<p>I'm interested in attending Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, but I noticed that I'm just short of meeting the qualifications for one of LSU's merit-based scholarships (LSU Academic Scholars Award). The requirements are an ACT composite score of a 30 to 32 and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. My GPA is a 4.0 and I have taken the ACT twice, with composite scores of 27 and 29. If those two tests are superscored, though, it comes to a 30. However, LSU does not superscore standardized tests for scholarship purposes, which really bothers me.</p>
<p>I've tried emailing their scholarship staff multiple times about this, but I have yet to receive a response. It's wrong to not superscore tests when the scholarships are noncompetitive (just minimum requirements). I would love to see LSU change this policy of theirs, but if that's not possible, I would at least like to be given the scholarship that I know I deserve.</p>
<p>Thoughts on any of this? Do you think I could convince LSU to superscore my tests, given the extenuating circumstances of my GPA?</p>
<p>If you have always had difficulty with standardized tests, and the results are always much lower than expected in comparison to your GPA, then you need to haul yourself down to your guidance office and talk with the people there about what this can mean. Three typical causes are: poor test-taking strategies, exam-induced anxiety, and previously un-identified dyslexia-type processing issues. Each of those has its own “fix”, and each of those is something that you want to get a handle on before you go to college.</p>
<p>It’s wrong to not superscore tests when the scholarships are noncompetitive (just minimum requirements).</p>
<p>When schools report their “middle 50 percentiles” 25/75…those scores are not super-scored, therefore there is no reason for them to give scholarships for super-scored ACTs. Schools are paying to get kids with ACT 30+ non-super-scored…and a super-scored ACT won’t let them include your stats.</p>
<p>The solution…retake the ACT …and take the SAT. It’s often easier to get the needed Math + CR SAT to get the scholarship.</p>
<p>And…no…your GPA is not rare. Many kids today have a 4.0…and having a 4.0 really doesn’t help them ranking wise like high test scores do.</p>
<p>I would at least like to be given the scholarship that I know I deserve.</p>
<p>Sorry…that’s not the attitude to have. It’s THEIR money, it’s THEIR scholarship…they get to decide the rules…and THEY get to decide who deserves it. At this point, you don’t qualify. Right now, you don’t deserve it.</p>
<p>But…good luck on raising your score to the needed numbers.</p>
<p>Good luck when you retake the ACT, or try the SAT. It’s painful to be that close and miss out by a hair, but rules are rules. Employers, school administrators and others who have authority get to make the rules, not those who are under their authority. I disagree with a lot of rules that the company I moonlight with make… but it is their right to make them, and if I want to work for them I have to follow their rules. The main reason I left my social work major was having to tell someone during my internship that they could not qualify for an assistance program because their annual income was $10 too high…</p>
<p>I appreciate the suggestions to call them up and retake and/or take the SAT. Just want to clarify some things:</p>
<p>“And…no…your GPA is not rare. Many kids today have a 4.0…and having a 4.0 really doesn’t help them ranking wise like high test scores do.”</p>
<p>I didn’t say my GPA was rare. I’m saying that it is a much more accurate assessment of my capabilities when compared to standardized test scores. It shows my progress and commitment over three years. The number of students who have the same GPA as me doesn’t make a difference to the level of my high school accomplishments.</p>
<p>“Sorry…that’s not the attitude to have. It’s THEIR money, it’s THEIR scholarship…they get to decide the rules…and THEY get to decide who deserves it. At this point, you don’t qualify. Right now, you don’t deserve it.”</p>
<p>I understand it’s their money and their scholarship. It’s also quite obvious that I don’t qualify for the scholarship. As to if I deserve it or not, though, it’s my honest opinion that I do. I’m not being arrogant; the test difficulties fluctuate unreasonably between test dates, and I’ve proven that I can score a 30. It’s worth a try to see if LSU will yield, but if not, I’ll do whatever it takes to earn the scholarship.</p>