How important are standardized test scores?

<p>Theoretically,
if a student has a good GPA (4.0uw/4.08w), has taken many AP classes (max), is on varsity sports, NHS, internships, numerous awards, has good essays and recs....basically a very solid and competitive application, but the standardized test scores are lower (30 on ACT) will that be a HUGE problem?</p>

<p>basically, how important really are the test scores? most important part of app, or equal weighting with other aspects? </p>

<p>thanks!!!</p>

<p>A 30 on the ACT isn’t that bad; it’s actually a pretty typical score matched up with with the rest of the given profile. Has “this student” taken the SAT by chance?</p>

<p>It definitely wouldn’t hurt to bring it up, but I don’t think that it would change the mind of an admissions officer. If you are on the fence with everything else, however, this score could break you.</p>

<p>I’m going to paraphrase a bit because I heard this a while ago at an information session for some (top) school, but the officer said that they don’t care as much about standardized tests as most people think. It just so happens that the hardest working and best students also score very highly on these tests, so it seems that the school only admits students with higher test grades.</p>