<p>Ok, I just realized that many of the schools that I am applying to have a student body with a higher average high school GPA than I currently posses. My GPA isn't horrible at an A-/B+; it's 3.4 UW, 4.0 W (top 15.5%). My SAT score was 2150: 800 CR, 630 M, 720 W. I received a 750 in U.S. History and a 4 on the A.P. U.S. History exam. Therefore, my SAT score is higher than or equal to the range at all of the schools I am applying to.</p>
<p>Basically, I'm wondering: do schools prefer higher test scores or higher GPAs, or does neither get preference? For the record, here are the schools I'm applying to and the average GPA (or rank) and test scores of their admitted students:</p>
<p>American U: 47% in top 10%
Boston U: 3.46
Emerson C: 3.59
NYU: 3.6
Northeastern U: 38% in top 10%
Northwestern U: 83% in top 10%
Syracuse U: 3.6</p>
<p>
[quote]
American U: 47% in top 10%
Boston U: 3.46
Emerson C: 3.59
NYU: 3.6
Northeastern U: 38% in top 10%
Northwestern U: 83% in top 10%
Syracuse U: 3.6
<p>Your SAT scores seen pretty decent. Have you thought about applying to some good, academically focused liberal arts colleges like Oberlin, Reed, Kenyon, Wooster, Lawrence, Occidental, Whitman and Bates? If you made the right case to them about why your grades aren't a bit higher (e.g, you focused more on community service because it was a passion, you only just got turned intellectually, etc.), I would think you might find an understanding ear. At the least, I think you would get a very fair heaing. Also, most of these LACs are better academically than many on your list, with the exception perhaps of Northwestern.</p>
<p>I don't think those schools are necessarily better academically than the schools I'm applying to -- more intimate, perhaps -- and none of them offer journalism majors (I want to double major). For that, Northwestern and Syracuse are obviously my top choices (though my sentimental vote goes to NYU).</p>
<p>No one's answered my question, though... do colleges treat GPA and SAT scores with equal weight?</p>
<p>Most college look at all aspects of the application (Grades, Scores, ECs, Recs and Essays) in the context of the individual and try to get a whole picture of the person. The very top schools (Northwestern and NYU in your case) typically treat scores and grades rather equally in that they want them both equally high. There is little slack. When one is given a slight preference it is generally grades. </p>
<p>What is the reason for your lowish GPA? Sometimes high scores and lower grades can be interpreted as smart, but lazy.</p>
<p>Well, I'm not very good at Math and French. My SAT scores reflect the same thing. The rest of my grades are pretty solid (and my Math and French grades really aren't that horrible, at least by my standards; last year I finished with a B- in Honors Pre-Calculus and a B in Honors French 5. The rest of my grades were either B+, A-, or A). I definitely would not consider myself lazy, though I have no idea how any CAOs would know that.</p>