<p>Even though I can't really change my college choices since I've already sent in my applications, I'm still worried about my admission chances because I'm not sure if my SATs can balance out my grades. I'm good with time pressure and have ice cold nerves (I always finish SAT sections in about ten minutes and check it about twice), so I'm usually good with standardized-style tests, but yeah, my grades aren't the best. </p>
<p>I have perfect scores on the SAT I, and the SAT II Math2C, USH, World History, and Literature, but I'm ranked just above the 50th percentile at a large public high school. Do colleges look poorly on people with high SATs and low GPAs?</p>
<p>I am guessing that it takes more than 10 min for you to complete sections of the SAT s etc and you meant you finish with enough time to review.</p>
<p>If you have truly perfect scores and poor grades–I THINK AdComs will believe you aren’t living up to your potential and will be concerned you aren’t focused/committed…</p>
<p>So depending on where you chose to apply…expect the scrutiny.</p>
<p>You do not have to explain it in this forum, but could you in you application explain to the adcom, why this is huge difference (99 percentile nationally in your standardized tests and 50 percentile in your school, which does not sound to be one of these elite super competitive schools though I may be mistaken). If you do not acknolwedge it adcoms will think in terms what fogfog or option 1 of ds143 have mentioned, not willing to exert himself/herself and may not fit into our college. This will be true for any top 25 or may be even top 40 college.</p>
<p>If it is option 2 of ds143 said (very competitive school), then your GC needs to hit that very hard in your recommendations and you need to bring that out.</p>
<p>On the other hand there are several LAC’s and some top state schools who will drool over the prospect of a 2400 SAT applicant. May be that is where you should focus</p>
<p>Since the grades put him at the 50% level it is laziness, and that is how colleges will read it. GPA and/or class rank are usually among the most critical factors considered in applications. Some schools might bet on you “waking up” in college. U South Carolina is a major U which only considers rank and GPA while having scores as very important.</p>
<p>“Do colleges look poorly on people with high SATs and low GPAs?”</p>
<p>Generally, yes. You won’t be getting in at any top schools with that rank unless your school is a highly elite preparatory school. Indeed, however, there are public schools that drool over 2400 applicants.</p>
<p>It looks like you don’t try, even if you do. Still, if you have had amazing summer experiences or have participated in good EC’s you have a good shot.</p>
<p>I was worried about the same thing! I got a 2370 on the SAT (I only took it once) and my GPA was a 4.11 (A is a 4.00 GPA here, A+ is a 4.33) before this year, but I currently have a B and B+ in two classes, which will bring down my GPA unless I can fix those grades before the end of the semester. My ECs are decent. I’ve won some prizes at national debate tournaments and I’m a regular castmember of a local cable television show. I also teach for the Breakthrough Collaborative and spent my summer volunteering at a hospital before going to debate camp. Our school doesn’t do ranks and I’m a junior. </p>