I have an atrocious 3.1 weighted gpa. I’m going to take the new SAT for the first time in a couple weeks and I’m aiming for a perfect score. So what exactly is the relationship between test scores and GPA in college applications? If I get a really, really high SAT will that help me as much as I need it to? Or will it still be hidden in my GPAs shadow.
With a GPA that low, even a perfect test score won’t overshadow it. You need to look at colleges that match that GPA for accepted students.
You need to find schools where admission is likely for you. Top schools will be out of the question but there will be schools that will accept you. Focus on that.
Colleges publish how their admission criteria is weighted in their Common Data Set, section C7 (google it for each school because they are all different). Run the Supermatch tool on the left side of this page for some possible schools.
@Lotus6 - Don’t beat yourself up. A 3.1 is still a B average and there are many schools that will accept you, especially if your test scores are strong. The other thing that’s important with your GPA is your strength of curriculum, your class rank, and how your grades look throughout the four years of high school. If you started out poorly in high school but managed to have an upward trend in your grades as you progress through to your senior year, colleges will take this into account, especially those that practice holistic review.