do colleges really throw out apps that don't meet the gpa and sat/act requirements first?

[SJ2727]

@ArtsyKidDad

That’s not what I was referring to.

Of course, half of the people admitted have GPA below the median, per definition. But if you factor in athletes, legacies, etc., there is much less “room” below the median for those who are outside these groups. And the further down they are from the median, the lesser the chances, regardless of other factors. Simplification, I’m sure, but the fact is that the privileged groups skew the median.

However OP asked

@geedubz895lma0

. does anybody have an idea as to what the threshold is for gpa (at what point will ur app be tossed)? is it rlly the median gpa?

Which clearly doesn’t make sense.

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FYI I have a friend on an adcom at a HYP. He told us the ivies don’t all look at applications the same way (surprise!) but at his, they will properly examine any application with a B average or higher. And while most of the admits at that range might be hooked, not all of the admittances below the median are, at least not in traditional ways. There are many ways to put a class together, and if an athlete with a B average in high school can get by academically at an ivy, so can anyone else they find particularly interesting. Is it common? Of course not. Does it happen? Yes.