<p>If hypothetically I had very solid SAT scores and perfect GPA except my EC's were kinda weak, I was in some clubs, etc, but not outstanding, could my strong numbers make up for the weak EC's? How much do "numbers" impact admissions. I'm posting this out of curiosity, not so much as a chance thread.</p>
<p>It depends on the school. As a general rule, your GPA and SAT are the first thing looked at and without them, it’s really, really tough. Sufficiently good grades and scores will let you muscle your way into almost any school.</p>
<p>However, at the top schools (Ivies, UCB, UCLA, UChicago, Duke, MIT, CalTech, etc.) perfect or near perfect grades and scores are a given, and you will have a slim chance unless your scores are extraordinary (you 5 an absurd amount of AP tests, 800 a buttload of SAT IIs, and so on) or you rack up some decent ECs.</p>
<p>For Ivy leagues, NOTHING can replace GPA. You have to be 100% in mostly everything. </p>
<p>Christiansolder is SO right. </p>
<p>Unless you cure caner or AIDS, of course</p>
<p>Yes, at most schools. </p>
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<p>This is true at HYPSC, but totally untrue at the UCs and debatable at the other ivies, duke, etc. The average matriculating student at even the top UCs has SAT scores only in the 1900s. At those schools high grades and scores will get you in. Period.</p>
<p>Perhaps for a California resident, but for a non-Californian (OP is from Pennsylvania), it will be almost impossible to get into UCLA and UCB with anything less than a 4.0 UW (or very close) and 2200+ on SAT I. </p>
<p>And I was wrong, Duke and UChicago are, as I am looking at now, not as competitive as I originally thought.</p>
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<p>Again, simply not true. The UCs are all looking to increase OOS students because they really need the money. And even before this, UCLA has taken a larger percent of OOS students than in, 28% vs. 22% this past year. There are a lot of myths that are continuously spread here about UCs. They are all schools where high stats will override ECs, in state or out.</p>
<p>I agree with hmom. Everyone at my school thinks that UC’s are extremely tough but they arent in reality.</p>
<p>I know a few people who have gotten into top schools and one even to Yale without much or any ECs. Great GPA, amazing test scores, a good essay, and some luck can get you into top tier schools</p>
<p>I suspect hmon is correct about GPA vs. ECs. However exactly how hard it is to get into a UC depends on which one.</p>
<p>The latest CDS for Berkeley shows 75th percentile for CR at 710 and MAth at 760. Cornell (the easiest Ivy) has 730 CR and 770 Math, so not a huge difference. Plus, I think their acceptance rates are not all that different.</p>
<p>No.
ECs make up for GPA/Scores. Not the other way around, a perfect GPA/Score does not make up for lackluster ECs/Awards.</p>
<p>IMO 1st place (when was the last time the US got 1st place?) practically makes up for a 2.0 (partial exaggeration).</p>