Colleges that Weight ACT/SAT scores more than GPA???

College Search & Selection
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<p>Are there any schools that weight SAT/ACT scores more than GPA? Not sure such a school exists these days as some colleges are phasing out requirement for standardized testing or if it ever existed.</p>

<p>Our son has a 35 on the ACT (10 on writing) and about a 3.67W GPA with a 4.12W. PSAT score is 207 which will probably be commended. Took all honors and 2 AP's as of end of Junior year in a top public high school,Good EC's...4 AP's next year. Interested in government </p>

<p>Would very much appreciate thoughts on LAC's or private schools that might focus more or the same on standardized test scores compared to GPA. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Actually there are, but I don’t know about privates. Some publics that really want high stats kids and don’t require a sky-high GPA will accept your child and may even give a merit scholarship. </p>

<p>What’s his major and/or career goal? </p>

<p>(not that many schools are phasing out test scores. Test scores are still used to help determine which schools have massive grade inflation. Since there are a number of schools that boast a bunch of 4.0 GPAs but their test scores are quite low, test scores reveal the grade inflation. And, even the test-optional schools still use test scores to determine merit scholarships.)</p>

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<p>Can you tell us more?</p>

<p>Do you need financial aid? Do you qualify for the amount that you need? </p>

<p>If you need financial aid (and qualify for it), do you need a full-need school or can you pay more?</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t say 3.6 is a low GPA. Don’t hesitate to apply.</p>

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<p>Thanks for responding mom2collegekids! I am new to this website and we are blessed to have one child (but that means we need to learn from experienced folks like you because we do everything for the first and only time so we can’t learn from mistakes!).</p>

<p>More info: Caucasian, government major, pre-law/poli-sci; lucky to have saved money for college.</p>

<p>Definitely would consider publics but son may do best in LAC setting or private with smaller classes and closer relationship with professors. Hoping for close to a 3.7…will know in a few weeks!! One mistake we made this year - took honors spanish 4 this year and TrigH instead of regular so will get B instead of A. YIKES!</p>

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<p>Thanks for comment extreme- trying to figure out which colleges (if any) highlight good ACT scores.
Son is Eagle scout; vp debate club; debate awards at state level and qualified for nationals</p>

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<p>Since money isn’t an issue, and smaller privates are desired, look at some of the good Midwest privates. Their admissions can be less competitive. However, certainly include some reaches. </p>

<p>Does he have any noted ECs? The more competitive admissions may use those for down-selecting. </p>

<p>Are the Catholic univs OK? </p>

<p>Of course, a 3.6 isn’t “low,” but the top schools seem to expect unhooked acceptees to be highly ranked, and a “lower” GPA can mean a lower rank/lower decile.</p>

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<p>colleges typically use unweighted gpa for admissions purposes what his his UW? I’m assuming 3.2-3.3 which is a much worse position.</p>

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<p>I think there was a typo. I think the 3.6 is the UW. the 4.1 is the W</p>

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<p>Yes, sorry just looked at latest grades and 3.7 is UW with 4.13W; ACT 35; commended National Merit (assuming with a 207). Eagle Scout, VP Debate, top state debater; qualified for nationals</p>

<p>would applying ED help for schools like colgate or claremont mckenna or will that be a waste of ED? </p>

<p>Also is it correct to assume you can only apply ED to one school but you can apply EA at the same time knowing if you get in ED you must accept there?</p>

<p>Thanks again for the comments</p>

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<p>You can only apply ED to one school. If you do apply ED, you can apply EA to state school programs or as long as it is not a single choice EA or restrictive EA. The best thing to do if you are applying ED is to clarify with that school as to where you can submit an application via EA, if that is what you’re thinking.</p>

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<p>very helpful psychodad. Did not realize we needed to check with ED school to confirm we could do EA. </p>

<p>I was thinking if ED didn’t happen it would be helpful to have EA applied for some schools to soften blow if they came through.</p>

<p>Any knowledge if there is a list of schools that historically have appreciated ACT/SAT scores equal to or more than GPA? I have always heard GPA is most important</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>“Any knowledge if there is a list of schools that historically have appreciated ACT/SAT scores equal to or more than GPA?”</p>

<p>There is no such list, and a 3.67 UW is high enough anyway to make him competitive at most LACs without the need for over-weighing scores. Outside of the tippy-top handful (Williams, Amherst, et al.), all the LACs need men. A male 3.67/35 with a tough course schedule and decent activities has a good shot at almost all of them. You might think about aiming for some merit money and saving the $$ for possible law school.</p>

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<p>hanna - didn’t realize that LAC’s needed guys…is it because the gals score higher on tests or have higher GPA’s or that guys don’t apply…just wondering?</p>

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<p>Hanna - thanks for your comments. Also wondering why you think merit scholarship might be available - thought GPA would be to low?</p>

<p>Is it LAC’s, privates or publics that might provide the merit dollars?</p>

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<p>Check the common data sets (section C7) to see if the colleges prioritize test scores over GPA and rank. The same information is also available at [CollegeData:</a> College Search, Financial Aid, College Application, College Scholarship, Student Loan, FAFSA Info, Common Application](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com%5DCollegeData:”>http://www.collegedata.com) under the “admissions” tab for the college.</p>

<p>For example, Lehigh lists “standardized test scores” as “very important”, but “academic GPA” and “class rank” as only “considered”.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.lehigh.edu/~oir/cds/lucds2012.htm[/url]”>http://www.lehigh.edu/~oir/cds/lucds2012.htm&lt;/a&gt;
[Lehigh</a> University Admissions Information - CollegeData College Profile](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=794]Lehigh”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=794)</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768&lt;/a&gt; indicates that Howard is a private school that offers a near-full ride for his stats, and it is in a convenient place to study government (Washington, DC). Apply early, as these scholarships are first come, first served. But also note that there is a fairly high college GPA to renew the scholarship for four years.</p>

<p>There is also a list of <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-2.html#post15889078[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-2.html#post15889078&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

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<p>UCBalumnus - Great information thanks so much! </p>

<p>Do you know how important it is to take and report SAT II tests? It seems like many of the schools our son is interested in only require them if the student has taken SAT I while if you take the ACT they’re not required. </p>

<p>I guess my real question is would high scores on SAT II tests or the AP tests help a student whose GPA was on the lower side? </p>

<p>Any thoughts would be appreciated!</p>

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<p>*hanna - didn’t realize that LAC’s needed guys…is it because the gals score higher on tests or have higher GPA’s or that guys don’t apply…just wondering?
*</p>

<p>It’s because males are less likely to apply to LACs. Males tend to gravitate towards univs.</p>

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<p>You can also try using the search tool here on CC -
[College</a> Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential - College Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/index.htm]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/index.htm)</p>

<p>Plus in his UW GPA, test scores and other criteria and see what potential “matches” it finds. Be sure to increase the number of results returned (control is near the top). It will find a lot of matches due to his stats, but you can adjust selectivity if you are trying to see his “high matches”…
Its a good place to start.</p>

<p>I also recommend getting the Fiske Guide - it has good descriptive profiles of each college it covers, so it is much more than just the facts and figures.</p>