<p>I think to be utterly honest you need to focus on test optional schools (see the list posted earlier). Your test score is simply way too low to be in-line with your grades. Many people with high GPAs struggle with standardized test scores but not to the degree of discrepancy that you have. If you submit them, it may call into question the rigor of your high school courses and the grades. If you are academically as strong as your GPA indicates, then definitely focus on test optional schools and decline to submit your standardized test scores.</p>
<p>@Momof2back2back, there is a whole backstory that goes with this. I changed schools during my senior year because there was limited challenging academic opportunity, that is all I can get into for now. Besides why do people not freak out when someone has a low GPA but high tests, but instead people freak out when someone has a high GPA but low test scores? I know what college admissions people would think of people with low GPA and high test scores, that they are just bored at school, but why do people freak out about this. I am taking college classes at a college during my senior year. I have straight As and 1 B. Why do people just freak out over this?</p>
<p>I just find college interesting.</p>
<p>Nobody is “freaking out” about your scores. You pose a unique problem. Accept the fact that many schools use test scores as an important metric as the weigh the many thousands of applicants they review each year. You will likely not get into any of those schools. You do have an excellent chance at test optional schools. You have exhibited success at the college level which will speak well to the adcoms at test optional schools.</p>
<p>FYI, low GPA and high test score students are not just considered “bored” by most schools. They are looked at just as critically (perhaps more so) as students who have the aptitude but have chosen to be lazy in their academic studies. This is often the kiss of death for many applicants.</p>
<p>Thanks @mnm111</p>
<p>Ditto – students with low GPA and high test scores that apply to the “highly selective” schools that you originally mentioned will probably not get in. High tests scores alone don’t mean a lot to most colleges - they want to see what you can do in the classroom setting. That being said, I agree with you that the emphasis on test scores isn’t fair. But unfortunately with the massive number of increased applications at the top 50-100 colleges, standardized test scores are too often used as a “qualifier.” This means that your low test score could indeed, and most likely would, disqualify you from many of these “high selective” schools that you referred to. The fact is that you could indeed be very successful at them – new studies have found that high school GPA is a better predictor of college success than test scores. But it doesn’t change the fact that these colleges with high numbers of applicants use test scores as a qualifier and your scores are unfortunately not just borderline but way below. That being said, you will find that there are quite a few highly thought of colleges that are now test-optional. These are colleges that recognize the value of a student’s high school record versus some random test.</p>