Class of 2022- High School Parents

[mefordis]

I'm not positive a summer offer is a NO for Fall at FSU, but it is at UCF. Their offer letter is quite clear. You should be able to call FSU Admissions and ask if that's the case.

Yes, FSU and UM are very competitive to get into. UM used to be "Suntan U," but those days are long gone.

You can probably get some idea of her chances from the College Confidential link I posted above. Also, I think most Florida state universities post their statistics on entering freshman GPAs, SAT/ACT scores, etc, etc. If you can't find it on FSU's webpage, ask the Admissions office.

All of the major Florida universities have gotten much more competitive in recent years. FSU and UF were always difficult, but now so are UCF, FIU in Miami, and USF in Tampa. All are very good academically, all have medical colleges, and they are not easy to get into.

Our college counselor in HS (who was wonderful) suggested one or two "safe school" applications, a couple where you think you have a chance of admission, and one or two "stretch" schools. DD got her safe school (FIU) surprisingly quickly. UCF was a "maybe" school for her, and she got her summer offer in January. FSU and UF (in that order) were her stretch schools and have late acceptance announcements.

We took the tour at UCF in early February, and at the end of the tour, DD said, "I'm not waiting on the other schools -- THIS is what I want."

We walked over to the bookstore and bought teeshirts to make it official, and she accepted the moment we got home. And she's loved it there.

My daughter is fine with starting in summer if that's what they offer her. I went on Collegevine and plugged in her stats. Not sure if that website is accurate, but here's what they said:

Charleston - Safety
UT Dallas - Target
Univ of South Caroliina - Target
U of Miami - Hard target
Univ of GA - Hard target
FSU - Hard target
Tulane - Reach

 

[JimMIA]

My daughter is fine with starting in summer if that's what they offer her. I went on Collegevine and plugged in her stats. Not sure if that website is accurate, but here's what they said:

Charleston - Safety
UT Dallas - Target
Univ of South Caroliina - Target
U of Miami - Hard target
Univ of GA - Hard target
FSU - Hard target
Tulane - Reach

I'm not familiar with that website. The most accurate would be the stats from the schools themselves, but their stats can be a bit confusing because they usually offer "median" values, which means that half the admitted freshmen were above and half below those marks. It gives you some idea, but not that much.

On College Confidential, they have college-specific forums for most schools and on those forums many people post their actual acceptances/rejections/etc, and also with their personal stats. That can give a more accurate glimpse, but a small sample size.

 

[mefordis]

Went to the FSU Website and she meets the ACT criteria of 28, but her gpa is a 3.8, not the 4.2 min listed. She got all A's (includes A-) during high school except three Bs and one C (in freshman year). She took 2 AP classes as a junior and is taking 2 AP classes as a senior.

I really think she is right on the line, maybe below the line. Oh, well. If she doesn't get in she can always go somewhere else and transfer, if she wants to.

 

[JimMIA]

Went to the FSU Website and she meets the ACT criteria of 28, but her gpa is a 3.8, not the 4.2 min listed. She got all A's (includes A-) during high school except three Bs and one C (in freshman year). She took 2 AP classes as a junior and is taking 2 AP classes as a senior.

I really think she is right on the line, maybe below the line. Oh, well. If she doesn't get in she can always go somewhere else and transfer, if she wants to.

I don't know enough about FSU's current standards to guess, but a 28 ACT is a pretty decent score.

I think your best option would be to call FSU Admissions and ask if they can give you an idea of whether she would qualify for either Fall or Summer.

Be super polite and ask for their help -- don't demand. Whatever you do, don't make it sound like "We need to know, and we need to know right now," because the answer to that will almost certainly be no.

But I think it's fair to ask them whether she is in the ballpark, or whether she is wasting her time applying.

 

[clori]

My daughter got a snail mail acceptance yesterday from her favorite school (thus far). Is is a small university that would not be expected to be known outside of the area but she fell in love with it. I said before without SAT/ACTs scores no clue what to expect so was happily surprised by a big merit scholarship so it is fortunately a contender thus far. Not making any decision yet since several more schools to wait for but it is a big relief just knowing it can work out.

 

[mefordis]

I'm watching decision videos from last spring and wow - the decisions are kind of all over the place. One girl got rejected from U of GA, FSU and U of Florida with a 3.9 gpa and a 29 ACT, while someone with a GPA and lower ACT score got in. Just so random. I'm also thinking last year things became more difficult because a lot of people took a gap year due to the pandemic.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm watching decision videos from last spring and wow - the decisions are kind of all over the place. One girl got rejected from U of GA, FSU and U of Florida with a 3.9 gpa and a 29 ACT, while someone with a GPA and lower ACT score got in. Just so random. I'm also thinking last year things became more difficult because a lot of people took a gap year due to the pandemic.

When we were in your shoes, I found YouTube videos to be very helpful in looking in detail at dorm room layouts and furnishings. The videos are horrible, bouncing all over the place, panning across a room at warp speed, etc -- but you can pause them and actually see something.

