<p>Well I must say “Josh” who I used above as an example was the only one out of five kids, all of whom had a much higher GPA than Josh, his hovers at around 3.3 but he has a 2300, they have closer to a 4.0 with scores in the 1800’s and he was the only one recently accepted to Michigan’s Ross school.Not an easy school to get into.When one of the parents of the other boys threw a fit, it was the advisor who basically said it was that SAT score that grabbed their attention and she too didn’t think “it was fair” to the boys who slaved over hs for 4 years but life isn’t always fair either. Josh also scored high 700’s in his subject tests. Fair or not, a high SAT indeed seems to be closer to the golden ticket than a high GPA.</p>
<p>^ Illustrates the point perfectly. Even Community Colleges are full of people who had 4.0’s in high school.</p>
<p>^^ I guess I agree. It’s really best if you have both!</p>
<p>agree that inherent ability is there when you got the kids with the really high SATs. my little brother is just 9, in GT and he blows me away when he can pick up my SAT book and do the Math section, granted he can’t do the #4’s or 5 level questions, but doing the math he can get a 480/520 or so, and he is only 9. He can reason those questions out where Im trying to use my previous learned skills, he can get the answer without having learned the skills.</p>
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<p>I have the same situation. =/</p>
<p>josh got into ROSS???</p>
<p>i have a 3.4
2340 SAT I,
2340 SAT II total (3)</p>
<p>And i havent even heard back yet! Goddamit!
Is he out of state? Because I am..</p>
<p>same here, 1860 SAT, 4.46, 1 out of 336 eh.</p>
<p>I got an 1850, 4.68 GPA, and 10/507. Maybe being a minority and first generation will make it easier?</p>
<p>Given the rules of the game, I would have to go with super-high SAT from a purely financial perspective. Super-high SAT/ACT = instant scholarship money.</p>
<p>ctmom, I hope what you wrote about Josh is true. My D has very high SAT 1 and SAT 2. Her counselor kept saying, she can’t believe DD has such high SAT scores. However, her GPA is not 4.0. But I kept reading on CC that adcoms think high SAT scores and not very high GPA is a sign of a kid who is smart and lazy. So I don’t know if this is true, the lazy part I mean.</p>
<p>I will check with my son to be sure what I said is right but I am nearly positive that is exactly what he said and that backs up an important point, however it doesn’t mean that ALL schools place the same emphasis, I am sure some would still not accept him and would be inclined to accept those with the higher SAT’s knowing they have the work ethic and drive to work hard and succeed. Its really a tough call.</p>
<p>To all you parents out there:</p>
<p>“To me, SAT answers the question, “How smart are you?”
GPA answers the question, “How hard do you work?”
A bad answer to either question can doom your application.”</p>
<p>That is right on. My story as follows, see the correlation-</p>
<ol>
<li>Public HS GPA 2.3</li>
<li>Graduate HS 175/220</li>
<li>Join Army</li>
<li>Iraq</li>
<li>Leave Army Ace SAT’s 2160 SAT 2’s 2220</li>
<li>Realize no school wants a 2.3 GPA with high SAT’s </li>
<li>Realize value of education</li>
<li>Do very well in Junior College</li>
<li>Accepted into Ivy League</li>
<li>Regain reasonable perspective on life and college is paid for by son/daughter.</li>
</ol>
<p>I have high SAT and SAT2 scores and 3.5 gpa. I’m an international seeking aid. The problem is that I cant think of any of the elite schools that would accept me just because of my SAT scores. And I cannot think of any safeties that will accept me- I’m afraid they’ll reject me because of my SAT scores, they’ll just assume that I wont attend if accepted.. Isn’t that just great?:(</p>
<p>if you are taking the most rigorous course load available, then GPA.</p>
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<p>DD had the same problem. She went on one of the top 50 LAC, punch in her SAT and requested such school’s information and nothing was sent to her. Not sure why.</p>
<p>I think everyone agrees that it’s best when there is some degree of correlation between GPA and standardized test scores. When there isn’t correlation, it’s probably equally as bad. For example, a valedictorian with 500 on each section of the SAT who wants to go to Harvard is unlikely to be offered admission. A student with a 2.0 GPA and 2350 SAT is also unlikely to be offered admission to Harvard. Both combinations of grades/scores raise questions. However, I do think that standardized tests are less subject to manipulation than GPA</p>
<p>^ sums it up perfectly. The “GPA or SAT” is simply an argument of the lesser of two evils. It’s better to have both. It’s just like the question “Is it better to have an A in a regular class or a B in an AP class?” Answer: Just get the A in the AP class.</p>
<p>Answer to this question: Just go get a high SAT and high GPA.</p>