<p>I am probably just making this post because my SATs and ACTs did not match up well with my GPA. But I was thinking, isn't the reason most of the top schools have really high SAT ranges because most top students get the top scores. My scores weren't bad by any means (1940), but most people with a 97 unweighted GPA like myself usually score 2100-2200+. When I scanned through the accepted/rejected threads, it sort of seemed (But I could be wrong since I'm not going to say I read pages and pages) that all the top GPA had top test scores and the very few (Sort of like my situation) who had high GPA's but not as a high percentile SAT score still generally got accepted while those who had lower percentile GPA's, yet high percentile scores generally were rejected more often. Maybe I didn't read enough of those threads. But it seems to me, scores won't really put you in or keep you out of any university because top students generally get the top scores and the non-top students generally don't get top scores and if they do, why aren't they top of their classes in GPA? I just wanted to see what you all thought of this sort of assesment I'm giving about admissions.</p>
<p>I'd assume it depends on which university you're applying to.</p>
<p>Different schools give different weights to SAT scores. Some schools definitely do use standardized test scores in their admissions process.</p>
<p>"But I was thinking, isn't the reason most of the top schools have really high SAT ranges because most top students get the top scores."</p>
<p>I haven't seen research about the correlation between SAT scores and grades. I do know, however, many students who have high scores, low grades. This includes a student with an 800 V who had to retake English because he flunked it. </p>
<p>I also know some hard working students who had sky high grades, and OK, but not spectacular scores (1200 or so on the old SAT). Such students aren't likely to get into the very top colleges despite their high gpas.</p>
<p>High GPA , low SATs = hard worker but not smart
High SAT, low GPA = lazy smart guy</p>
<p>This is under the assumption you do not study for the SAT though.</p>
<p>"But it seems to me, scores won't really put you in or keep you out of any university because top students generally get the top scores and the non-top students generally don't get top scores and if they do, why aren't they top of their classes in GPA? I just wanted to see what you all thought of this sort of assesment I'm giving about admissions."</p>
<p>I absolutely think bad standardized test scores will keep you out of top schools unless you're an athlete, URM, etc and even those don't guarantee anything.
If you go to a bad HS it's not going to be hard to get a good GPA. If you go to a really competitive prep or magnet school, obviously not everyone can be of top of the class even though you have to be really intelligent to get into the HS in the first place</p>
<p>Yes they really do make a difference. A person who gets a 99 unweighted GPA and a 1000 SAT is a red flag for a school with grade inflation or easy classes.</p>
<p>What about 4.0 unweighted but only 4.38 weighted and 2380?</p>
<p>My school does offer more APs, but the administration makes it so that not every can take them like AP Stats is offered but only 30 spots and 82 people wanted it. Same with many other APs.</p>
<p>I think you'd be good at most schools except obviously HYPSW where it would depend on other things because people w/ perfect stats get rejected</p>
<p>I sympathize. At my school AP classes are limited to 8-12 students and we don't even have AP Stats, Gov, Psych, Econ, etc</p>
<p>Even an athlete or legacy needs a 2000 plus for most top colleges. A non special candidate with under a 2150 would be hard to find.</p>
<p>"Scores can't get you in, but they can keep you out"</p>
<p>After a certain point, colleges don't care what you get if you have a strong application besides test scores.</p>
<p>Not actually true. Very poor scores will keep somewhat out no matter what. Especially with the way that the Common Data Set works, colleges really don't want students with very poor scores. Such information would have to be reported and is embarassing. The number of students with stellar grades continues to rise, but admissions rates continue to decline. Test scores remain constant. (Relatively. Please, no one needs a mention of recentering, slightly declining scores, etc.) I wish I could remember the sight off hand, but a study showed that Valedictorians average about a 1250 on M+V. Grades are a weak measure for colleges, because there are so many good ones. There are a lot more Valedictorians than 1500 M+V. That's just a fact.</p>
<p>Yeah, that is why I said "they can't get you in, but can keep you out" read the whole post man, thanks</p>
<p>Your post was ambigious to the point of having no actual meaning. Be coherent next time, thanks</p>
<p>I find it humerous that you were intelligent enough to produce such a vindictive response to my rebutle, yet you were not able to comprehend my original statement to the point which you thought it was meaningless, thanks again though</p>