<p>I have a decent SAT score ( 2160...retaken,expecting 2300 this time)....decent grades(class topper for 2 years)...international applicant....Some national level EC's ( in both sports and academics)......and one hell of essay, I mean I have won several awards for my writing, but after seeing the final draft, I can confidently say I have never written a better piece in all my life</p>
<p>I wanted to know, how much would it count for?...I am applying to some Ivy's and some public universities....I could do without financial aid, but it would a great relief to get some......Would my grades and SAT be given more preference or my essay?.....and I assume that most people applying to the Ivy's would have similar stats, if not better, then could my essay really tip the balance in my favour. And lastly are extracurriculars more important than essay?</p>
<p>GPA and SAT are far and away the most important aspect of an application. Essays and extracirriculars (which are weighed about equally) are usually the deciding factors of applicants. Among the top tier universities, obviously most applicants have a strong GPA and test scores so the essay portion and stellar ECs are really the difference makers between admission and rejection. </p>
<p>They are all important. How important one is to the other is irrelevant. No one is a “match” for schools with under 20% admit rate except for a very select few recruited people.</p>
<p>All are equally important. I wouldn’t say a good essay makes a reach a match. I would say that a bad essay on a qualified student’s app can keep them out, but an outstanding essay on an unqualified student’s app will not get them in. If you have the high GPA and the high test scores, a great essay is one of the things that separates you from the 15,000 other applicants that look exactly like you. GPA and SAT are just as important to International students as to domestic students, however, financial aid is a much bigger factor (at most schools).</p>