hi! okay, i just wanted to know how big of a factor SAT scores are exactly. say i applied to UCLA (in-state) with a 4.05 GPA (W), decent EC’s, great essays, etc. and my SAT score was 2030. if i was able to raise my score to like, 2150+, would it really make a big difference in the admissons decision? i just want to know how much of an impact a higher score would have. thanks in advance!
<p>For UC's, SAT scores are not emphasized as much.</p>
<p>the better SATs you have the better insurance so if you want to get into UCB and UCLA try to have great essays and great ECs!</p>
<p>It would help lots at those schools.</p>
<p>At UCLA and Berkeley your ec's are going to matter much more than your SAT score once the score clears a certain point (say, 2000--I'm not familiar with the new test). There's not going to be much difference unless you manage a 2400 or something.</p>
<p>Where on earth do you get ideas like the above?</p>
<p>Possibly depends on what departments. Some departments, like engineering are very numbers driven. Berkeley's college of engineering's average GPA is 4.42 and SAT is a 1435, 85 POINTS ABOVE THE SCHOOLWIDE AVERAGE! They probably look more at your SAT I Math SAT II Math & Science and math & science grades than other things.</p>
<p>Also, the summer program COSMOS last I heard gives you the equivalent of 200 extra points on the SAT or 0.2 GPA, something to that effect.</p>
<p>Well I'm guessing by zagat's response that I'm completely off. . .but I'm under the impression that the UC's don't really see a big difference between say 1450 and 1540 on the old test (obviously a 1600 stands out more), but the extra curriculars, especially at schoos like LA and Berkeley, are what differentiates you from all the other high GPA's and SAT scores...</p>
<p>bigbigbigbigbigbigBIG</p>
<p>You are completely off, and I'm really wondering where you got this idea. Look at scattergrams for the UCs, they are quantatitive above all, scores count.</p>
<p>wow, thanks for all the responses! but everyone is saying something different...haha.</p>
<p>"Well I'm guessing by zagat's response that I'm completely off. . .but I'm under the impression that the UC's don't really see a big difference between say 1450 and 1540 on the old test (obviously a 1600 stands out more), but the extra curriculars, especially at schoos like LA and Berkeley, are what differentiates you from all the other high GPA's and SAT scores..."</p>
<p>People just spout what they want to hear. That includes me, but I qualified/specified my statement, and supported it with facts. Getting a 1540 instead of a 1450 WILL make a difference.</p>
<p>For UCLA: The MAJORITY of people who have 700+ writing verbal or SAT II math II get in. <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/UCLAprofile.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/UCLAprofile.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you have a 3.9 W you have a 7% chance of admission. Harsh. Roughly 40-50% chance if you have 700-800 math I, II II, or verbal or writing.</p>
<p>I had a lot of explanation here but I'm going to edit it out. It was totally wrong of me to use the 20 or so examples from my school and go and generalize with them.</p>
<p>Oh well. I apologize for being completely, utterly wrong (no sarcasm).</p>
<p>"People just spout what they want to hear."</p>
<p>Haha, yes that's true. Even now that I'm done with this whole college admissions process I'm still (foolishly) hopeful that admissions officers look beyond scores and at extracurriculars instead, which would encourage people to go out and do things instead of study for tests that only exist for the purpose of getting into college.</p>