Low SAT but high GPA, do I have a chance at being accepted into universities?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

My SAT scores are mediocre: 1070 (going by the new SAT). However, my GPA is a 3,95 unweighted. I take AP and honor classes, and I do extracurriculars (volunteering, clubs, etc.). My SAT scores are really putting me down. I’m going into Senior year this coming fall, and I’m really stressed out about my chances on being accepted into universities (I am considering USC, UW, and NYU). I am going to retake the SAT this coming fall. Let’s say worst case scenario I don’t improve as much. Do you think colleges will still consider me–or just trash my admission?

I look at the SAT score averages for those schools and it’s really discouraging me. I feel like I’m not smart enough (intellectually) to get in. I don’t know, but I’m really focusing on my extracurriculars, improving my skills, and keeping up my grades, and I just hope that can make up for my test scores (because they are “average” after all). Are test scores really that important to universities? Please tell me that they DO consider other things–other than just numbers?!

Thank you!

2

I feel your pain, but there is hope. Let’s assume the worst: your SAT score doesn’t improve. Colleges will never full on deny you because you SAT is too low. Colleges with holistic admissions (USC has this!) will look beyond your numbers and will consider you as a person. You especially need to highlight your character and unique/special extracurriculars in your college essays so the college gets to know you better. I know a kid who was able to get into UCLA with a 1500 on the old SAT, which is way below the average at UCLA, because he did volunteering stuff for a veterans’ association. In addition, some SAT/ACT scores may be different between majors. For example, if your major is business, you may be able to get into several colleges even if your SAT scores are below the school’s average because the school specializes in a different major. I really can’t definitively say how colleges weigh different things, but I can tell you with certainty that they look beyond your test scores. Hope this helps.

3

@themysannie Many colleges will often rule you out immediately based off of your SAT score. Even if you have AMAZING ec’s, they still may overlook the fact that you are a hard working student with good ec’s, and say that you have bad test scores. Can I ask why you did so bad on the SAT? Did you prepare enough and how did you prepare? Universities do consider other things but I think that you would stand no chance at the schools that you listed with your SAT score. Best of Luck

4

I strongly suggest to you to take ACT instead of retaking SAT (if you have not tried ACT yet).

5

@PetEngineer Then what is the use of writing the admission essay, dedicating time into our clubs and volunteer work, and building ourselves for 4 years when it’s all for naught in the end? How does 4 measly hours compare to 4 years worth of experience and growth?

As for my bad scores, I don’t go to SAT prep (and probably never will because of the high prices), but I did study out of the Princeton review. I do lots of volunteer work and extracirriculars, and homework load is heavy, so I never really had the time to study for the SAT (not to say that I didn’t study at all, I did put in about 6 hours–I know, not much compared to those who put in thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours). This brings up another point, it’s ridiculous how people use the SAT as an intelligence test: how can the SAT be a good measure of our collective growth and experience from our 4 years when, as I said, people spend x-dollars and hours in a slither of a few months to a year in preparation?–the SAT is like another different skill in itself! What does that tell colleges?–that we’re either just naturally gifted by birth with high IQs, or that we’re rich. How about those who have the resilience, passion, and drive? Who sacrifice, and persevere? Did you have any experiences, or know anyone who is in the admissions office?–is that what they really do?

6

I don’t think you really get how competitive and capable the current crop of students are. You’ve picked some of the most competitive schools in the country. NYU and UW give minimal financial aid, which I assume you need. USC gives good aid to URM and NMF, everyone else pays $72K per year.

How did you make your list?

FYI: Many students take the tests without paying huge test prep fees. Some students, yes even our low-income and homeless students, have an ability to grasp information and get good grades/scores without being able to pay for test prep. I’ve had many of these types of students. These students also have competitive EC’s (sports/ scouts/ volunteering) and/or work to support their families. So when they take the tests, and can swing an ACT of 35 or an SAT of 1560, without blinking/studying, it’s their grasp and speed of performance that the colleges “predict” will help them get decent grades at their universities.

I wouldn’t recommend spending more time on EC’s, use the extra time to practice studying and then retaking the SAT/ACT since the schools rely on tests and GPA to tell them where you fit.

7

@“aunt bea” I fully understand the competition of course–that’s why I made this thread in the first place, because obviously, people like you mentioned have a much better chance, I know that for a fact. I know that there are much smarter and capable students than me in terms of tests, that I admit. That’s why I was wondering if other things would also matter than just “scores,” period. Yes, scores would help colleges to better imply what kind of student we are, but doesn’t other things (extracurriculars, personal statement, story) make implications as well? Numbers don’t explicitly define who we are.

8

Hey! We have pretty much the same stats! The first time I took the SAT I got an 1170, and the second time I took it, I got a 1070!! It really bummed me out because there were kids who had 3.0 GPAs and were scoring higher than me when I had a 3.9 GPA. (That’s so pretentious, I know cringe)
So, I tried to the ACT and after a month of studying with a tutor once a week, I got a 29! (That’s somewhere around a 1400 I think, if you convert it)

Try the ACT in September. You have 2 months to study so that’s plenty of time to prepare. Personally I think the SAT is so stupid, especially since they changed everything around. The ACT is a lot easier in my opinion.

Best of luck!’

9

@themysannie Do not start threads if you do not want honest answers. It is as simple as that. The way that you take you anger of the system out on me is honestly pretty sad. Other things you say give off the image that you are too cocky and think way too much of yourself. You do not need to “put in thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours” for the ACT or SAT, that is simply an exaggeration. There are MANY free resources that are used and as you yourself stated, you put in six hours. I am not trying to be mean but I gave you an honest answer and you got mad at me for no reason. I will lie to you if it makes you happy.

