decent GPA, mediocre SATs

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>My son has an unweighted average of about 89.00. His best combined SAT score however is 1840. Most schools that have an avg. of about 89.00 for accepted students have much higher SAT averages. Villanova for example is 88.71 and 1940 one sitting, 2074 superscore. How do you think admissions would look at my son? You always hear grades are the most important, testing secondary.</p>

<p>thoughts?</p>

2

<p>How are his EC’s? How about recs and essay? </p>

<p>He could take the summer and do a bunch of practice tests and study and try to get that score up. Have you tried the ACT? Some do better on one test or the other. </p>

<p>I think academics are combined into both gpa/rank and test scores. That along with ecs and recs and essay are closer to the whole picture. If one part is wanting try and maximize everything else.</p>

3

<p>Higher GPA and lower test scores are usually easier to remedy than the other way around.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Try the ACT. The ACT and SAT are different, but accepted as equivalent to each other in college admissions, and some students do much better on one compared to the other.</p></li>
<li><p>Try studying standardized test preparation (books or classes on preparing for the SAT or ACT). Some common techniques, like doing easier/quicker questions first, guessing after elimination, plugging the answers back into math questions, etc. can significantly help some test takers.</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>Have him take the ACT, but also take the SAT again after practice.</p>

<p>What schools besides Nova are you considering?</p>

<p>Frankly, there are many privates that would accept a full pay student with your son’s stats. Are finances an issue? </p>

<p>What is his major?</p>

5

<p>OP, where did you get your Villanova info? According to US News the average GPA is a 3.8. That’s not an 89% in my book.</p>

6

<p>I agree with ucbalumnus … good GPA average SAT is a lot easier to remedy than the other way around.</p>

<p>Villanova may cut your S some lack because the school would like to balance its M/F population. My D was wait-listed with a 94 average and 30 ACT after graduating from a Catholic HS. 89 and 27? Hmmm.</p>

<p>There are some excellent colleges on the (SAT-optional) fair.choice list. Worth checking out. My other suggestion would be to work hard on the safety-school end of your S’s application list. Good luck!</p>