<p>I'm about to be a sophomore this coming fall, so I realize that I should probably be thinking about college apps. What do you think I should focus the most on: Grades; Tests (SAT, ACT); EC's; or other? Thank you for taking the time to reply (;</p>
<p>Grades in rigorous classes > overall GPA > test scores > ECs</p>
<p>Once you’re past the GPA “threshold” though (like top 5-10% in your class… although Sal/Val looks better), ECs and test scores will be distinguishing factors in admissions (along with essays).</p>
<p>I highly recommend studying for SATs, as they are the most important thing in the admissions process. Adcoms will try to tell you otherwise, but in reality all adcoms are lazy and they just pick people based off of two things: 1) SAT scores, and more importantly, 2) Race.</p>
<p>Okay thank you to everyone who replied… you helped(:
isk82live, what do you mean race? I’m Asian Indian, so I guess I have less chance of getting in.</p>
<p>Asian Indian?! YOU MUST HAVE AMAZING SAT TEST SCORES TO BE CONSIDERED. Adcoms virtually take off upto 70-80 points on SATs because you’re such an ORM. On the other hand, if you are a URM, you can have a virtual 200 point boost. </p>
<p>Your application will be compared to the thousands of ridiculous children that come from the horrors of Asian parenting.</p>
<p>Oh great just my luck. &Tell me about it, every single Asian kid applies for Harvard/Stanford/Duke/Yale etc. etc. Honestly I know I’m not going to make it into an Ivy League, so I want to go to UC Berkeley or UCLA or UCSD. Or maybe even USC -_-</p>
<p>Isk82live is wrong about the importance of your grades. You high school transcript is the single most important factor in college admissions. Always has been. Always will be. Worry about your grades first.</p>
<p>@happymomof1 Uhm I think you meant “race” there but Yeah I get what you mean. It’s true that taking rigorous classes &maintaining a spectacular GPA is extremely good for college apps…</p>