high sat, low gpa

State Forums
1

<p>if i have a significantly higher SAT score than a universities average,
but just a little bit lower gpa than the universities average, does the
much higher sat usually make up for the lower gpa?</p>

<p>specifically for the California States or Universities of California?</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

2

<p>The short answer is that with the possible exception of the most selective UCs (i.e. Cal and UCLA) probably yes. The longer answer is that at least for the UCs your rank in class (top 9% or higher) can trump the GPA number. Schools have widely differing approaches to grading so that your GPA cannot easily be compared to someone else’s GPA unless the two of you go to the same school. Even then your GPA cannot easily be compared to the average GPA for admitted students.</p>

<p>If you have access to Naviance for your school you can get a precise answer to your question.</p>

3

<p>For CSUs (except SLO) they combine your SAT and GPA to compute an eligibility index. So, the degree to which SAT offsets GPA is easily understood. The formula is simply, CSU GPA x 800 + SAT Math and Reading.
So, a 3.0 with a 1200 has a CSU index of 3600.<br>
A 3.2 and 1040 SAT also generates an index of 3600 (as does a 2.8/1360)</p>

<p>For Cal Poly SLO and the UCs, it is less linear than that.</p>

4

<p>what do you do for slo, that is the school that i would like to go to the most</p>

5

<p><a href=“http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=statsp[/url]”>http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=statsp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>That will tell you what you need to know.</p>

<p>Cal Poly’s avg freshman GPA and SAT varies a bit my major but the link below says 3.87 UW (better than 4.0 weighted) and 635 Math and 596 Reading. To get in with a 3.5 weighted GPA, you’d probably need a near perfect SAT score and lots of bonus points.</p>

<p>This paper from CP’s web site shows you applicant and admission trends.
<a href=“IR Home - Institutional Research - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo”>http://www.ipa.calpoly.edu/sites/ipa.wcms.calpoly.edu/files/publications_reports/factbook/fbfall12.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>These vary by major but, here are a few other CSU index benchmarks to think about: (using the above formula - though note CSU GPA excludes non-college Prep classes like Driver’s Ed and PE. It also caps you AP GPA bump at 2 classes per semester. It is likely your CSU GPA is lower than your over all GPA)
SDSU - 4100
Long Beach - 3800
Fullerton - 3800
Pomona - 3700
Chico - 3650
Sonoma - 3300
Monterey - 2900</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

6

<p>i don’y think that it is 3.87 unweighted because when you go down to the engineering section it says 3.99 and i seriously doubt that almost EVERY SINGLE engineering student had a 4.0 because that would be more selective than MIT</p>

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<p>[Student</a> Profile - Admissions - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo](<a href=“Cal Poly Admissions”>Cal Poly Admissions)</p>

<p>This was recently added to CP’s site and profiles admited students by major. For Fall 13, the average (weighted) GPA was 3.96 and SAT M+R of 1311. That’s higher than the 2011 stats I had handy.</p>

<p>With a weighted 3.5 GPA and a perfect SAT - I think you’d have a tough time getting in. </p>

<p>Interestingly, the UC system has provisions for students with great test scores and mediocre grades. I doubt Cal or LA admits many students this way but, it’s an option for the lower demand campuses.
[University</a> of California - Admission by examination](<a href=“University of California Counselors”>University of California Counselors) </p>

<p>Justin
If you post your stats, we’ll give you an honest appraisal of where you are likely to get in.</p>

8

<p>well… i got a 2030 on the SAT and a 3.86 weighted gpa
got denied from uci (lol *** right?), ucsd, cal, and ucla
and accepted to ucsb, ucd, ucr, and ucsc</p>

<p>i personally would say gpa > SAT</p>