Well, many colleges don’t trust grades, GPAs, and transcripts because colleges don’t know what schools did to them! The only way to securely make sure these GPAs aren’t inflated are to compare them with your SAT or ACT scores. The SAT and ACT are STANDARDIZED meaning all the applicant’s scores will be based on the same system, so it gives the real view of the applicant.

Luckily nowadays, they don’t rely on standardized test scores as much as they used to. Tests like the ACT and SAT are meant to put everyone on the same playing level, but they don’t always work out that way. Admissions offices are now looking more for kids who get good grades as well as have a life, such as participating in clubs, sports, volunteering, etc. This helps gauge how well you’ll fit into college life and the college community. So don’t sweat it if you don’t get a perfect on everything, just keep up the grades and activities, you should be fine. If you’re getting really close to the point where you’re going to be applying to schools, see if there is a school that is a perfect match for you and your needs. Then you can see if they have an Early Decision application, then it’s usually easier to get in since it’s a definite commitment, and not as many people are applying at the same time as Regular decision. Also, this will settle your nerves A LOT, since you usually know around the end of December whether you got in or not. Just make sure you have a couple of other applications at other colleges to fall back on.

The unfortunate over-reliance on SAT and ACT is due to the unreliability of grades from school to school. Traditionally, the average grade given was supposed to be C or C+. The average student would have a GPA between 2.0 and 2.5. Today, in many high schools, the average grade is a B or B+. Straight A grades for even a semester used to be an exceptional thing at most schools, but today it is not unusual for 10% or more of the students to do the 4.0. The big-name colleges are swamped with 4.0 applications. The single most objective way to determine who is best academically is the SAT. The second most objective factor is class rank; some Universities try to take only students in the top 10% (or even top 4%) of their high school class. At the top schools, everyone has great grades, great recommendations, and claims to have special talents and leadership abilities. The SAT provides a single objective number that can be sorted and classified.

i sympathize with your plight. the fact is, standardized tests are the only tests that produce scores which relate to the average. everything else is, according to most universities, unreliable due to the fact that every school has different standards, styles, and biases. (Mississippi being the biggest example: they have the largest gap between state test average and national test average. source from Time magazine) at least with SAT’s, no amount of brown-nosing, extra-credit, or “A for effort” factors will sway the outcome. not to mention, SAT’s are not achievement tests, but aptitude tests. so studying will not effect your score more than 200 points. this aspect of the test can be most irritating because it doesn’t reward people who’ve otherwise worked their way up through studying.

but fear not! many universities are well aware of the unfair characteristics within the standardized test world. GPA, extracurricular activities, and your application essays are VERY important factors in their decision, i promise you. i am a prime example; i scored lower than the average SAT score for my university, but i was accepted anyways, probably because of my essay and community service. so don’t lose hope! SATs are only one factor.

ps. make sure you have leadership qualities. colleges love that stuff.

I agree with you. Sadly this is their only way of judging everyone fairly. It wouldn’t be fair if a 4.0 student at a great and challenging school and a 4.0 student at a scummy not so good school sent in their transcripts and got the same result, when the student who was challenged more should be given better dibs.

But luckily, the tests are only a minor part of the application process. Though if you’re looking at IV schools and private schools they’ll take it into more consideration because more students are applying there.

Wait till December of your senior 365 days.. it somewhat is once you start up off having panic assaults.. oh is it purely me? at the same time as your ECs in song are wonderful, C is definitely going to count huge sort against you for the Ivies… sorry. unsure in the event that they care approximately stuff you have executed before severe college, yet those camps would additionally help you… my relatives would desire to not have the money for camps so I additionally did something else fairly. what’s your interest? Is it regulation? if so, can not you circulate get some genuine existence adventure at a regulation company? i admire physics and that i’ve got researched and could learn extra for professors. to enhance your opportunities, evaluate submitting a song supplement. Your GPA won’t KILL your opportunities, yet write reliable essays. i don’t prefer to get into that too lots. Columbia – attain (because it somewhat is for each guy or woman) Georgetown – unsure/did not learn, yet i think attain UConn – tournament? UW- Madison – Public.. could be in.. UGA… dont comprehend UCLA – GPA is somewhat low, yet we are going to would desire to work out weighted GPA: tournament, low attain USC – Low attain? Pepperdine – Low attain/attain Brown – attain Northwestern – severe tournament somewhat uncertain approximately some colleges, and that’s problematical to tell with your PSAT scores. My PSAT score grew to become right into a 191 and grew to become right into a ninety 3 percentile… meaning it somewhat is a 1910 SAT and is a incredibly undesirable score. I extra desirable it is going to actual yet once you probably did get under a 2000, a great sort of your tournament colleges could replace into reaches. do not checklist your SAT if that is undesirable, yet i’m unsure in case you are able to desire to truly get away not reporting. reliable success! you particularly do have staggering song E.C., like I reported, be properly rounded and write reliable essays and get reliable recs!

that is because some schools arent up to standards. some schools are harder than others. some schoolsare easier than others. this is what standardized tests are. they “fairly” test everyone and thats what they do.

besides, since you have 4.0, lots of extracurriculars, and activities, you shouldnt have a problem getting in. this is a big controversy nowadays, its not just you.

I agree, these timed tests are crazy and killing….I have just taken the ACT once, and I almost suffered a heart attack, it was such a big pressure, I dont think I can do that again

LOL

Well, could you answer my question, accidentally related to yours…please??

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnEX0ERbz6gCHnP0F.815YHty6IX?qid=20070812185533AAlkqnz