MN Dad,
Take TJ
http://www.tjhsst.edu/
This is a public HS. Kids have to test to get into this HS. This school has been ranked in the top nationally for eons.
I recall reading a few yrs ago the avg SAT out of 1600 was 1560 (1st sitting). Think about it, if you score 1500 in one sitting you are considered the dummy in the class.
That is why the school profile matters. Although TJ is a public HS, and Fairfax high schools are also ranked nationally, you need to place into the equation. Fairfax student might be top 50% with 3.78 cgpa, and the TJ kid could have the same. They are both public school students in the same county, but the profile of the schools will be completely different.
Additionally, from what I recall, the profile is % accepted to Ivy, 4 yr, 2 yr, etc. It is not matriculation.
~~~ I was a nosy Mom, at our DS's HS it was different than our DD's HS. You ordered the sealed transcript and it was your responsibility to mail it to the colleges/SAs. (DDs sent directly from the HS, you never saw it, but the verified it was the same info) I ordered an extra to see what was exactly in it.
This is what I found inside.
1. Transcript with all classes, grades, PSAT/SAT/ACT dates and scores.
2. Grading weight ---std, honors, AP, Jump Start
3. Grading scale 7 pt
4. Rank weighted and unweighted
5. Requisite system for Honors and APs
6. Percentage taking AP,
7. Amount of APs offered
8. Percentage of students on free/reduce lunches.
9. Athletic programs/ ECs offered at the school (NHS, FBLA, etc)
10. Shot records
For SA's and some colleges the GC is also required to submit paperwork. DS's GC informed me personally for the AFA, that is when they asked how many were accepted to Ivy, 4 yr, etc. This is the electronic file, just like the recs. No candidate ever gets to see it unless they are sitting right next to them when they open the portal.
Thus, the AFA back in 07 had info coming in two ways. The hard copy from the HS sealed transcript, and the electronic info answering specific questions that the GC has access to from the prior yr.
Honestly, just because nobody from last yr didn't get appointed, or if ten got appointed it really doesn't have as much of an impact as one might think.
For example:
The past few yrs the AFA has appointed @1350 candidates. The yrs prior to that they appointed 1650. There are other factors. Many which a candidate controls.
That is not in the profile regarding % going Ivy for the SA. CFA...it is all or nothing. Bust 1 portion, max the rest, and you still BUST the CFA. BSA Eagle scout. Traveling team for swim or soccer, etc. ALO rec.
I will agree $$$ is an issue. Look at Ivies, legacies are part of their admission process, just like the CFA and ALO rec is part of the SA process.
JMPO, if you know you have given 100%, and at this point what you should be doing is getting Plan A, B, C and D in order.
Many next yr will get TWEs. They will have to go to Plan B. Plan B is usually is AFROTC scholarship. AFROTC is different. They do not include your SR yr in HS for ECs or gpa. They don't superscore SAT/ACT. They don't use the CFA.
Don't get stuck in tunnel vision. Don't wait until Oct. to start the AFROTC paperwork because the 1st board meets in Dec. It is First In, First Out. By Nov. when you complete it you could have thousands in front of you. You might not meet the 1st board because they can't get through that many applicants in one board, thus when they only have 4 boards, and you missed the 1st. You will now only have 2 more tries to be re-boarded, than 3.
This is the time to get your ducks in a row, and understand how every option has different requirements, including the impact of a cgpa.