<p>^ Simple, because of grade inflation. It is so incredibly easy to get a 4.0 in most high schools that high grades don’t hold water any more. For example, my sister has a 5.4 GPA at the highest-ranked high school in our district, despite having 2 B’s and a C. How is this possible? Because all “honors” classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale, and all AP classes are weighted on a 6.0 scale. And since just about every non-remedial class gets an “honors” sticker slapped on it, the label – like the GPA – also means nothing. </p>
<p>Colleges know this, which is why the acceptance rate for people with 4.0’s and average SAT/ACT scores is significantly lower than the acceptance rate for people with 36’s/2400’s and average grades. Sorry.</p>
<p>Let’s say I am aiming for the same schools as JimiHendrix42.</p>
<p>Like him, I completely messed up my GPA, cuz frankly, I just didn’t really care about my grades. So long as I don’t drop below a B-(2.67 GPA) , I’m content. However, after realizing my mistake, this year (my junior year) I have done much better, bringing my accumulative from 2.9 to 3.1 with my first semester of my junior year (I got a 3.7 first semester which is pretty good by my school’s standards). I have a 2180 on my SAT, which is pretty crap compared to what I normally get, but then again, I never actually took a practice test all in one go, so I probably drifted off in the later sections.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me which of those schools that he listed above that I can probably get into? Oh, and assume that I have half of those extracurriculars that he has.</p>
<p>I, like iPacman, drastically improved my grades this year. Don’t you think college will notice the improvement in our gpas during the most important year which they look at along with above average test scores during the same year? The way I look at it, if we keep it up 'til the first semester of our senior years, colleges will conclude our outlooks on school and the importance we gave it, completely changed. But correct me if I’m wrong in saying that.</p>
<p>Yes I’d agree showing improvement in grades is useful and colleges like to see the upward trend. However, I also agree with liberationn15 about testing scores. GPA is going to mean something different to every school, and the idea that every A is equal is ludicrous.
Colleges do and should could “one test score” as equally if not more important than GPA because it is a universal marker from which all students can be judged. (Some will disagree… “I’m a bad test taker doesn’t mean I’m not as smart/ capable” but if you’re a bad test taker then you won’t do well in college where your grade is determined by 3 tests anyway). There are arguments against the SAT’s but they are at least more accurate in comparing ability than GPA’s.</p>
<p>since when have honors classes been weighted on a 5.0 and APs on a 6.0…?</p>
<p>every school i know uses a 4.5 weight for honors and an AP is a 5.0…</p>
<p>and besides… a low gpa and high SAT score could hurt you… that could show colleges that you are lazy but have potiental… that or your a good test taker… </p>
<p>whereas if you get a high gpa and an average SAT score… that shows that you are a good student, a hard worker but someone who isnt a great test taker… </p>
<p>colleges are going to base majority of their choice off of the 4 years in high school… not the 3 or 4 hours you need to complete a test… the logic behind making a 3 hour test more important then a 4 year gpa is ludicrous… i do believe that gpa’s are watered by pointless classes like gym… which makes me believe a transcript is very important…</p>
<p>if you dont believe me then email a college admissions person and ask them</p>
<p>im not going to argue with someone over the internet about what factors are more important in a college choice… i gave you my thoughts… if you dont agree with me then good for you</p>
Grade weighting varies between school districts.</p>
<p>
I have news for you – colleges don’t want students that have “potential” but can’t actually do well when (literally) put to the test. Of course having a poor GPA will hurt you, but not as much as having poor test scores. </p>
<p>
Sorry, but every piece of data on the subject says otherwise. If you don’t believe me, simply look at the admission stats for any top 200 Uni in the country. You will not be able to find a single case where a student (without “inside” connections or ECs that include writing a best-seller) with a 4.0 GPA and 25 ACT is accepted at HYP.</p>
<p>
<br>
Uh, I work in an admissions office.</p>
<p>
“You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.”</p>
<p>“I have news for you – colleges don’t want students that have “potential” but can’t actually do well when (literally) put to the test. Of course having a poor GPA will hurt you, but not as much as having poor test scores.” </p>
<p>no crap… that is why i said it could hurt you…</p>
<p>“Sorry, but every piece of data on the subject says otherwise. If you don’t believe me, simply look at the admission stats for any top 200 Uni in the country. You will not be able to find a single case where a student (without “inside” connections or ECs that include writing a best-seller) with a 4.0 GPA and 25 ACT is accepted at HYP.”</p>
<p>im not cause im really not that worried about it… my gpa is pefectly fine to get into a good enough school…</p>
<p>“Uh, I work in an admissions office.”
i bet you do…</p>
<p>like i said… if you believe in one thing… then good for you… i believe in another thing… im not that worried about which one is more important… it would just make more sense for a gpa to be valued over a SAT score…</p>