<p>*If the kid has very high test scores and a weak GPA, then the test-lovers essentially excuse the weak GPA as meaning the high school must be particularly rigorous. *</p>
<p>not if the kid’s rank is lowish.</p>
<p>if a kid has a super SAT/ACT, but his GPA is a weighted 3.5 or below and his rank is not top, then that screams…child didn’t do homework, child was a slacker for his abilities.</p>
<p>Many of those kids go to private prep schools that don’t rank, however. So sometimes the family doesn’t really know where the kid with the 3.6 GPA really stands. (But the colleges will have that information, from information provided with the school profile or through the LOR’s)</p>
<p>
Again, another example of “SAT as sacrosanct”. How come nobody ever just assumes that the high test score is a lucky fluke? Why is this stupid test the thing against which everything else is measured?</p>
<p>LAC = Liberal Arts College
GPA = Grade Point Average
SAT/ACT = tests
URM = Under Represented Minorities
EC = Extra curricular activity (like debate, cheer squad, Peace club)
DS = Darling Son DD = Darling Daughter</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Well she will be taking it on Saturday and we will see. But based on her yearly tests I expect her to be a solid test taker but not exceptionally high (28-29 range). SHe is definitely a kid in the top 10% but probably not a top 2%. That is okay since she is has her heart set on going to a school in the South or the Southwest. SHe isn’t looking at HYP type schools or even our alma mater (U of C). </p>
<p>As she is a very good writer, I expect her essays to be strong. The fact that she doesn’t need aid should be a plus for her too. And yes she has lived in many places including overseas and traveled very widely.</p>
<p>Slightly off topic, but was it addressed why score is low in comparison to GPA? My friends’ D is like that. However, my friend mentioned that D refused to spend time preparing for ACT. I have no doubt that at least this girl ( I cannot judge others) would have had much higher ACT score if she spend some time preparing for it. My own D. spend just 1 hour / day for a week self-preparing for test using her own customized to her needs plan. It helped her to get desired score on a first try, which was sufficient enough to get into very selective program of her choice.</p>
<p>I agree with calmom that “weak” test scores(though I don’t consider 28 weak but I realize you are speaking in relative terms) should not prevent a kid from applying to any given school.My d was convinced she dn stand a chance at her first choice school because her math score was lopsided compared to her writing and cr scores ,which were fine.We told her to simply go for it and present herself honestly and just see what happens. She knew what she loved and what she wanted to study there.Interestingly, it turned out of the 7 people from her school who applied only she got admitted.A bunch of them were angry because their math scores were much higher and they felt she didn’t deserve to get in.</p>
<p>The school obviously felt her presence there would be a benefit. As to the importance of being a good writer it cannot be overstated.I noticed at my daughter’s high school that all the editors on the paper were admitted to solid schools(she was executive editor herself).</p>