<p>How many students/friends do you know that have a low ACT/SAT score, yet a high GPA? Does this have a large impact on them and where they want to go to school?</p>
<p>Well in my school you don't see that, but here on CC I see a lot. I guess some high schools are just more challenging than others. It can be a disadvantage during the admissions process (if you attend a more challenging high school, that is).</p>
<p>At my school it's pretty hard to get a decent GPA if you can't manage a good SAT score. More often, at least at my school, people will have a great SAT score and a subpar GPA... at less challenging schools I'm sure it's easier to get a good GPA even if you can't get a decent SAT score</p>
<p>Yeah it kinda does, because SAT is standardized, school quality/amount they challenge you is not.</p>
<p>PatrickK just keep doing practice tests and look at where your mistakes are...learn from them...see the patterns/your weak areas...also, review your math and english/grammar skills before your next ACT...you have the summer to work on it. Don't give up, you still have time. Was your state test the 2nd time you took it?...just try the test again...in the meantime don't send any of your scores to colleges until you get one you like:)<br>
And, yes...at my school (grades are not weighted) there are a number of people who are high honor roll with low act (and do not take very demanding courses, as well as those with high act and not in the top 10%-hardest classes but not the top grades)...what kind of courses have you taken? Hopefully, college prep with assorted AP/Honors if available to you...I think grades and course selection are as important as test scores imo.
Anyway, there are more and more schools where ACT/SAT scores are optional for admissions.
Good Luck!</p>
<p>Also-I am sure you realize your ACT/SAT scores will impact where you apply, as well as possible scholarship-merit money/Honors programs/etc...just saying, they are important but so are your grades in relationship to your courses.
Not to discourage you, but you need to work at achieving your highest possible score (if that is what you want)...and don't settle for your state or the national average, as your choices will be very limited....
There are a ton of ways to improve your scores-just search the boards. Again, good luck to you.</p>
<p>Well, the odd thing is, I am #1 in my class. That may show a lot about my school, but I dont think it does. Many of my friends have received 32+ on their scores. I have taken pretty much (or will have taken) every AP class offered at my school (except AP Spanish). Everything from AP Chem to APUSH to AP Lang. Since they wont offer AP Comp Sci at my school next year, I will take a comp. sci. class at the college. My school offers anywhere from 6-9 AP Classes a year. Since I am in a rather small school, they require 13 students to sign up, and that rarely happens. When I took the test on April 8th, I knew I didnt do well. I just thought of that as a warmup. I received a 22 on it. When I took it on the 26th, I pretty much was confident on 95% of my answers, and then I get my report back saying I received a 22, and I know for a fact I did better on it. I will retake the test ASAP. I know I can get a 30+, as all the practice tests I have done I get a 29-32+. With my current score, I'll be luck to get accepted to where I want to go. If I can get my score to a 30+, I think I have a good shot at a full-ride scholarship they offer here in Colorado. Thanks for your inputs guys.
Patrick</p>
<p>My school is notorious for it's grade inflation.
Unfortunately, the SAT doesn't always cooperate.
People start cring when their SATs suck.</p>
<p>this happens a lot, many schools have vals with 4.0 gpa and 1200-1250 SAT. Its actually not rare at all</p>
<p>Yeah...I have the highest ACT in my school, but a 3.43 GPA. The door swings both ways.</p>
<p>I've seen lots of 3.8/1730's or similar stats at my school.....:)</p>
<p>I guess the SAT is a good indicator of inflated grades. But it really depends, there's this kid who got a 2350 at our school and um...I have no idea how he got that, seriously. He himself, does not even know how he got that score. The SATs really just test your problem solving skills in the math section. It doesn't exactly test your knowledge. The writing section is biased. The critical reading section...well I guess is just evil haha. ;) But these are just my opinions...</p>
<p>I got a 34 on the ACT, and have the highest score I know of in my school (either for ACT or for SAT equivalent), but only have about a 3.6. I just didn't try hard freshman and sophomore years. Many people here have <1300 SATs but inflate their grades like no other, and get 3.9s.</p>
<p>to the OP, why don't you try the SAT? The ACT is a race and it is certainly not for everyone.</p>
<p>Okay, I have a problem along these lines that maybe someone with experience can help me with.</p>
<p>I have the highest PSAT and SAT scores in my class but my GPA is only a 3.73, and I am ranked only 10th out of 27 in the junior class (small private school). I crushed the 4th ranked kid (4.02ish gpa) on both tests by a 20 and 200 point margin, respectively, but I just don't know how they can get such good grades. I try hard and am no slouch but I am .46 pts behind the #1 rank who I also beat by like 100 points.</p>
<p>It is like they are insane work horses. The one period I got to be 4th ranked in the class I was having to kill myself. I pulled like 2-3 all-nighters in a single nine-week period! What is going on?</p>
<p>i was salutatorian with an unweighted 4.00 and a weighted 4.58 gpa, (hard classes, APs, etc) but my SATs were 660, 620, 620 (math, CR, writing) and my ACT was 27 (no practice, only took once)</p>
<p>so, OP, i had a similar problem, but I applied early decision to my number one school and got in (Grinnell College), i would just make sure you have awesome recs and an awesome essay (and by all means try and up your scores). Go Colorado!</p>
<p>Everyone I know with a 3.6 + has at least a 27 + on the ACT.</p>
<p>the thing to realize is that their are two kinds of students in this world: the good test takers, who thrive off of the multiple choice standardized tests, and then there are the bad test takers, who, no matter how smart they are, no matter how good students they are, just can't do as well.</p>
<p>it is a tough problem to have, because, unfortunately, a lot of the major colleges who have thousands and thousands of applicants each year need to somehow sort them out, and they need to heavily weight the SAT/ACT. fortunately, though, they also heavily weight your class rank and difficulty of schedule, which you've done well with. </p>
<p>of course, as somebody already suggested, you might try taking the SAT also. it's a completely different test, and you might to comparatively better on it.</p>
<p>just hang in there, and know that, even if your test scores fail you, you've got everything else to back you up :-)</p>
<p>I have the same problem, my GPA is good (greater than a 4.0) and I've taken (going to take) all the AP's offered at my school and my school is not an easy school but my SAT isn't that great (2050)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Okay, I have a problem along these lines that maybe someone with experience can help me with.</p>
<p>I have the highest PSAT and SAT scores in my class but my GPA is only a 3.73, and I am ranked only 10th out of 27 in the junior class (small private school). I crushed the 4th ranked kid (4.02ish gpa) on both tests by a 20 and 200 point margin, respectively, but I just don't know how they can get such good grades. I try hard and am no slouch but I am .46 pts behind the #1 rank who I also beat by like 100 points.</p>
<p>It is like they are insane work horses. The one period I got to be 4th ranked in the class I was having to kill myself. I pulled like 2-3 all-nighters in a single nine-week period! What is going on?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There could be a number of reasons for this but I wouldnt freak out too much, just keep studying. A 200 point difference in SAT is a lot more important than a few spots in rank.</p>