10

High grades and a high GPA with low test scores could imply grade inflation.

11

OP, I generally
agree with the other posters that 1) SATs are partially a challenge set by universities in order to predict college readiness and to see if a 17 year old can master what seems like a boring
but required challenge (like in the working
world and 2) lots of kids have great grades + ECs)

If I were you I would 1) study like mad all summer for the SAT and ACT and take each twice in the fall and 2) look for similar test optional schools to your target schools (GWU = NYU, USC is a bit similar to Wake Forest) or look for schools similar to UW that have lower test requirements (other Western flagships) and 3) stop whining! :slight_smile:

12

I would do more SAT prep but also look at test optional schools.

13

@londondad That’s true, SAT/ACT are like a different skill (or challenge) set. But it seems like it’s the only challenge that will determine our chances into college. That’s why it can get really frustrating (hence the whining, boo hoo), because from a student’s perspective, we do so much more other than study for this test in our high school career. Strength shows in different ways/forms.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m studying the SAT like crazy, and what you said is perfectly logical and a great advice! (I’m considering WWU as backup). What I’m saying is only an opinion, and it’s something to ponder upon about the system. That was what I was getting to, but I’m afraid some took it the wrong way. :confused:

14

Though I do agree with you to a certain extent, you do not need to be rich to get a good score. As @“aunt bea” pointed out, many students that are URM or poor do get high test scores. There are a lot of ways to prep yourself for the SAT - I have had a vocabulary app on my phone since 7th grade and I just practice and learn whenever I’m bored and, really, that improves your SAT score literally by just clicking on some things and using your brain. Also, the app is free. Practice tests are also free, and your school/local library probably has some prep books that you can borrow (for free). Khan Academy also provides (free) videos for the new SAT. Studying for the SAT can literally be doing your homework or reviewing notes (not implying that you don’t do this, of course, but it is another way). Books are everywhere and reading any type of book will help you prepare.

You are right about the SAT score being an “intelligence test” of some sorts, but, and I honestly don’t mean for this to come out rude: colleges don’t care what you think. The system might be a little jacked to you but, really, you need to sell yourself to admissions and even if they appreciate a quality student like you, they have a caliber for their school and if you do not meet it they cannot care less. Colleges will admit the best students in their admissions pool and that SAT score might mean a whole lot if you transcript does not look competitive in any other aspect.

I think you should focus less on your EC’s and more on the SAT. Volunteer hours don’t actually do anything unless it’s for a club or scholarship. It’s better to invest your time in something else, like using (free) resources to study for the SAT. If your homework load is so heavy, then why didn’t you drop a class? 45 minutes on homework for an AP class that does nothing for you can be spent in some other productive way. Junior and senior year are the most important times in your high school life academically. There is supposed to be a balance between all aspects of your life in high school - social life, EC’s, grades, homework, test scores - and, at the moment, you seemingly don’t have it. Low SAT, high GPA, lots of EC.

Colleges obviously consider other factors but test scores are looked at critically and it is imperative to have a decent SAT score. I don’t think you need to start a thread to know that colleges look at more than your SAT score.

You have expressed concern for SAT prep being expensive, so I have listed some (free) sources that might aid you:

[Khan Academy](SAT | Test prep | Khan Academy)
Prep4SAT [App Store](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prep4-sat/id991750634?mt=8) | [Android[/url]
SAT Vocabulary Flashcards [url=<a href=“https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sat-vocabulary-flashcards/id694945807?mt=8%5DApp”>https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sat-vocabulary-flashcards/id694945807?mt=8]App Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.LTGExamPracticePlatform.Prep4SAT&hl=en) | [Android[/url]
SAT App by The CollegeBoard [url=<a href=“https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daily-practice-for-the-new-sat/id1033927734?mt=8%5DApp”>https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daily-practice-for-the-new-sat/id1033927734?mt=8]App Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magoosh.flashcards.sat&hl=en) | [Android[/url]
[url=<a href=“https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests%5DSAT”>https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests]SAT Practice Tests](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.collegeboard.qotdplus&hl=en) from CollegeBoard
[SAT Math Practice](Free SAT Math Practice Problems)
[Princeton Review SAT Sessions](Free SAT Practice Test | Free SAT Events | The Princeton Review)

15

@themysannie

“That’s true, SAT/ACT are like a different skill (or challenge) set. But it seems like it’s the only challenge that will determine our chances into college.”

I agree, but would look at it slightly differently. The top schools all correctly claim that they review applications holistically and I truly believe that they do as they look to assemble a class that is balanced in many ways. However, for some top schools (and I have heard anecdotally that schools as different as Yale, BC, Notre Dame, Vandy and URichmond all do this to a certain extent) seem to draw a line where they reject the vast majority of kids who do not hit a certain SAT/ACT score or some blended formula that incorporates SAT/ACT plus school GPA. Then the kids who make that first cut are then evaluated holistically. So if you want to play in their sandbox, you will need to get your scores up.

Is this fair? No, but life is not fair. My kids are in the same boat as you. In the UK, kids here do not take multiple choice tests. My kids only have had essay exams in primary school and high school. My son’s first ever multiple choice exam was his first SAT. However, many UK kids do master the SATs despite this disadvantage. Fortunately, many good US unis are test optional for international students who take international exams such as the IB, A Levels or the French Bacc. so he had some good choices. Good luck.

16

Do ACT. Try it, at the very least.