Some of you may have seen my into post, but basically, I’m graduating a year early, and have about a 4.45(4.6 scale) or 97.5(100 scale) but only a 1400 on the SAT. Decent EC/Recs.good interviews. How will this reflect? Am I doomed for my schools? What’s the most important aspect of college admissions? If I’m younger, is it slightly okay that my scores are a bit lower?
I’m not too concerned about my grades seeming inflated, because my school is pretty tough, but still?
So that is one reason colleges want to see standardized test scores, because low scores compared to grades can indicate grade inflation. Test scores level the playing field across colleges. That said, your scores aren’t super low. But some schools on your list are going to be out of reach if you are not otherwise hooked. Harvard and Penn, for example. And if you are graduating early and your ECs are not very robust (often the case for students who graduate early), that will hurt you as well. And NO, being younger gives you no slack at all on scores. If you really want to get into the schools on your list, honestly, I’d go the extra year to beef up your ECs and your test scores.
@“Erin’s Dad” I know I sound like an overachieving brat(and I probably am lol) and a 1400 is not a bad score, but with my stats and college apps, it’s low. Most of my friends pulled 1500+ and I feel horrible about my scores.
@intparent good to know. Thanks. Not too worried about EC’s, but maybe I’m wrong. They’re in my intro post; i would appreciate it greatly if you took a look.
So unless you put a link, people aren’t generally going to go find your intro post. A graduating senior’s ECs have to be exceptional for some of those schools. Juniors are cut no slack.
If you don’t get in to Barnard ED, then you need to consider Penn, Brown, Swarthmore, Harvard as huge reaches and you may want to consider adding a couple more match/safety schools on to your list. But… hopefully you will get into Barnard it this comment will be a moot point.
@happy1 yeah, I’m really hoping I get into Barnard. It’s been my dream school for years. I also know that the schools you mentioned are very high reaches… what do you think I could do to make them less high reaches?
I also thought gw &northeastern were safeties? Thoughts?
@MassDaD68 thank you! I’m hoping my GPA will save me! @JerseyParents I wish… @mamaedefamilia yeah, I got a 36 and 35 in reading and English sections but a 25 on science which tanked me. My composite is a 31 only. Hope your daughter is doing well!
If you get into Northeastern EA then it is a safety as long as you would be happy to attend. I’d say GW was a low match, maybe not a safety – I know a couple of high stats kids who didn’t get in.
good luck!