<p>There are a few threads about high SAT versus low GPA, but I'm sort of on the opposite end. First of all, I doubt schools will see my school as easy. But my junior year average was a 97.38/100 unweighted and my schedule for next year will have me ending up with 14 AP's/honors/university courses. However, my SAT was a 1940 and my ACT was a 30. SAT II's were 770 (WH), 740 (Chemistry), and 660 (Math I). Now I'm sure there are other people with similar GPA's and low SAT scores as well and I was wondering how that works in college admissions and how can I maybe compensate. I don't know my AP scores, but I should have of the 4 APs I've taken so far all 5's or at least probably 3 5's and one 4.</p>
<p>i think high gpa+low sats>high sats+low gpa...i dont care what they say, the gpa is what matters the most at ANY good college, private or public.</p>
<p>600 SAT with 4.0UWGPA>2400 SAT with 2.0 UWGPA? :o</p>
<p>within reason</p>
<p>infamy, i understand what your saying because high GPA characterizes work ethic, which is the most important thing needed for college. but seriously, GPAs and diffuclties of classes differ so much from school to school that GPA is more of an inadequate indicator (in my opinion)</p>
<p>Its an inadequate indicator for us unqualified high school students making random guesses about where people could get in...</p>
<p>But colleges know what your transcript means.</p>
<p>Depends on the college you're planning to get into... I think only Penn and Columbia in the Ivy Leagues would probably accept you, but not the others. Berkeley, probably not considering they're just basically a plain academics school primarily judging your SATs, grades, and some ECs.</p>
<p>azsxdc</p>
<p>Well, it is okay that your SAT I is low cause a ACT of 30 is pretty good. If your ACT subscores are all 30, then for the UCs convert that to 2100 on the SAT scale. However, the UCs weigh the Grammar/Writing Section more than the other three sections.</p>
<p>Try to improve you ACTs and give up the SAT I, and if you are from California then there is a pretty good chance at Cal and UCLA since your GPA is good.</p>
<p>A High GPA + Low SAT = Grade Inflation</p>
<p>yeah i forgot to mention the classes you take matter too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
600 SAT with 4.0UWGPA>2400 SAT with 2.0 UWGPA?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes. By far.</p>
<p>GPA is a lot more important. And 1940 isn't even low.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A High GPA + Low SAT = Grade Inflation
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's absurd.</p>
<p>GPA measures how good of a student you are, that says nothing about how well you can do on the SAT.</p>
<p>Well, I have a feeling that they at least take a look at your school. Many colleges have regional officers who knows about the high schools. So, if it's a very competitive high school versus an easy one, I'm sure the GPA will be viewed somewhat differently.</p>
<p>I am in your same boat</p>
<p>3.93 GPA, 28 ACT, 1890 SAT (1320 MV).</p>
<p>No not grade inflation b/c a lot of guys with lower GPAs have higher ACTs. Theres one kid with a 3.4 GPA but a 32 another with a 3.6 with a 34. I got a higher GPA but lower ACT</p>
<p>who would you take?</p>
<p>Marchballer, I'll take the higher ACT score just from my experience.</p>
<p>My UC-capped weighted GPA was 3.96, where as the middle 50% at Cal is over 4.0. My ACTs were composite 35.</p>
<p>Even as an in-stater, my GPA is pretty crappy compared to others. I am also Chinese-American and had NO ECs.</p>
<p>I was accepted into L&S (Not the Backdoor Way Into Cal) F'06.</p>
<p>The thing I don't like about GPAs is that my 3.96 is a lot better than 4.4 and 4.5s at other schools I know. The GPAs at each school are different, my school had ridiculously crazy grade deflation being that we can't give everyone As and we are the 26th "Best" Public School by Newsweek's list this year.</p>
<p>Yes, there has to grade deflation at great schools like mine where 1/6 of my class ends up with a 4.0+ GPA at graduation and sends students to Top Ivies, Publics and LACs each year with not so stellar looking GPAs when compared just by numbers to other students.</p>
<p>At other places the 4.5 may not really be worth anything compared to others as the school can't fail everyone and must give As to students so they won't get sued. I mean the people in the bottom third of my class would have gotten 4.0+ at any other public HS in our school district, but at my school they get a GPA in the 2.0-3.0 range.</p>
<p>Many schools have serious grade inflation, so unless you go to a top school with grade deflation, I would take the top ACT/SAT scores as it is a a comparable number to every other applicant.</p>
<p>Sorry for my ranting post, if it comes out that way to you.</p>
<p>1940 isn't that bad but I do think that a high GPA but low test scores does indicate some serious grade inflation.</p>
<p>The GPAs I said were unweighted. So no one would have above 4.0 im like number 3-5 in a class of like 220. Also my ACT scores aren't even in teh top 25% of my schools average ACT scores</p>
<p>According to "A is for Admission" by Michele Hernandez, high SAT + low gpa > low SAT + high gpa. College admissions officers tend to be more forgiving to the former, which is seen as having the capability to succeed, while the second group, although diligent, is seen as unable to keep up with college course loads.</p>
<p>Also, colleges always want to boost their SAT averages to appear more selective. Whether what I have said is true for your particular case or not, this is how colleges admissions officers, and the deciders of your fate, see it.</p>
<p>Golden Bear, colleges know what your high school transcript means.</p>
<p>I don't remember reading that in "A is for Admission." In fact, I found several things in that book to be skeptical, and the statistics to be somewhat outdated.</p>
<p>From experience, and I have seen many, many profiles and decisions, whether from friends or on this board, GPA is MUCH more important than SATs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, colleges always want to boost their SAT averages to appear more selective.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm not sure how true that is. Take the UCs, for example. They take your best one-sitting SAT Reasoning score. Now, if they REALLY want to boost their SAT averages, they would take your best scores for each section and put together a higher composite, but they don't do that.</p>
<p>Another example: Cornell University's middle 50% is something like 1290-1480. Now, that means that 25%, or about 3,400 students at Cornell, has an SAT score of lower than 1290, at an Ivy League school. Now, if Cornell really wanted to, it could easily replace its bottom 25% with high scoring SAT students and comparable stats. I know people with rather high SAT scores and otherwise competitive stats who were rejected to Cornell. What this seems to say is that Cornell doesn't really care that much about raising its SAT averages.</p>
<p>I also think that the UCs take the SATs more seriously than the other top private schools. After all, it's because of the UCs that the SAT changed from the 1600 format to the 2400. I think for top private schools, SATs becomes even less important while for the UCs, they are still pretty important in admissions.</p>