Why your GPA and SAT score doesn't matter as much as you think
Here's what Admissions committees won't tell you about your GPA, class rank, and SAT scores: above a specific level, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
College admissions is a tough game - but there are rules to getting into the best schools like Princeton and Stanford. I worked in the Admissions Office of a Top 20 school for 3 years, so I've had plenty of experience figuring out what really matters for high school students.
With your GPA, class rank, and SAT, there are only 2 rules that you need to know - following these rules will SAVE A LOT OF TIME during the college admissions process.
1) As long as you're in the top 3-5% of your class, you're fine. Of course, being valedictorian helps - but not as much as you think. There are too many valedictorians these days, and admissions committees value other areas equally if not more
Of course, it depends on your school. If it's a very easy public school, you need to do better.
2) Shoot for an SAT score about 2100 (700 across subjects). This is the minimum cutoff and Stanford college admissions will consider you seriously
Now, don't just AIM for a 2100 only. You should aim for a 2400. But my point is that your time and energy can be better spent elsewhere - for instance, in your tennis competitions, your Science Club, and your student government role
As another caveat, it's important to take every hard class that your school provides. College admissions looks at your transcript - and if it looks like you're not challenging yourself academically, it will hurt.
Follow the rules above, and you'll have a great chance getting into the school of your dreams.
Finally, as I tell everyone and describe in detail in my Hopeless to Harvard book, it's all about telling a great story. You do this not through your test scores, but through your EC commitments, your essays, and so on.
About the Author
Have an average GPA? Low SAT score? Hopeless To Harvard is an insider's account of how a B+ student got into Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Click here to learn how any smart high school student can get into an Ivy League school. Get into Harvard now!
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