<p>Okay, so I realize all the colleges say they do a holistic review.... But do they really???? like seriously, how important are GPA's. Because frankly, my GPA sucks beyond belief but everything (including my SATs) are good. Im freaking out because I feel like this whole "holistic review" thing is only said to be used to ease our stress/tension levels! Am i wrong?!? lol Am i just being paranoid?! as always</p>
<p>I would take them at their word. :) GPAs are different for every school. If your grades aren't that great, but you've proven yourself in other areas, as you said you have, then you stand a chance of getting in like everyone else. </p>
<p>Honestly, you have at most a week and one day more to wait. Don't panic. Although now that I think of it, that's something I should attempt to do myself -- I have a bunch of letters coming in Thursday.</p>
<p>I honestly don't believe it at all. They need some sort of consistency in who they accept and deny, and in order to do that there has to be some quasi-number based system. I'm pretty sure schools just say they take a holistic view and that they care about essays and all that because it would ruin their reputation if they said they did not. With 20,000 applicants how holistic can they be? I mean if you've done something amazing, like Intel finalist or figure out cold fusion, they will let you in..but from stories I've heard and people I know in admissions offices, it seems like essays, EC's, Community Service, etc pay very little in who get in or not. SAT's, GPA, Class rank by far make up almost the whole standard. The differences arise because they do take into the account the prestige of the school and race of the applicant. top 10% in a *<strong><em>ty school is worth less than top 10% at a top private, however a 2200 in a *</em></strong>ty public school is worth MUCH more than 2200 in a top private. With clubs and essays and such it seems they just want to know that you can write an essay and that you were involved with th e school, but they don't really care what or how much unless its beyond exceptional.</p>
<p>Yes, but if it was all just grades and exceptional EC accomplishments, the class would be pretty boring. Although you do have a point, mattistotle, about having to quantify things. But only to a certain extent. Maybe they use numbers to whittle down the number of applicants, but ECs and essays are, IMO, what decides things in the end.</p>
<p>I don't think normal ECs are useless in the application process. I think they do care what it is -- I could be involved in a million little clubs that don't really mean anything, or I could be a dancer who has danced since the age of three, and who has won a few smaller awards but nothing major. I would think the dancer has a better chance of getting in. Same thing with the how much.</p>
<p>They have a thread about admissions in the Harvard forum. Someone once said that there are three ways of getting in: 1.) Really amazing academics (like your Intel people), 2.) Something else really great (like your teenage novelist), and 3.) Being a well-rounded student.</p>
<p>Obviously, the GPA will hurt, but if you are well-rounded otherwise, I think you still have a chance. And maybe your GPA isn't as bad as you think, anyway.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm getting slightly off-topic, and I'm far from an expert, but those are my thoughts. It's sometimes better to be more optimistic about the whole process -- makes you feel better, for one.</p>
<p>yeah, but if anything, I agree with u ijailin89.... So far, Ive seen people with 3.5's and 3.2's who have gotten in to Stern and CAS. so if GPA really mattered, then why did they get in? And from what they say, nothing really THAT outstanding got them in.... so I do think they care about essays/recs/EC's even though it may not play as big of a role in the admissions process as grades/scores</p>
<p>PS. Thanks for your replies</p>
<p>I believe it.. my grades, scores, etc were right on the edge of the average scores for NYU, but I feel that my essays and extracurriculars were exactly what they were looking for. I credit those two things for putting me over the edge and if they hadn't considered them, I really think I wouldn't have gotten in.</p>
<p>Exactly. That's the spirit. :) Just sit back and wait.</p>