<p>I am a junior, and I am starting to look into colleges and whatnot. I want to major in civil engineering as well as stay in state, so my main options are Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, or George Mason University as possible colleges. The problem is that my GPA is not good at all (2.4). I have a lot of rigorous classes (AP's and Honors), and a lot of my teachers know I am really smart but I truly never really apply myself, which seems to be key excuse going around, but I have teachers to vouch for that. I'm trying this year to get my work in on time and do it, so I expect an increase in GPA, perhaps a (2.5-2.7). With that being said I feel I can perform really well on the SAT, I been taking the PSAT in school and my score has been increasing gradually. I had a 1560 freshman year, 1680 sophomore year, and I'm waiting for my scores this year but I'm sure it will be around 1700-1800. I have a friend that got int VT with a 2.7 GPA and a 2200 on the SAT, if I start preparing for the SAT I'm sure I can get a 2000+, that's not a problem, I just want to know if it will make a difference, and make me relatively more appealing to colleges. What do you guys think.</p>
<p>you should definitely start preparing! there is no “making up for a score” in terms of SAT and GPA, but if you feel like you can perform well on the SAT, there’s no reason to not try to get the highest score possible, regardless of GPA.</p>
<p>Stoic wrote:</p>
<p>“I have a lot of rigorous classes (AP’s and Honors), and a lot of my teachers know I am really smart but I truly never really apply myself, which seems to be key excuse going around, but I have teachers to vouch for that. I’m trying this year to get my work in on time and do it, so I expect an increase in GPA, perhaps a (2.5-2.7).”</p>
<p>Since you say that you know you’re smart but just haven’t applied yourself in the past – I think your best shot would be to get really good grades this year (shoot for a GPA for this year of 3.5 or higher), and try to impress a few teachers with your work ethic, etc. You will need recommendations for college, and if you can show a couple of teachers how you’ve really turned around your attitude and have worked hard this year, they can write about that in your recommendations.</p>
<p>Also, study like crazy for the SAT or ACT, so you have great scores. I’d also suggest submitting your college applications early in the Fall. I’m not saying submit for Early Decision, just get them completed and submitted early so they will be in the pile for earlier review. You want the reviewers to be looking at your application when they still have a lot of seats to fill. You want them to see a smart kid who has awakened his junior year and is now working hard and is ambitious. You could even write about this turn around in attitude & motivation in your essay.</p>
<p>My son had such a friend in high school. This kid just didn’t apply himself until junior year. Then suddenly he realized he needed to work for good grades. He was able to self-study Algebra 2 over the summer so he could take PreCalc the next year at school. Even though his overall grades weren’t tops, he applied early to our state university and was accepted into the engineering program. He’s a senior there now and is doing well.</p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
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<p>A little bit, maybe. Not a whole lot. The combination of standardized test scores and mediocre grades raises may lead colleges to assume that the applicant is a bit of a slacker. Students with high SATs and so-so grades need to do something to combat that presumption.</p>
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<p>Sadly, this makes the “slacker presumption” a lot harder to combat. </p>
<p>The problem is that a whole lot of college really isn’t about being smart; it’s about being persistent. Think about it. Don’t you know some college graduates who aren’t all that smart? Somewhere along the line, haven’t you had a teacher or two who were dumb as a box of rocks? Yet those teachers were college graduates. By and large, college students who are thoroughly average, even students who are fairly dim, will outperform smart students who don’t work hard.</p>
<p>Colleges want to fill the desks and the dorms, to be sure, but they want to fill them with students who’ll be successful. Your biggest college-admissions challenge this year and next fall won’t be to show teachers and colleges that you’re smart. It will be to show them that you’re dedicated to doing the work. Even the work that’s difficult or boring or otherwise unpleasant. </p>
<p>High standardized test scores by themselves won’t do that. But higher grades in 11th and 12th grades will. That’s really where you need to be putting your effort.</p>
<p>(Hmm…I’ve really kind of repeated mom6350’s advice. Sorry 'bout that, mom.)</p>
<p>If you don’t get your butt in gear you may be forced to attend a CC to get into a 4 year college. If that’s not incentive then you’ve made your choice through inaction.</p>
<p>Agree with Sikorsky in this perspective:</p>
<p>high SAT = intelligence
low grades = somewhat lazy</p>
<p>Alright I hear this question quite often and it raises alot of arguements. I know someone who was accepted to NYU Stern (pretty competitive business school) with a 90-91 average and 2150 SAT. You may think this is pretty low but the applicant had a course-load filled with APs and Honors and also showed interest in NYU and business itself through programs such as DECA and clubs. </p>
<p>So lets say I apply to NYU with a 2300 and 93.25 average chances are I may be accepted by on the other hand lets say I have a 85 and a 2300 I probably won’t be. If you average is within reasonable range of a schools average you will be fine. For example I heard from admission staff from NYU that their GPA ranges from 93.5 to 95.75 and upwards. So this doesn’t mean that an applicant with a 93.25 will be denied nor will an applicant with 98 GPA be accepted. The application process is a holistic review. A good SAT will 100% help you but it doesn’t always secure you a spot. Just work hard this year and really focus. Don’t just say you want “good” grades actually study and try to attain As and A+ it is fairly possibly. Also don’t let a 75 on one test throw you off just focus harder and work harder if you don’t get something ask the teacher during class or after.</p>
<p>VTs admissions are very regional, being most competitive in the NoVa, Richmond, and Tidewater areas. They are more competitive for the e’school and architecture, so if your friend was applying to a humanities for example you can’t make that comparison. They are very numbers based with the SAT minimum for the e’school being 650 last year. GPA is going to vary considerably by high school based on grading scale, weighting, number of APs offered, etc, however your GPA is going to be a very tough sell. Anything under a 3.5 for the e’school is going to be a tough sell unless you are in the top 10% of your class and you are achieving what the top students in your class are. That doesn’t appear to be the case here.</p>
<p>Starting at cc and utilizing the articulation agreement for the guaranteed transfer is one way to go. ODU could be a solid alternative (not sure about a sub 3.0). GMU isn’t a given unless you bring your grades up. Keep in mind if you start at another four year university with the intent to transfer to VT you have no room for freshman adjustment, etc. The competition to transfer is tight and your grades will have to be good.</p>
<p>Its fine. </p>
<p>Just remember that your goal is not the SAT- its a successful career. The intermediate step is a college degree and the key to that is you going to the college that is right for you. Would it really help if you magically got into MIT or Cal? You have no intention of doing that much work… Admissions officers arent trying to be mean and screw over kids- they are just trying to pick the ones who will be successful at their school. </p>
<p>It certainly helps your case if you can bring them some score above their usual range to help boost their profile a bit. And it helps if you can make a case to the school that you will be a good fit. Maybe that means taking a summer engineering program somewhere, or maybe you’ll have to do a 3/2 to get to the school you want. The ones who reject you probably wouldnt have been a good fit for you anyway in terms of the workload.</p>