<p>My daughter has a 3.8GPA and got 540 math, 550 reading, and 590 writing on her SATs. She is not someone who tests well, so her SATs don't really reflect her overall ability, while her GPA does. She has heard that students with high GPAs are sometimes given a bit of slack if their SATs are a little under par (her math score is a bit under) and hopes that is really true. Does anyone know if this is the case? My second question is: She is going to apply early action. Would it be better to write "undeclared" as a major instead of saying what she'd like to major in? We are thinking of ways to boost her odds of being accepted.</p>
<p>Tell her not to worry.</p>
<p>I got in with a 3.1 (unweighted - like 3.5 weighted) GPA and 570 math, 570 writing and 680 critical reading. On top of that, I applied to the supposedly competitive Computer Science program (my counselor advised against it) and was accepted. </p>
<p>One of my friends slacked off in school with a 2.8 GPA but a 2200 total SAT and got in. I would assume it works the other way around as well.</p>
<p>Codyyy,
Thanks for the encouragement. She’s a good student, just doesn’t test particularly well. The old information online at the time she took her SATs said that the math range was 540-640 and then as soon her her results came in, the new stats said the range was 560+. Sigh. Murphy’s Law is always at work. We are hoping for an acceptance letter in spite of her math score being a bit lower than the middle 50%. Our fingers are tightly crossed.</p>
<p>My son is the opposite. GPA is 2.7 but SATs were 2170. He is coming from one of the top public schools in the state. Do you think he has a chance?</p>
<p>Schools don’t like to see low GPA/high SAT, because it gives them concerns that the kid does not work hard. High GPA/low SAT is much preferable.</p>
<p>That said, I think both students have excellent chances, remember UMass accepts 60+% of all applicants.</p>
<p>For OHS1979, I would not recommend your D apply as undeclared. She should put the major she wants, if she has the qualifications to be admitted to UMass but doesn’t get into that major, she will essentially be admitted as undeclared. Some majors are very hard to get into at a later time.</p>
<p>If the problem leading to her being “not someone who tests well” is anxiety- or stress-related, it may be worth looking into an SAT class that can help her develop testing strategies which will help her improve her score. My DD’s score on the last time she took it was something like 180 points higher than the first time, the more she took it the more relaxed she got, and the better she scored.</p>
<p>
Well, by definition 50% of the kids had less than the middle score, so… </p>
<p>For squeegis, does your S have a good explanation why his grades don’t match up to his test scores? He’ll probably get in just on the strength of his SAT scores, but if there are mitigating circumstances that will help.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement Notrichenough! Yes, I do think anxiety plays a part in her not getting better scores. I tutored her myself for 3 months before she took the test the first time and then hired a tutor to work with her for 3 months before she retook them. Unfortunately, even after working 1:1 with a tutor, it only brought up her math score 10 points, so I think she will likely just stick with her second set of scores. If she unexpectedly decides to take them again in the fall, I will arrange for more tutoring or an online class and see what happens. As for the middle 50% being within a certain range, this means that 25% scored higher and 25% scored lower, so I’m pretty confident she’ll be accepted. I agree that putting down a major is better than writing “undeclared”. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>high gpa low sat could also mean an easier school…</p>
<p>notrichenough, no excuses. He is just lazy. Hates homework. Doesn’t feel it is necessary if he already knows the information. He loses at least a grade, sometimes 2 based on not passing in homework. Hopefully being in college where they don’t collect homework his grades will be better. He very rarely studies so that will have to change.</p>
<p>There is plenty of homework in college that gets assigned and collected - papers, labs, computer programs, problem sets, etc. Why do you think there is no homework?</p>
<p>My daughter, who is now a college senior, rarely has to pass in homework. Just study and take the tests. Hopefully my son, whose seems to have realized his mistake and is making the effort this year to get the work done, will end up at the same sort of school.</p>
<p>My son at UMass certainly has had homework (online mainly) for Math and Computer Sci and papers for English and Sociology. And it figures into the grading. I wouldn’t count on there being no homework.</p>
<p>OHS1979, those are respectable SAT scores. UMass calculates an unweighted GPA based on the transcript. Don’t know if the one you quoted was weighted or not. Should be fine even if it drops a little. Don’t want to give the impression that I have inside info though. If UMass is her choice, apply EA and relax.</p>
<p>notakid: Thanks for the encouraging note! She has already applied early action and is hoping for the best. Hopefully by Christmas she will have a thick envelope to open. Till then, all we can do is wait.</p>
<p>The early acceptance rate is higher. I’m sure she will be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks squeegis! Here’s hoping for happy news :o)</p>