<p>How important is a 4.0 in applying to top schools? Also, how important are SAT subject tests and what constitutes good/average/great scores? This is for applying to Harvard and the like. Thanks for the insight in advance.</p>
<p>Practical-ly essential (GET IT???) but check the Harvard forums on CC and the like, you’ll see the sub-4.0 kids who get in too.</p>
<p>In a word, no. What’s the difference between a kid that gets 4.0 and 3.92? Also, grade deflation can be a huge factor in GPA discrepancy.</p>
<p>Not essential at all.</p>
<p>If you are talking about a 4.0 unweighted, then it is not essential. Colleges, even Harvard, understand if you get one or two b’s. They more look at what classes you received the b’s in and what years they were (its better if you got them freshman year than junior year). They also take it in the context of your school. Some schools it seems are very easy to get a 4.0 while others are harder. Just try to be near the top of your class.</p>
<p>On SAT subject tests I think above 750 in at least one is good for top colleges with above 700 in the others. Low 600s would put you in the 50th percentile. You can google “SAT Subject Test Percentile Ranks” to find more information for certain tests.</p>
<p>thanks peeps</p>
<p>Regarding subject tests, apparently the ivys/top places emphasize getting an 800 in your intended major, so keep that in mind. And regarding the necessity of a 4.0, so many kids applying to Harvard+ have it, so it puts you at a fair disadvantage although it obviously does not negate your chances.</p>
<p>@breaker746 Please cite your source for this supposed 800 requirement. It seems highly unlikely.</p>
<p>@jogo84 I confer w/ breaker. I’ve been to several regional college fairs (one w/ Penn, Columbia, and other top schools, and another w/ Brown, Cornell, Chicago, …) In both, they specifically mentioned that for an intended major, they would like to see perfection on the SAT II for that subject. I don’t think it’s absolutely needed, but it would help.</p>
<p>What if your major is undecided? Would that, according to your logic, put you at an advantage if you have no 800s?</p>
<p>They look beyond GPA and SAT’s, though they are important. Extracurricular activities are extremely important.</p>
<p>Yeah, what are good ECs (lol)?</p>
<p>Good EC’s include
Being part of the student government of your school
Being the president of one of your school clubs
Establishing a club or a foundation
Research projects that get published in scholarly journals
Performing at prestigious music institutions, such as Carnegie Hall
Winning national writing competitions (Scholastic)
Winning national science competitions (Intel, Siemens)
Winning debate tournaments
Publishing op-ed articles in newspapers such as Washington Post</p>
<p>Okay, but student government is kind of lame. I made it this year then I quit because I was extremely bored. Is that bad?</p>
<p>it’s definitely not essential, for instansce I have a 3.61 but I’m applying to top schools and I have just as good of a chance as anybody else…</p>
<p>Princess, just because you say you have just as good of a chance as anybody else, doesn’t mean you do…at all.</p>
<p>Although having a 4.0 doesn’t hurt, it’s not absolutely necessary. It really varies by school. I was accepted at multiple Ivies and top LACs with a 3.6/4.0. However, no one at my high school ever comes close to a 4.0, and I was within the top 10% at a competitive private school. Class rank and the entire transcript (that is, the list of classes and the grades with each class) likely matter more than just GPA, 4.0 or otherwise.</p>
<p>Absolutely not.</p>
<p>Some B’s here and there are fine, but colleges need to see that as you’re getting older, you’re taking harder classes and improving your grades. I would DEFINITELY recommend that you have a relatively high GPA though… at BARE MINIMUM probably a 3.5.</p>
<p>I also know that ‘good’ for most ivies and top tier schools in terms of SAT is like… 2300+</p>
<p>Don’t sweat it if you’re not near that score though… but try to at least get as near there as possible.</p>
<p>3.7 unweighted and going to Northwestern. C’mon man. I went from 1 semester B in freshman year to 7 in soph year to 3 in junior to 0 in senior.</p>
<p>3.61 is kinda low. just saying…</p>