<p>Just wondering, how much of a difference can essays make for admissions in selective schools, especially UCLA and UC Berkeley? My problem right now is that although my SAT is way above average, my GPA is below their averages (my weighted UC GPA is 4.08, while their average is like 4.3). Since I heard that those schools focus mainly on GPA, my chances seem very slim. However, I feel that my essays are unique and will make me stand out. Do you guys think that superb essays in general can "make up" for below-average (but not too low) stats?</p>
<p>essays make a huge difference. it is one of the only ways the adcoms can know something about your personality and they value it .</p>
<p>When you’re in a high GPA/SAT range, an essay is what differentiates you. If you see five hundred students with 4.0’s and 2400’s, you go to their extracurriculars and essays. </p>
<p>Essays aren’t a primary factor, but they can definitely make or break you, unlike (surprisingly) test scores. For example, if you’re an amazing student, but your SAT scores are slightly low, they will look at your extracurriculars and essays to see if they make up for it; so, essays actually play a large role.</p>
<p>Essays make a big difference at many highly selective schools once you’re TRULY QUALIFIED. They make less of a difference at schools like the UCs which are highly numbers oriented. It’s widely believed they don’t even read the essays of applicants who don’t make it through their sniff test. They just don’t have the staff.</p>
<p>^How low do you think one’s stats must be to not make it through the “sniff test” at a school like UCLA or UCB?</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about the GPA average: different high schools have different levels of grade inflation/deflation, so it’s more of how you rank among your own classmates and the admission history of your own high school that matters. </p>
<p>Like Waverly said, only highly selective schools that receive way too many qualified applicants for the very few spots turn to extracurricular, essays and so on to distinguish the applicant pool. Most universities in the country admit based almost solely on grades/test scores. </p>
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<p>You wouldn’t know what the standards are unless you’re on the admission committee itself, so no need to worry about it. Some schools publish their academic admission requirements, like the [Regents</a> Admission Index - The University of Iowa](<a href=“http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/requirements/rai-page.html]Regents”>http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/requirements/rai-page.html) . The formulas take into account factors like GPA, scores, etc. Your 4.08 is in no way a low score for a school with an average of 4.3, IMO. Also, how was the 4.08 calculated? Was it based on any formula specifically stated by UCLA?</p>
<p>I have my own photography business and I am well-known here, I work with agency models, stylist, makeup artists. I have lots of paid jobs like weddings, does that count as something special? I talked about my journey in my essays and individuality. I hope it makes up for my crap SATs but I have a really high GPA. What do you think?</p>
<p>My SAT is around 1780 and I do IB which is straight 6 and 7s…40/45 predicted</p>
<p>Me? I think that’s amazing, and that you’ll be success in your career no matter which school you attend. I’m not knowledgeable enough to tell you more, not knowing the specific admission practices of the schools you’re applying to, your specific grades and circumstances and so on. Perhaps other posters can tell you more based on their own personal experience.</p>