So my sat is 1520 but my gpa is a 93 UW 97 W from an average public school (prob around 75th percentile in my class). For most schools I want my gpa is low but my sat is high, so would the high score make up for the low gpa? I want to major in art which I know has lower average scores for acceptance at most schools. The schools I am looking at have slightly higher av. GPAs than mine ( Univ of Wisc, Univ of Georgia, Ohio State, Univ of Texas Austin, Syracuse)(out of state for all) would I get into these? What about my reach schools ?(UCLA, Univ of Michigan) someone who has applied to some of these schools and has similar scores please help!!
It’s harder to “chance” based only on stats, when your stats are uneven. The way schools react to your profile can range from focusing on being impressed with the test score, to being turned off because the mismatch suggests that you have the ability to have gotten better grades but didn’t put in the effort.
I’m speaking in general about uneven stats; yours in particular are not that uneven, because your GPA is still pretty good. The fact that it’s not top 10-15% for your school will hurt a bit, though. And the not-huge spread between unweighted and weighted suggests that your counselor probably won’t indicate that you’ve taken the highest possible course rigor for your school, correct? Not criticism (sounds like you are arts-focused and likely have focused your energy more in that direction vs. taking every AP in existence), just assessment to bring your target range into focus.
All but one of your schools are excellent state flagships. You’d be fine for most of them if you were in-state. (Maybe not UT Austin - even TX students have to be top 7% of their class - or did I hear that it went down to 6%? - to be auto-admitted, though some get in through non-automatic channels. And maybe not UCLA, as it’s tough to get in there without a >4.0 weighted GPA… and this is probably true of UMich too.) I don’t have detailed knowledge of 1) the relative difficulty of getting in as an OOS applicant and 2) whether the art program does direct-admit and accepts/requires a portfolio, for each. These two factors will determine where you stand as an applicant. Have you submitted portfolios to some schools, and if so, how confident are you of the strength of your portfolio? Your stats certainly are strong enough that they won’t keep you out of a portfolio-focused program, if your portfolio is strong enough to get you in. Are these all BFA programs that you’re applying to?
Syracuse is a portfolio school for sure, so that will be the key factor in whether you get in; your stats are fine if they like your portfolio.
Can you afford full-pay for all of these schools? If yes, then you have lots of options from a financial standpoint. Have you considered Boston U?
If the schools are out-of-state, unless your parents have a $250k wad of cash lying around, the schools are going to be all reaches. UT-Austin reserves 90% of their admissions for Texas residents, so it’s going to be a high reach.
Regarding art. Is this graphic arts or making drawings & nifty sculptures? One is somewhat employable, and the other one isn’t employable at all. Remember, you’re in college to gain marketable job skills. In the event you don’t find a job in your chosen major, you may want to consider a second major.
@coolguy40 Stop being so pessimistic, he’s going to be fine. I would not consider UT Austin a “high reach” for him.
I don’t think the OP indicated this was his driver. Also, my niece got an art degree and works in corporate consulting in NYC (now just admires art I guess). As long as it is a respected school and you are flexible with career choices you’ll be fine.
That said, UCLA will be really challenging. UCs really focus on GPA-- but use their own formula and weightings. so recalc your GPA using their formula to see where you stand.
If cost is a factor (parents not loaded with cash) rethink out of state where financial aid won’t be forthcoming (UCs). You don’t want to get an art degree AND be loaded with debt.