Our son did ACT in SR year scored 36/36 and also writing score 36. How much will such a good score help. Does high test score “balance” ones not so high GPA. He goes to a top school in CA and has weighted GPA of about 4.0, and unweighted 3.6. Yes He did lots of EC, did scouting for 9 years, an Eagle Scout, Active in Debate, Deka, Robotics, volunteering . At the end of day, I am told GPA is what counts most. In his school that GPA is probably in 80th percentile or so (guess). Anyone with can comment please post how much SAT or ACT score helps countering lower GPA in such situation. His SAT Math 800/800, but again common. I think this may have been discussed hundreds of times and new parents still do not know how much test scores matter! Thanks again.
You may not get too many replies…so I thought I would weigh in.
Clearly, you know your son has perfect scores.
Clearly, you know that perfect scores on those exams are a big deal.
Clearly, you know that you son had varied ECs.
He also has a 4.0 GPA from a top high school.
If you want to hear that he has a free pass into an Ivy League school - there is no such thing.
If you want ot hear that he has a guaranteed seat at Stanford - there is no such thing.
If you want to hear that he has a great chance at any number of schools if he has a well thought out list that includes a number of schools that are not 4% admit rates - then yes - that is the case.
Best of luck to him.
My DD also has a 36. We are expecting many rejections. As an example, Brown has a 28% acceptance rate for students who apply with a 36 ACT. I would guess that a very significant % of the 36 ACT scorers have an unweighted GPA above a 3,6. Good luck!
@Cvalle, the relevant GPA here is the unweighted 3.6. The OP is correct that there is a bit of a gap there between the two. But I’ve seen worse… I’d say his odds for the very tippy top schools are a little worse than the average applicant because of it (and they all have acceptance rates of less than 10% to start with). It sounds like he has very solid, but not spectacular ECs. I’d have him put in 2-3 reach applications for top schools if he has some he likes. But I’d also have him put in some at less competitive schools. The goal is to have some acceptances in the spring that are schools he wants to attend and your family can afford.
One of my kids had test scores about like that (2380 SAT, 800s on subject tests in Lit & Math II), and a 3.7 UW GPA. She got in everyplace she applied, but did not apply to any Ivies. The schools she applied to suited her personality and interests (UChicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, Carleton). But she also applied to some lower ranked schools that she liked (Macalester, Kenyon, Lawrence, Mount Holyoke). Her application was consistent – her essays, recommendations, ECs, etc. all gave a consistent picture of her skills and interests. It could easily have gone the other way on her applications if she had not chosen her schools carefully and been able to convince admissions of her “fit” with them.
@CValle That is not what I heard from one “admission consultant” here. in CA (in state for us), I am told to get computer engineering, UC Berkley, UCLA, even UCSD are reach school for him, and son is preparing his mind for UC Riverside, that is 7th or 6th ranked UC based on what he gathered. May be as a Dad, I was thinking/hoping that topmost ACT Comp 36 , Writing 36 would count for more, Here at CC there are many of you who has more experience base, hence posted. Feedback from @intparent is encouraging., he is applying for Perdue and Georgiatech.
^ I agree that UCB/UCLA are reaches for him. UCSD is a low reach and mid tiers (UCSB/UCD/UCI) are high matches. If he applies to all three mid-tiers he should get , most likely, into one.
He should get into Purdue. Are you okay with being full pay out of state for Purdue & GTech? I assume you are in California. Have you looked at Case Western? Might be another good addition, and he might get merit for those scores.
Yes - I would think for computer engineering those schools are reach schools for most students.
What I said was he needs a well considered list that includes schools that are not the tippy-top schools.
There are MANY schools that would love to have a student with his scores.
A small example from my own life. I attended GWU undergrad at a time GWU was actively attempting to raise its average SAT scores. My SAT scroes were abover average for GWU. I got in with a fabulous scholarship.
If you put schools on your son’s list that are similarly looking to improve average ACT scores or schools where his scores make him an outlier you will find success.
However, if you stick to schools where such scroes are “common” as you state - then he is not a shoe-in.
@replyback just complimenting your son on a 36 writing! I have no idea how they are scoring them but it’s extremely difficult to do well on the new scoring scale for ACT writing for example I have a 35 composite but a 25 writing!
You were right, he did get accepted to Engg at Purdue. I came to know they accept student Pre-major . So not sendig there with $$$ and go through all the stress of what happens in 2 years. He got accepted CSE in UCSB, UW, VT, TAMU and CS+Stat in UUIC. Hope everything is nice at your end.
You were right, he did get accepted to Engg at Purdue. I came to know they accept student Pre-major . So not sendig there with $$$ and go through all the stress of what happens in 2 years. He got accepted CSE in UCSB, UW, VT, TAMU and CS+Stat in UUIC. Hope everything is nice at your end.
Check carefully on whether he has direct admission to the CS/CSE major at each school. VT and TAMU are similar to Purdue in admitting frosh to first year general or pre engineering, so they may need high GPA later to get into their majors (VT assures major at 3.0, while TAMU assures major at 3.5). If UW is Washington, it admits only a few frosh directly to CSE, while most others are admitted pre-science or pre-engineering and must compete for admission to get into the CSE major.