown, while Cornell waitlisted me and then offered to let me attend as a sophomore if I went to another college for a year and got at least a 3.2. I’d never heard of an offer like that before and, in hindsight, realize that my application must’ve been quite puzzling to admissions officers. I had the opportunity to read my 11th-grade math teacher’s recommendation some time later and he’d written that “Joe could’ve been the best student in class but instead he only thought he was.” What does a committee do with an applicant like that? Cornell was basically asking me to prove that I wasn’t going to blow off my coursework in college, too. I got into Oberlin, Brandeis, and Vassar but ended up going to the University of Texas, Austin (my father’s alma mater), thinking I’d have an easy time getting my 3.2 and transferring to Cornell. Much to my surprise, though, I loved UT. I was finally free to do my own thing and could lose myself in the enormous student body. Instead of making me feel isolated, it made me feel liberated. There was an incredible mix of students and it wasn’t hard to find a group of friends like me: eggheads who didn’t dance on command. I never got back in touch with Cornell and have never regretted my decision. So, what’s my point? Students like me (super smart but uninterested in playing “the game”) often do really well at flagship state schools where they can finally just be themselves (at a lower cost, to boot). Any kid reading this who sees themselves as similar should look into places like UT, UNC, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, etc. The UC schools have gotten so competitive that the admissions scene there is more like applying to private colleges. But there are plenty of excellent state schools that will take someone with lopsided numbers.
Colleges that Change Lives
Hendrix, Beloit, Earlham, Wooster
UCSB’s College of Creative Studies, New College of Florida, Hampshire( test-blind though)
Penn State (could even get into Schreyer as it’s essay/recommendation/strength of curriculum-based), UMinnesota Twin Cities, UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors,
UNC Wilmington, UNC Asheville, Appalachian State
Many of the Colleges that Change Lives accept and attract kids with high test scores but low GPAs, and such kids often thrive there. The CTCL combination of individual attention and student self-determination sometimes works wonders. My family visited several CTCL colleges and noticed this at all of the campuses we visited.
Another approach also can work well but may be somewhat riskier for some kids. There are some huge state schools that have spectacular applicants at the top of their admitted classes but aren’t all that selective overall. Huge state schools sometimes offer terrific opportunities for motivated but previously under-achieving kids to focus on areas that interest them, take very advanced classes and work closely with big-time professors. A few decades ago, this was true at Berkeley, UCLA and Michigan. Now those particular state universities are pretty hard to get into, but some fairly similar state universities (Arizona, Indiana, etc,) still will accept kids with so-so grades but high test scores, and those universities can be really good fits for self-starters who are willing to work hard in classes that interest them.
After a LONG absence from CC, I am now back to post some updates.
D was diagnosed, with no ambiguities, as a twice exceptional (gifted but with learning disability, ADHD-inattentive type) kid. It has been a great relief for us including D herself to know the real reasons of her struggles. The school and the teachers started to accommodate, and D is showing great process this semester. We are not sure how this would improve her chance, but we felt lucky to have posted in this great CC board—-it would be unthinkable if we let her off to college without knowing the problem.
D’s subject scores just arrived: no surprise, 800 in math II and 790 in literature. She has put together her art portfolio and has written two essays. The first essay was for the NMSF application, it was excellent but she thought it was garbage. The second one, still in its first draft, was already described by a senior college app consultant as “the best he ever read” and “nothing needs to be changed.” We initially did not plan to disclose her diagnosis and let it be, but her counselor said a disclosure would explain her low GPA and improve her chance. So the counselor will explain it in her report while D will just briefly mention it in her app.
As for college choice, it is no longer our priority. She’s applying for Amherst for ED and Colorado College (for the block system) for EA. She really likes Wellseley but decides to apply for early evaluation instead of ED. Other schools include Carleton, Vassar, Weslyan, Byrn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Whitman, and Wheaton. We know in her case, it is wide open. But for us, preparing her for college is more important than going to a prestigious college.
FWIW. @LANSHEN, decades ago, I was a high scores/relatively low GPA kid with ADHD (back when it was almost unheard of in girls) and I ended up at Mount Holyoke. It was a great fit for me. I hope your daughter finds her place, too.
Mine (3.4/2250) is at Syracuse.
@LANSHEN So nice to have a positive report. I am glad your daughter is getting the accommodations that she needs and I look forward to your final update after she decides which college will be her home for the next four years.
Best of luck to you and your family.
Thank you for the update and the good news. It’s always so nice to hear back!
It’s refreshing (and probably courageous in your environment) to focus on your child and her needs, rather than on what others are doing/prestige. Her list is excellent. Congratulations to you and to her. 
I have one of these. There are lots of options…maybe not Ivy league or Duke/Stanford but there are lots of schools that would love to have a kid like yours. (with merit aid)
I graduated high school with a 2.7 UW GPA + 2000 SAT (first try). I suffered with inattentiveness (no diagnosis) and immense personal struggles in my high school career, hence why my GPA wasn’t impressive. But with a high SAT score and an upward trend, I was able to get myself into six universities in six different states. I attend, and LOVE, UNC Wilmington.
Thanks for the update. Good luck to her!!
All application results are in. I am back to conclude this thread with DD’s admission results and decision.
Initially, DD wanted to apply for about 10 LACs, but later decided to add a few more safties and high reaches, which make it a total of 17. A lot of work, but it was her choice anyway.
Overall very good results for her safties and matches: accepted by seven:
- Kalamazo;
- Lawrence with merit;
- Weaton with merit,;
- Fordham with merit;
- Whitman with merit;
- Mount Holyoke;
- Scripps;
wait listed at two (Oberlin and Northeastern)
No good luck at reach schools, rejected by all (Davidson, Wesleyan, Carleton, Swarthmore, Amherst, Duke, Columbia) except one (waitlisted at Wellesley). This is expected because her reaches did not include any big Us that she might have a shot.
We narrow down to Lawrence (32k attending cost), Witman (46k cost), and Scripps (66k+). Scripps is obviously the best fit for her, but with the hefty price tag, we still need to work out the finance. We understand that by choosing Scripps, we are paying more for a better college experience than for a better education.
Congratulations! Wisconsin is a long way from China, but Lawrence is a good school; if your daughter ends up there, I think she’ll have a good experience.
Congratulations! And thanks for posting the results.
How did you winnow to that short list?
Do let us know what you decide and how do you so.
How do you quantify that?
"We narrow down to Lawrence (32k attending cost), Witman (46k cost), and Scripps (66k+). "
I’m used to cold weather, but I’d take Lawrence in a heartbeat at those prices. I might take Lawrence regardless.
Ouch - that’s a big price differential. Good luck sorting through it.