<p>Hey guys. I've done some lurking around and didn't find the answer I was looking for so I thought I'd make this post. </p>
<p>So here's my question: Which one matters more? The SAT or your GPA. I know it depends on the colleges so does anyone know the answer for specifically Johns Hopkins ? (I'm doing ED there)</p>
<p>The reason I ask this is because my gpa is pretty good (3.93 unweighted, 4.72 weighted) but my SAT is horrible (540 reading, 530 writing, 760 math). Getting good grades in my school isn't easy either since I'm in one of the top International Baccalaureate programs in the the country and manage mostly a's some b's. However, I'm really bad at taking standardized tests and just do really poorly on the reading and writing section even though I manage an a's in English class.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if Johns Hopkins (and any other colleges) take into the account that some students are just bad at taking standardized test? Do you think they can overlook my poor SAT? I also have 175+ hours of community service recorded and taken many AP courses and manage 4's and 5's in them. </p>
<p>One last thing, I'm retaking the SAT on Nov 1. If my score improves do you think I can get to the Johns Hopkins before decisions are made or is it too late?</p>
<p>I don’t know about your last question (you should probably ask the school directly), but to answer your first one, I think they look at both. It kind of raises a red flag when an applicant isn’t balanced, but I think it’s worse when your grades are bad and you have a high SAT score because it makes you look lazy. </p>
<p>I do think your SAT is low for Johns Hopkins, though. I’m not an admissions officer, so if you really want to, apply. Nobody here knows whether you’ll really get in, so go ahead and try. But if you don’t think you can get a higher score after retaking it, I suggest you look into test-optional colleges and apply to a couple of them just to be safe.
If you’re interested, here’s a list:
[SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>
<p>Thanks! But I really have my heart set out for JHU although I am applying to some other schools such as NYU, which is on that list you posted, and have some other back up schools.</p>
<p>Is there anyone else who know the answer to my questions? Also on parchment.com it says I have 50% chance of getting in with a 76% accuracy (so about 38% really?) does anyone know how reliable this website is?</p>
<p>Also want to mention I took the ACT and got a 28.</p>
<p>What are you planning on majoring in? You did well on the SAT Math portion and it was just the CR that was low (and lots of places don’t pay attention to the writing score), so you might be alright for JHU. More so if you are a potential engineering major since they often do much better on the math than the CR.
The ACT of 28 though is below the 50% range for JHU. You might be better off not sending it and sticking with the SAT? WHat does your guidance counselor say?</p>
<p>Thank you for the reply</p>
<p>I’m planning on majoring in biology or biochemistry. I got a 5 on bio and 4 of chem. 700 on both bio and chem on sat 2 but it only put me at the 70th percentile. I also got a 760 on sat 2 for math 2. Should I switch my major to something math related? I’ve thought about economics (does that count? And 4 on ap macro + micro). I enjoy the sciences (specifically bio and chem) over math and am planning a career in medicine. However I heard that majors doesn’t really matter for med school. A career in engineering and business is definitely possible but I really much prefer medicine.</p>
<p>I haven’t talked to my counselor yet but I will definitely do that soon.</p>
<p>No, I meant they might be more willing to overlook a mediocre CR score for a science or engineering student than someone who said they wanted to major in English for example.
Just apply and see what happens :-)</p>
<p>Alright, thanks! Wish me luck! :)</p>
<p>looking at Naviance scattergrams (GPA vs SAT), in general, there is more spread in SAT vs GPA, meaning colleges are more lenient on SAT scores than GPA. Even then your SAT is a little low for JHU.</p>
<p>1) That’s not a terrible SAT score. It’s average save the Math score which is amazing.</p>
<p>2) Johns Hopkins accepts the November SAT for ED. “November (ED) or January (RD) scores will be accepted for those students unable to meet their test requirements by October (ED) or December (RD).” [Johns</a> Hopkins University Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Apply - Standardized Test Requirements](<a href=“http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/testreqs.html]Johns”>http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/testreqs.html)</p>
<p>Your writing and critical reading are really low for a school like Johns Hopkins. I would say at least a 600 in all 3 categories. But an 1830 overall is definitely not that bad.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I think JHU is a real reach for you.</p>
<p>Their data show that only about 11% of their incoming class had SAT-CR (or SAT-W)scores of less than 600. (JHU Common Data Set Question C9)</p>
<p><a href=“Registrar - Homewood Schools (KSAS & WSE) | Office of the Registrar | Johns Hopkins University”>Registrar - Homewood Schools (KSAS & WSE) | Office of the Registrar | Johns Hopkins University;
<p>Given that the other aspects of your resume look good – it couldn’t hurt to apply, but sorry to say, I think you have to treat this as a real reach.</p>
<p>JHU is extremely competitive, on the same level of most ivy league and peer schools and many students are applying with 2200+SAT scores. Your SAT could kill your chances; you should improve to at least a 2100+ or high 600’s in CR and writing.</p>