<p>the Essay?</p>
<p>and which carries more weight - the SAT or GPA?</p>
<p>GPA. because your grade point is accumulated over 4 years of hard work, whereas the SAT is only a one-day test. Colleges understand that.</p>
<p>After the GPA, I'd say test scores. Then extracurrics.</p>
<p>I read a good quote somewhere regarding the essay:</p>
<p>"A great essay can heal the sick, but it can't raise the dead." :)</p>
<p>There's probably a better forum in which to ask this, doc, but I'll take a crack at it anyway:</p>
<p>GPA and ExtraCur are equally important. You need your ExtraCurs to help you stand out.</p>
<p>the SAT, which is only important if you don't get a respectable score. Once you pass that threshold you don't have to strive for perfection. </p>
<p>The essay, which I imagine is a small factor in most circumstances since it is so easily manipulated. If you have a really extraordinary story to tell, or if you put absolutely no effort into writing it, then it becomes more important to the decision. (nice quote by the way)</p>
<p>You forgot teacher recommendations. I think they might fit in right after GPA/ExtraCur, since they can provide the most personal but still honest account of you.</p>
<p>ECs/Essays/Interview(if possible)</p>
<p>This is assuming a competitive GPA (or if possible, ranking) and SATs. People tend to underrate the essays a lot. If you go to an elite school, your ECs might have to be more outstanding than at your local public...although I can't comment on this from any personal experience.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you go to an elite school, your ECs might have to be more outstanding than at your local public...although I can't comment on this from any personal experience.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not exactly, Harvard might be under the impression that due to you attending an elite school, you are more adequately prepared. Students from the best schools have an edge. On the other hand, if you have a local public school, where only one person every two decades gains admission to Harvard, you're going to have to work a lot harder to make yourself heard.</p>
<p>I would say that if one attends an elite school, GPA and rank (if available) is most important.</p>
<p>And, of course, the essay gives you an opportunity to let Harvard know that you are unique.</p>
<p>GPA
Rigor of course load
Rank
SAT
SAT 2's
EC's (Leadership and passion shown through)
Essay's
recommendations</p>
<p>It depends - students at more prestigious prep schools will more likely be judged on class rank, while students at public schools, where class rank/gpa can be slightly more manipulable, will probably also have SAT I/II and essays come into play as well.</p>
<p>No one gets into Harvard from our school without V/M SATs over 700 and GPA that puts them in the top 1-2% of the class. But who makes the cut from there, will depend largely on EC's, essays and teacher recommendations. (Typically Intel winners, Eagle Scouts, Science Olympiad state medal winners and the like.)</p>
<p>I agree with innervisions. At highly competitive prep/independent schools, GPA and class rank (though many do not release rank) become more important.</p>