<p>My friend and I were debating whether Test Scores were more important than GPA. He claimed that they were, because the abundance of easy high schools has diluted the meaning of GPA to the point where it's an almost useless metric. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Your transcript will trump test scores. As they say, the transcript tells the story of 3 years, whereas test scores tell about 3-4 hours on a Saturday. That doesn’t mean that I’m knocking test scores, but most schools will still look at your transcript first.</p>
<p>GPAs definitely more important. Shows your commitment over a four year window and with a varied and difficult course load, shows your commitment and versatility. Test scores are just that… a score. They just show how much you studied for that test and maybe even how much money your family has to put you in prep classes. Keep your gpa up…</p>
<p>I personally would say test scores if they are good but GPA can make up for it</p>
<p>I think that TEST SCORES are more important. </p>
<p>Every school is different, some may have lower or maybe slower level of learning, while other schools might be really requiring and going over stuff at a fast pace. Nobody can say if the school is either really requiring, easy or in between. As long as your GPA is not terribly low, it is fine. </p>
<p>Test scores reflect your actual knowledge, how much you learned in school.</p>
<p>example. My friend got into Stevens Tech with a GPA of 84 and SAT score of 1950, while my other friend got rejected from the same institution with a GPA of 93 and SAT score of 1660.</p>
<p>Thus I think, that test scores are more important for colleges.</p>
<p>A long debated topic. </p>
<p>I don’t think it is GPA at all. I think it is class rank and test scores. Class rank helps a college determine how you compare with fellow students at your school. GPAs are all over the place in high school therefore they don’t mean much outside of your individual high school. </p>
<p>Student A could have a 3.8 GPA and be in the 40th percentile at his school. Student B could have a 3.6 GPA and be in the top 10 percent at his school.</p>
<p>Throwing out the GPAs student B fared better in his school than student A did in his school even though student B had a lower GPA. But wait, there is more! The college will use the school profile to see how all students ranked and to see the rigor of the school in general. Maybe student A’s school is super rigorous with lots of AP and IB courses. So even having a lower rank than student B’s class rank student A may be a better choice.</p>
<p>The test scores then help compare students from all high schools in a common manner. If student A got a 33 and student B got a 29 then you have something in common to compare the two students.</p>
<p>Also remember that GPA,class rank and test scores are only part of the picture. ECs, volunteer service, work, etc also come into play. </p>
<p>Just think how many applications a school gets with kids having the same GPA and test scores. They need something else to be the determining factor.</p>
<p>So the old adage is true…it depends.</p>
<p>Transcript has more weight than SAT or ACT.</p>
<p>Admissions officers at every college I’ve visited (public, liberal arts, ivy, etc.–basically everything) have explicitly stated that GPA is more important than test scores.</p>
<p>Class rank is very easily tweaked in our school district by means of the local state college. Rather than take the rigorous AP classes offered at the high school many opt to dual enroll ( it is free in our district) and take the far easier courses at the college. So a student can receive a 5.0 A by taking an easy Anatomy class with open book tests rather than taking AP bio. The AP bio kid has the far more rigorous, year long course and might receive a B which is a weighted 4.0 but the other student takes the easier college course and slips the 5.0 A into their GPA and passes the other student easily. It is all a game and the winner is not the smartest or better prepared student but rather the one who plays the game.</p>
<p>Test Scores > GPA
Transcripts > Test Scores
Transcripts > GPA</p>