<p>Wrong wrong wrong. A 4.0 student with a 900 SAT is NOT going to get into a first or second tier school. PERIOD. The SAT is used primarily as a “weed in/out” tool and to some degree as a measure of success. The GPA is used to weed in/out as well, but more likely used to examine likelihood of success, particularly if there are APs on the transcript. </p>
<p>I have heard of kids with 3.0 gpa’s and a 1500 getting into prestigious schools, but NOT the other way around. </p>
<p>Schools routinely bs you about the holistic approach and not just looking at SAT scores. Don’t believe them. If you are clearly below their benchmark redline, you are out. Done. Finished. (exceptions are athletes and sometimes URMs.) </p>
<p>If you are on the bubble, then they will look at other factors like strength of curriculum, reputation of your high school, recommendations etc. </p>
<p>Its the sad truth. Do I like it? Of course not. </p>
<p>Further, every school has its own methodology of reviewing applications. Some are highly computerized and plug in the numbers and its thumbs up or down, some are very personalized and a full reading of your file is done, and others are a melange of both. What specific quotient they apply to SAT’s vs. GPA’s can also vary. </p>
<p>Don’t obsess about a particular school. If you got in, great. If you got rejected or waitlisted, sorry…but move on. The best revenge is success at the school where you DID get in, and then publishing in the newspaper that you are on Dean’s List and Honor Roll and graduate Phi Beta Kappa and rub it in the nose of those who turned you down (in your head of course…not literally or directly.) Admissions mistakes are made every year, both in whom they reject and in whom they accept. Its a very inexact science and because there are thousands of more applicants than they have seats (dorm space), they must cut through the mustard somewhere at some arbitrary number. I have even heard of kids who perform poorly on standardized testing doing well in college and kids with high SATs utterly bombing out. It happens. </p>
<p>Most schools will tell you they are both considered but are very reluctant to assign a weight to either one, because they may not be applying the same weight to all students objectively. A high gpa from a weak school is worth less than a good but not stellar gpa from a very rigorous school (prep or public) whose reputation is unquestioned and whose graduates routinely do very well in college. And colleges know that SAT scores are not always reliable predictors of success in college. Sadly, SAT scores seem to be the MAJOR factor when considering academic scholarships. And that is a gross injustice if you ask me. But it is what it is.</p>
<p>Of course, SOME of those with high GPA’s and high SAT’s will sneer and snarl and call the rest of us human beings unworthy and jealous wannabe’s. If I could, I would coral all of those people and send them off to some nerdy school for snarling narcissistic brats so they can live amongst themselves and scratch each other’s eyes out. And leave the rest of the normal crowd to go to outstanding schools and be warm and welcoming fellow classmates who challenge each other in class and support each other through the ups and downs of college life, as they transform themselves into full blown adults hopefullly to make a difference in life for others.</p>
<p>Don’t judge yourself by your gpa or SAT score. Rather, strive to improve and do better always, but give yourself enough slack and leeway to accept one’s weaknesses and faults, using self deprecating humor as your best shield from others who may be judgmental. If you have an exceptional SAT score and GPA, its considered poor form to brag about it or “go phishing for compliments with faux humility” or that “help, I have a 1600 SAT and can’t decide between Harvard, Yale and Stanford!” bs. </p>
<p>In a perfect world every student (and parent) would pick the college which is the perfect fit for themselves and always get in, then succeed once there. But that is not reality. Too many kids think they are Ivy material or that the Ivy League owes them an admission ticket because they have a 4.0 and a 1580 SAT. Too many are chasing prestige and USNWR rankings instead of finding that special school where they would thrive and be happiest.</p>