<p>I have a 4.33 GPA, and I'm a really hard worker, but I can't seem to master the SATs. I got a 540 CR, 490 Math, and 570 Writing. Will I be able to go somewhere decent with this? How much does the essay weigh on the application? Help!</p>
<p>We’re in the same boat man, only I did worse (460 CR, 550 M 470 W). Our best bet (as others have already told me) is to re-take it. Assuming that your a rising senior (sp?), we have 3 more legitimate chances to raise these scores (although it’s recommended to take it 3 times max). I’m working now so when I get my first pay check, the first thing I’m buying is a Princeton SAT Prep book and study my a*s off until October. And I don’t like my scores in October, I’m tkaing it one last time in December. But don’t worry, you can get into a good school still, maybe just not an Ivy or really prestige school. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Okay, thanks! I really want to get into a good school so I’m willing to work really hard for it.</p>
<p>GPA doesn’t mean anything when compared to SAT scores. Study more, find a book, read more and if your score doesn’t improve much, go take the ACT.</p>
<p>^That’s where you can be wrong. It depends on the school. In some schools SAT doesn’t mean anything and in others it does. That’s a broad statement to make, espicially when only certain schools have that mind frame. If “GPA doesn’t mean anything when compared to SAT scores” how come a number of colleges and universities are considering dropping SAT scores as an admission requirement? How come there are over 40 test optional schools?</p>
<p>You can always improve your SAT score with enough effort. If time management isn’t an issue, you should consider taking the ACT. A few people that I know didn’t do so hot on one but they did really well on the other.</p>
<p>It is better to have a high GPA and low SAT than a high SAT and low GPA.</p>
<p>Think about it.</p>
<p>I disagree. Even though the SAT doesn’t exactly test one’s “true” intelligence, it’s standardized throughout the world. Your GPA only depends on your school which may have grade inflation or deflation.</p>
<p>really? i thought the opposite was true. (sat more important than gpa)</p>
<p>it really depends on what schools you are hoping to get into. there are the select few schools that do not put that much weight on test scores and rather look at your schools work essays etc more. BUT it is probably better to try to improve your score. Read more and practice tests and prepprepprep and practice</p>
<p>What’s the grade distribution at your school? Are 4.33 GPAs very rare?</p>
<p>The reason why I don’t think GPA is that important is because a lot of people cheat so it’s impossible to distinguish legit people and the not.</p>
<p>It’s not possible to categorize GPA and SAT as “important;” they are simply part of a larger picture painted by your application. For example, a high SAT and a low GPA implies that you’re a slacker who’s unlikely to find the academic motivation to succeed at an especially rigorous school. A high GPA and a moderately-high SAT (1700-1900) is more advantageous because it suggests that you’ll work hard in college and thus have a greater chance of doing well. A high GPA and a low SAT (<1500) most strongly points to grade inflation, a non-rigorous schedule, or outside help on your schoolwork. Besides these data, applicants are usually evaluated in the context of their socioeconomic background, school, opportunities, etc. Both your GPA and your SAT scores are important; however, neither really takes precedence when considering applications (which is why holistic evaluation has become more popular among adcoms in recent years).</p>
<p>lily239: 4.33 isn’t rare. Our district changed our limit from 4.8 to 4.5. So at least I’m close to perfect?</p>
<p>Ps. Thank you so much apple1984! That gives me new hope just in case the next time I take the SAT goes wrong. I need a lot more EC’s though</p>