I wouldn't bother with them for pondering admissions possibilities or anything else serious. I just don't see how one person's experience a year ago could tell you anything definitive, and I think we already know that unsuccessful applicants always have complaints and criticisms. I'm sure we also know that many schools consider more than just GPA and SAT/ACT.

 

[MDIME]

My daughter got a snail mail acceptance yesterday from her favorite school (thus far). Is is a small university that would not be expected to be known outside of the area but she fell in love with it. I said before without SAT/ACTs scores no clue what to expect so was happily surprised by a big merit scholarship so it is fortunately a contender thus far. Not making any decision yet since several more schools to wait for but it is a big relief just knowing it can work out.

Congrats! I bet that helps to ease your mind!! Best of luck on the remaining schools!

 

[mefordis]

Maybe someone can help with this question about GPA. On my daughter's transcript her GPA is way lower than when I put her grades in a gpa calculator. I used gpacalculator.net. Her high school uses + and - grades, by the way.

I contacted her counselor and didn't really get much clarity but I have to say going by the High school transcript I have no idea how she could have ended up with the gpa they have there - which is a 3.23 weighted. She has received all A grades (which includes 2 AP classes with A grades) except she received 1 C and 3 B grades as a freshman. The rest A's.

When I plug her grades (percentages) into a GPA calculator I get a 3.9 which sounds more like it, given her 2 AP courses she received A's in.

Any insight into this? We are hoping they recalculate everything and don't just look at the 3.23 and reject her!

Thanks for any help!

PS: looking at her high school scale - they give 0 for a D and a 1 for a C- ! This sounds really harsh! Based on this scale if anyone got a D+ in all courses they would have a 0 GPA. I would think they'd have a 1.0 (just using this as an example. According to the GPA calculator it would be a 1.3 .

 

[design_mom]

PS: looking at her high school scale - they give 0 for a D and a 1 for a C- ! This sounds really harsh! Based on this scale if anyone got a D+ in all courses they would have a 0 GPA. I would think they'd have a 1.0 (just using this as an example. According to the GPA calculator it would be a 1.3 .

I don't have the answer, but almost all of the schools we toured (both for DD and DS) said that they take your high school's transcript and "re-calculate" it according to their own scale. They specifically said it was to even the playing field because every high school seems to use their own scale.

 

[mefordis]

I don't have the answer, but almost all of the schools we toured (both for DD and DS) said that they take your high school's transcript and "re-calculate" it according to their own scale. They specifically said it was to even the playing field because every high school seems to use their own scale.

Thank you! I really hope they do, and I hope they come up with the same gpa that I did when I plugged everything in.

 

[JimMIA]

I don't have the answer, but almost all of the schools we toured (both for DD and DS) said that they take your high school's transcript and "re-calculate" it according to their own scale. They specifically said it was to even the playing field because every high school seems to use their own scale.

Yes, that's a common area of misunderstanding.

For example, in the chart @mefordis posted, their weighting is just plain crazy. In a regular course (not AP or honors), if you have a 96 average they give you only 3.6 points instead of 4 for an A. In our schools, 90 is an A and gets 4.0 points. And in our crazy system, if it's an AP course you get TWO bonus points or ONE full bonus point for Honors.

That is exactly why colleges "recalculate" weighted GPA's according to their owns standards. It's the only way they can evaluate all applicants fairly.

But different colleges use different criteria as well. For example, at my DD's university (UCF in Orlando), they calculate weighted GPAs based exclusively on core courses required for graduation from high school in Florida. So that really cool AP elective your child took counts for exactly 0.0. It doesn't count at all -- neither good nor bad. They add one point for an AP grade of A or B (1/2 point for Honors), but nothing below a B, and elective courses are not counted at all.

In any reasonable weighting system, @mefordis' DD's weighted GPA is going to come our higher than what is shown on her high school transcripts.

But the caution I would offer is that whatever some online source says is totally irrelevant. The only thing that matters is how the university she's applying to calculates her GPA -- and if she applies to 10 different schools, they will probably use 10 different calculation methods.

 

[JimMIA]

There is a LOT of click-bait garbage online purporting to "help" you figure out your chances. Even reputable sites have "calculators."

They don't matter. They are pure BS.

 

[mefordis]

Yes, that's a common area of misunderstanding.

For example, in the chart @mefordis posted, their weighting is just plain crazy. In a regular course (not AP or honors), if you have a 96 average they give you only 3.6 points instead of 4 for an A. In our schools, 90 is an A and gets 4.0 points. And in our crazy system, if it's an AP course you get TWO bonus points or ONE full bonus point for Honors.

That is exactly why colleges "recalculate" weighted GPA's according to their owns standards. It's the only way they can evaluate all applicants fairly.

But different colleges use different criteria as well. For example, at my DD's university (UCF in Orlando), they calculate weighted GPAs based exclusively on core courses required for graduation from high school in Florida. So that really cool AP elective your child took counts for exactly 0.0. It doesn't count at all -- neither good nor bad. They add one point for an AP grade of A or B (1/2 point for Honors), but nothing below a B, and elective courses are not counted at all.

In any reasonable weighting system, @mefordis' DD's weighted GPA is going to come our higher than what is shown on her high school transcripts.

