<p>I hope this is not a repeat question, but I could not find it in my search. </p>
<p>How do colleges feel about ACT/SAT scores versus GPA? Is one weighed more heavily than the other when accepting a student?????</p>
<p>My son has always been a decent test-taker (ACT composite 32 taken once with no prep - SAT math 710, eng 650, writing 650 with no prep). We are pleased with those, but his GPA does not quite match IMO. </p>
<p>He's finishing up his junior year and has about an 89 GPA (equates to approx. 3.5 I've been told). We realize this GPA is not bad, but he has high aspirations (aerospace engineering), and he has been holding steady around that number for 3 years. I consider him a solid B student, few As, very rare C. He takes AP calc 1 (grade is B), AP physics B (grade is low A), and AP govt (grade is B), will be taking AP calc 2, AP physics C, and AP English in his senior year. Won't know AP test scores until July. Class rank is barely hanging onto top 25% (110/425).</p>
<p>I've read the term "coasting", and I don't feel my son is a coaster or coasting, but I do feel like we are constantly riding him to bring up his GPA. Do we need to lay off him a little?</p>
<p>hi, this is a constant college question! From my discussions with college admission counselors during info sessions and questions afterwards the consistent answer was that the SAT/ACT are simply bench marks (once you hit a certain point they dont help or hurt), while the GPA and transcript with grades are of absolute importance. With that said a 3.5 is an excellent GPA, it wont get your son into an ivy league unfortunately, unless he has other outstanding extra factors like a major talent or being a recruited athlete. With that said, the rigor of his course load is very impressive! I take the same courses as him, and they are not so simple to get an A in and colleges know this! So his his B in AP Calc is better than say an A+ in Math 11 Regular. Of course grades are important but many colleges would be thrilled to accept a 3.5 student with high aspirations and a level of coursework to prove it.</p>
<p>So most colleges are willing to forgive a lower GPA if you have taken rigorous courses? Maybe not forgive really. but be understanding?</p>
<p>Our son is not looking at anthing Ivy so we are in good shape in that respect. ;-} He does have decent ECs including varsity sports and plenty of volunteer service, so to us he looks “well rounded,” as they say. </p>
<p>Ufcollins, I hope they are understanding and take rigor into consideration. A friend of my son’s has a higher GPA (nearly 4.0) but is in regular math (no calc) and honors physics. He is applying to many of the same schools as my son, also for engineering, and I wonder how all that will play out. AP English and AP government are among the friend’s classes, but if he’s looking for engineering, I would think that a college would weigh AP calc and AP physics more heavily.</p>
<p>How rigorous would my schedule be considered if i’ve taken:
AP World History
AP English Lang. and Comp.
AP United States History
AP English Lit. and Comp
AP American Government and Politics
AP Macreconomics
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry</p>
<p>Along with tons of other honors courses. By the way, these are all of the AP’s which my school offered me (rising senior). I am taking 4 senior year, so i hope that shows rigor and academic interest.</p>
<p>What would the “benchmark” be for the very top LAC’s and the mid-level Ivy’s?</p>
<p>^^^You can go to the College Board site and do the compare colleges feature. It gives you the range where 50% of the students fall.</p>
<p>Hate to be the one to tell you, “Class rank is barely hanging onto top 25% (110/425)” is untrue. 110/425 is not in the top 25%… so he’s not “hanging on to it.” You should tell him, though, that top 25% sounds much better than second 25%…</p>
<p>Just my opinion. I’m a high school junior, so I don’t really know if top 25% vs. top half is really that big. It seems that if he’s on that bubble, he should try to get on the more impressive side of it if at all possible.</p>