<p>I am a high school senior still wondering where to apply to college. I have pretty good (2200) SAT's, very good extracurriculars, leadership, and service, and a not so great (3.4, 4.1 Weighted) GPA. I did take quite rigorous courses however, an have done reasonably well on all my AP exams (4+ w/ some 5's)
For my reach schools, I'm going to apply to 2-3 high up schools in the top 25.</p>
<p>Schools I'm looking at as possible reaches include:</p>
<p>I know I don't stand the greatest of chances getting into these schools, especially Stanford or UPenn. </p>
<p>What I want to know though is out of these schools and others in the top 25, which are the most holistic? Which have the least emphasis on GPA and greater emphasis on SAT's and extracurriculars?
Thanks</p>
<p>Yes, but different colleges differently emphasize SATS, GPA, and class rank. I heard Duke for example does not even require GPA, only recommends it.</p>
<p>They all take a holistic approach. By definition, that means there is no one formula that applies to each applicant. However, they all value grades, course rigor and class rank (probably more than other factors). </p>
<p>Chicago traditionally has had high average SATs relative to admit rates. Its admit rates are still a bit higher than all the Ivies but Cornell (maybe higher than Cornell A&S, too). So it may be a little more willing to bend on a lower GPA, if you do a bang-up job on their oddball essays and otherwise show you’re a good fit.</p>
<p>Schools with high SAT averages (>= 1400 75th% M+CR) relative to admit rates (>= 40%) include Brandeis, Case Western, Reed, Whitman, and Macalester.</p>
<p>^You could add Grinnell to that list as well, though I question how good it is for determining how admissions work at the schools. A high admit rate just means less people applied or that yield tends to be low; it says nothing about the quality of the students. Location tends to play a big role in this, since less people apply to and less people ultimately select schools in less popular locations such as rural areas.</p>
<p>jamboree, I would have to say that grades are the most important factor at all of the schools you’re looking at, in fact, at all selective colleges. Scores are important, but only as an adjunct to grades. ECs can be important, but it depends on the school and depends on the EC. </p>
<p>Your grades are not terrible, but you are correct that they would be the weak point in your application. </p>
<p>Some mitigating factors that might help: rank, general academic rigor of your high school and specific academic rigor of your course load. Enthusiastic recommendations that attest to your intellectual prowess can also help.</p>
<p>Some other points to consider: Are you imbalanced, e.g. strong in humanities, weak in math/science or the opposite? Do you show a marked improvement in 11th grade? Did you have a personal situation that caused your grades to slide?</p>
<p>If yes, then perhaps your counselor can explain?</p>
<p>Other elements that can compensate for a relatively weak GPA are talent, diversity factors or life experience that would contribute to the campus community. Smaller schools tend to be more forgiving if you have something else that they want.</p>
<p>So, my advice would be to devote a lot of energy to your application – how you present your strengths, whom you choose to recommend you. I would also consider some small LACs.</p>