<p>Do the ivies/other top schools see a difference between 2330 and 2400? Is it worth retaking? I'm trying to make up as much as possible for a not-so-great GPA (3.75ish UW, 4.4ish W)</p>
<p>Those 70 points won’t make up for GPA deficiency. </p>
<p>So 2330 is seen as the same as a 2400?</p>
<p>^^It’s not that so much, but after 2250+, the adcoms go look at the other stuff in your application. The point is that they don’t care about the additional xx points.</p>
<p>So a 2400 won’t even partially offset a mediocre GPA? What would you say the “threshold” is for gpa if it’s 2250 for SAT?</p>
<p>What you need to understand is that GPA is meaningless out of context. People on CC throw it around, but colleges that admit holistically look at the Rigor of your transcript, the challenges you’ve taken on, and at how well you’ve done with them. Obviously, a person with a full slate of APs and a slightly lower GPA is going to be more impressive than a person who takes all easier courses and gets straight As. So there isn’t a threshold for GPA, exactly. Colleges will look at your transcript in the context of your school and the opportunities that you had there, your rank, and whatever test scores you submit. A 3.0 has a meaning, over all courses and all four years; a 3.5 has a meaning, too. One class won’t affect your chances, but 3 or 5 lower grades, even in tough courses, might. Straight As and straight 3s on your APs, if you take them, imply grade inflation; A-minuses and 5s imply the reverse. Or, possibly, that you are smart but don’t do your homework. </p>
<p>So do colleges automatically assume that if I took the most rigorous schedule in years but got a couple Bs, I am ambitious but not smart enough? Also, should I submit my rank at all if it is not top 5/360? (I don’t know what it is yet). Does scoring a 5 on AP and 800 on SAT math 2 make up for two Bs in calc bc?</p>
<p>A weak GPA, especially compared to your peers, can’t be compensated for. Your already strong SAT will help, but that GPA is likely to hurt you in comparison to some of your competitors and may make the difference. Of course it may not–there’s no way of knowing–but a few extra SAT points can’t undo it.</p>