GPA vs Test Scores during Admission?

Applying to College
1

<p>What do colleges place more emphasis on, unweighted gpa or test scores? Do they care more about one year of low gpa or one low test score? Or are they both equally considered? Lastly, if you had a low gpa, could high test scores compensate for them, or vice versa?</p>

2

<p>Test scores and GPA compliment each other. However, if I had to pick one, it would be GPA since it signifies 4 years worth of hard work. Having a high SAT won’t make up for a low GPA, and vice versa.</p>

<p>For example (Assuming you are applying to top 20s):
2400 with 2.9 GPA won’t be good
4.0 with 1700 won’t be good
3.8 with 2150 would work</p>

3

<p>I agree with SAT100.</p>

<p>Other than that, some colleges give a (relatively) greater weight to the SAT/ACT and others a (relatively) greater weight to GPA. YMMV.</p>

4

<p>SAT I is not that important. GPA>SAT I.</p>

<p>but it’s also the context of the GPA, i.e. courseload.</p>

5

<p>Rank is the number 1 consideration at most highly selective schools, but SAT is also critical. At top schools you must have strong both. At state shools with formulas, one can sometimes make up for the other.</p>

6

<p>I agree class rank may be considered more important than GPA since the gradig system is not universal. Like if you are outside the top 10% of the class you are basically rejected, unless you have a hook. Even being in the top 10% makes it tough still you ideally want to be in the top 5%.</p>

7

<p>At the selective schools, the transcript (not the GPA) is most important.</p>

<p>They want to see the kid taking the hardest classes offered at the school. Inflating your GPA by taking easier classes is not impressive to them.</p>

<p>Strong transcript can help explain away bad test scores. High test scores with a weak transcript raises questions.</p>

8

<p>The distinction is rather hard to tell. GPA might represent 4 years of work, but it may also signify how your school is known for grade inflation. The SAT will show actual pertained knowledge in basic subjects. Due to the nature of both, it’d be silly to weight one more than the other.</p>

9

<p>Take it from me, you will get nowhere in top 20’s without uw gpa of at least 3.8 no matter how good your test scores.</p>

10

<p>@orcadork, Grinnell is a top 20 LAC, and I was admitted with a 3.0. College admissions aren’t black and white like that.</p>