<p>Hello everybody. New to CC and I was just wondering how important SAT and ACT scores are considered over your class rank and GPA. I ask because my SAT scores are not terrible, but are not amazing either. (740 writing, 680 math, 580 verbal) However, my GPA is almost perfect and my class rank should be very high. I think it is really stupid that somebody with a really high SAT score would be considered a better applicant that me who clearly tries all year round. I feel doing well in school all year is a lot more important than doing well on just one test on one day of your entire life. Any advice would be appreciated. Also I was wondering what I means that I received my acceptance letter to Summer Seminar a lot later than 2 of my friends who received theirs very early in the year. Thanks alot.</p>
<p>I had a 710 in math and a 640 in verbal. I had over a 4.0 with all advanced classes. I got an appointment. I can't speak on behalf of the academy on what is more important since there are many factors and I'm no official, but maybe that helps.</p>
<p>Well your GPA and class rank depend on the competitiveness of your school and the difficulty of your courses, so you can't really compare two kids from different schools by their class ranks and GPAs. But with the standardized tests you can effectively compare them.</p>
<p>uscga--have you thought about taking the ACT to raise your verbal score? the academy will accept the act score and convert it to sat, which is what they did for me. ultimately they used my SAT math and ACT verbal..just an idea. Don't harp too much on your SAT scores, but I definitely would get the verbal over 600.</p>
<p>also, regarding your late acceptance to NASS, I wouldn't worry about it..my sister is in almost the EXACT same boat as you...amazing grades, good math and writing on the sat, lower verbal...and she has two siblings there already..don't sweat it.</p>
<p>I had a 640 math and 570 verbal. Once again they are looking for somebody well rounded. They would rather have you with a 3.5 but be a varsity sports captain and be involved in ECAs as well. The best advice I can give you is to seek as many leadership positions as possible while you are in high school to put on your application. Yes, SAT/ACT scores and gpa are important but these other things are usually weighted heavily as well.</p>
<p>I heard from prior breakdowns that SAT/ACT scores were approximately double the weight of class rank, and (at least USNA) GPA isn't considered, just your class rank.</p>
<p>yea I just took the ACT... what section would replace the verbal section of my SAT from the ACT... reading or writing? Because that first passage really screwed me up on the ACT for the reading section, but I felt pretty good about the writing section.</p>
<p>I can't really say what got me my LOAs for both USNA and USMA in October last year, but I think that it had a lot to do with my SAT scores (680 math, 800 critical reading, 760 writing)....I think that they carried more weight than my GPA (3.96) and class rank (1st) because i am from a very small school, so I am only 1st out of 13 students in my class. </p>
<p>I dont think anyone on here could tell you how exactly every portion of the whole person evaluation is broken down, but suffice it to say that it all matters. And I know for a fact that if they like you and see other stuff in you (leadership, physical aptitude, motivation, GPA) then they will overlook less than stellar standardized test scores....</p>
<p>good luck USCGA, I'd suggest taking the SAT again after you have done quite a few practice tests (or at least the critical reading sections). My score went from 740 to 800 on that section and I think it was mainly because I did lots of practice sets. Afterawhile you get used to the type of questions which makes it easier and you also learn to read and process the information better, which is key.</p>
<p>They take the ACT "English" score (the section with all the fill in the blanks), NOT the "Reading" score (the one with the passages).</p>
<p>Thats kind of good because I feel I did a lot better on that section then on the reading section. That also makes very little sense, because the english section on the ACT is similar to the writing on the SAT, and the reading on the ACT is similar to the CR on the SAT. I will just accept it though. What about MOC and their selection process. Will they combine the highest ACT and SAT scores? Because on most of the applications I have for them they are just asking for the overall score. But they do also ask for the offical score reports sent to them, so I guess they will see all sections.</p>
<p>I'm going to assume here that USNA works similarly to USAFA and USMA. In which case, SAT seems to be a tad more important than class rank/GPA. I did very well on my SATs (790 CR, 760 Math, 800 W) but I had only a 3.5 GPA and ranked at maybe the top 40 percent of my class (AP and Honors courses are unweighted). I got appointments to both the USAFA and USMA. An interesting thing to note, however, is that USAFA "assigned" me a higher GPA on my candidate page.</p>
<p>Also I was wondering if only having one leadership position is a bad thing, but the one leadership position is a very strong position. I am the leader of my Sea Cadet division which takes up a lot of time but also includes a lot of leadership responsibility and effort. I would hope that having this position would be regarded more highly then being the VP of my honor society or something like that.</p>
<p>regarding your leadership, just make sure you emphasize the importance of it in your personal statement. one of my profs is on the admissions committee, and he said that he loves to read personal statements that are truly 'personal' and unique. take your sea cadet leadership experiences and weave them through your paper to show how that has molded you into who you are and has led you to apply to navy...</p>
<p>Yea it was really one of the biggest things that led me to become interested in the Naval Academy. I am going to include it in my personal statements and have also tried to emphasize it on my activities list. I will also have on of my commanding officers write me a reccomendation. Hopefully they will be able to see that it is one of the most important and rewarding things that I have done and continue to do.</p>
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That also makes very little sense, because the english section on the ACT is similar to the writing on the SAT, and the reading on the ACT is similar to the CR on the SAT.
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Yea that's what I was thinking too. Luckily I did a lot better on my ACT English than my ACT Reading or my SAT CR, so I'm not complaining. I would suggest you check your MOC's websites, they usually have their applications from last year still posted (at least mine do), and you can see what SAT/ACT scores they take.</p>
<p>Yea I am pretty happy because I got a 740 on the writing section of the SAT but only a 580 on the CR section, so I am pretty good at the grammar stuff. I guess that sort of works to my benefit that the english section of the ACT will replace the CR.</p>
<p>Two separate but related issues here. First is how your scores will fare with USNA. My strong recommendation is to improve your verbal to above 600. Not saying that you wouldn't be admitted with a 580, but USNA really looks for the 600/600 mark as a start. There is no downside (other than cost and your time) to taking the SATs again & again, so I would do so. As noted, you can also try the ACT -- some people do better on it; others don't and USNA will take your top math and top verbal from either test.</p>
<p>Second issue is how your scores stack up for a nomination and that depends on where you live. In my area, your scores would likely not be sufficient to get you a MOC nom. Even assuming you have great GPA, class rank, activities, etc., around here there are too many people with all the above and better scores. However, I'm sure there are areas of the country where your scores plus other strong attributes may be enough.</p>
<p>Your class rank is more important than your scores. However, your goal should be to make your overall package as strong as possible. Thus, if you can afford to retake the SATs (and preferably practice, practice, practice -- and/or take a prep course if that is an option for you), I suggest doing so.</p>
<p>Yea I am already planning on taking the ACT again in September and the SAT in October. I thought my math score was pretty good, but on these forums, I guess it is worth less than dirt. I know there is always room for improvement, and hopefully I did pretty good on the english section of the ACT from June, I will see how I did, but I will try and improve the next times I take the tests.</p>
<p>Your math score is ok. I've had many candidates from a competitive district receive appointments with similar math scores. But they do tend to score in the 600s on verbal as well.</p>