But the caution I would offer is that whatever some online source says is totally irrelevant. The only thing that matters is how the university she's applying to calculates her GPA -- and if she applies to 10 different schools, they will probably use 10 different calculation methods.

Thank you so much for the information. I am reassured that they will recalculate the GPA and it will be higher than what is on her transcript, at least. It killed her to have to self report a 3.2 (since she submitted the common app before her official transcript was sent, she was required to put the gpa in herself.) She was like, "Welp, I won't be getting into any of the schools I am applying to!"

Thanks again!

 

[JimMIA]

Thank you so much for the information. I am reassured that they will recalculate the GPA and it will be higher than what is on her transcript, at least. It killed her to have to self report a 3.2 (since she submitted the common app before her official transcript was sent, she was required to put the gpa in herself.) She was like, "Welp, I won't be getting into any of the schools I am applying to!"

Thanks again!

I've said this several times previously in various ways -- you need to get OFF the Internet and get on the phone.

CALL the admissions offices at the schools and ask them these questions. Most definitely TELL them about the wacko GPA computation her school does, and ask them how to handle it.

 

[mefordis]

I've said this several times previously in various ways -- you need to get OFF the Internet and get on the phone.

CALL the admissions offices at the schools and ask them these questions. Most definitely TELL them about the wacko GPA computation her school does, and ask them how to handle it.

I'm going to call every school tomorrow. I did call UT Dallas and they told me they recalculate the GPA. I can only hope they do that and do not just take the reported one. I have to believe they look at each class and the actual reported grade. I wonder if they'll flag her application upon my request, to be careful to recalculate the GPA.

Her old school does it right. Her transcript from there Freshman and Soph years was a 3.6 with a C and three B's. Add to that her junior year at the new school, w/nothing but A's including two AP classes and it is now a 3.2!!!

 

[design_mom]

DFor example, in the chart @mefordis posted, their weighting is just plain crazy. In a regular course (not AP or honors), if you have a 96 average they give you only 3.6 points instead of 4 for an A. In our schools, 90 is an A and gets 4.0 points. And in our crazy system, if it's an AP course you get TWO bonus points or ONE full bonus point for Honors.

And our school requires a 93 for a full 4.0 A. AP courses get 1 bonus point, but Honors classes get no bonus. They follow the same grading scale as regular classes. They are just denoted “Honors” in the class title (and workload— haha.)

 

[caroline5177]

Wow- I've missed a lot! Congrats on all the acceptances!
My son has submitted 3 applications so far...all early action (not early decision/binding). He has 3 more on his list. All are in North & South Carolina and are smaller, liberal arts schools. We looked at a couple in VA, but he is not applying. It's interesting to me that there are so many different dates. He's done a good job with keeping up with dates & submissions, though having a hard time with his counselor. He's at a large public high school and I think she is just overwhelmed.

Anywho...
@mefordis, I'm curious what your daughter likes about USC! I was raised a Gamecock, though didn't attend. We are in SC and it's not on my son's list (Clemson is) though quite a few of his buddies have applied. C of C is on his list too. I think it's a safety school for him too, but I think he would be great there especially going into healthcare path with Med Univ of SC right next door. My husband got his graduate degree at UGA.
Happy to answer any questions!

I agree about the grading scales & weighting. I find it confusing and am no help with those questions.
Good luck everyone!

 

[JimMIA]

And our school requires a 93 for a full 4.0 A. AP courses get 1 bonus point, but Honors classes get no bonus. They follow the same grading scale as regular classes. They are just denoted “Honors” in the class title (and workload— haha.)

Yep, that's a perfect example of why universities recalculate weighted GPA's.

Your kid gets a 92 and gets nothing; my kid gets a 90 and gets two bonus points for AP. That's just crazy. Your kid gets nothing for Honors; my DD went to an all-Honors magnet, so she got at least one bonus point for every class.

Neither of those systems make any sense at all, so colleges try to sort it out as best they can by recalculating so they can evaluate applicants fairly.

 

[mefordis]

Wow- I've missed a lot! Congrats on all the acceptances!
My son has submitted 3 applications so far...all early action (not early decision/binding). He has 3 more on his list. All are in North & South Carolina and are smaller, liberal arts schools. We looked at a couple in VA, but he is not applying. It's interesting to me that there are so many different dates. He's done a good job with keeping up with dates & submissions, though having a hard time with his counselor. He's at a large public high school and I think she is just overwhelmed.

Anywho...
@mefordis, I'm curious what your daughter likes about USC! I was raised a Gamecock, though didn't attend. We are in SC and it's not on my son's list (Clemson is) though quite a few of his buddies have applied. C of C is on his list too. I think it's a safety school for him too, but I think he would be great there especially going into healthcare path with Med Univ of SC right next door. My husband got his graduate degree at UGA.
Happy to answer any questions!

I agree about the grading scales & weighting. I find it confusing and am no help with those questions.
Good luck everyone!

My daughter chose to apply to U of SC because from what she has heard it is similar to FSU in environment. It also has her major of studio art (plus marketing). We still need to visit the school. We've never been to South Carolina. UGA sounds like a great option but it is kind of a reach for her, I think, but she did apply.