<p>My counselor tells me that for large univerisites, admissions account GPA 45%, SAT scores 45%, and other (ECs, essay, recs) 10%. Is this rele true? I thought GPA matters more than SAT scores.</p>
<p>Yeah...that is how a lot of state colleges go. They are all scores and GPA....
Like this:</p>
<p>GPA:4.0 UW SAT:1800 (a moderately good score)</p>
<p>GPA:3.5 UW SAT: 2150 (very good score)</p>
<p>IF these guys took the same classes and this was the end result....the dude with the 2240 would get the scholarship</p>
<p>I think that SAT scores are starting to play less and less of a role in admissions because it has become so easy to study for them (and it's unfair because some people can afford a tutor), so I think that 45% is heavily inflated. It is my opinion that a high SAT score can't really help you (it doesn't guarantee acceptance, nor is it a hook) but a low one can hurt you (if you don't have a particularly strong point to overshadow the score). </p>
<p>I think that GPA is worth a lot, but you have to remember that colleges look at them in the context of your school (most high schools will provide a profile describing grading policies and trends, etc.) </p>
<p>How much each component of an app matters really depends on the applicant. It is all relative...if a student is a particularly talented athlete, or an URM, some other parts may be overlooked...When I attended an info session at columbia, the admissions officer old me that they had once admitted someone with a 980 SAT (old SAT) but you know that person had to have a real hook.</p>