<p>Even though the term splitter is most commonly associated with law school admissions, the term splitter can be applied to any admissions context where both grades and test scores are involved. As with law school, there are two types of splitters:</p>
<p>1) The “traditional splitter”, who, given one’s GPA, has a comparatively high SAT/ACT score (e.g. a 3.1/2100 student)</p>
<p>2) The “reverse splitter” who, given one’s GOA, has a comparatively low SAT/ACT score (e.g. a 4.0/22 student)</p>
<p>I know test-optional colleges exist to serve the reverse-splitter audience (and there can be fine test-optional schools) but what kind of schools are best for splitters? That kind of colleges tend to put more weight on the SAT/ACT than on the GPA.</p>
<p>While awarding money on the basis of SAT/ACT scores is a telltale sign of a college having some semblance of friendliness towards splitters, I think there are splitter-friendly schools that don’t award automatic full-tuition or automatic full-rides.</p>
<p>I’m not sure there is one kind of school that is best. Many Public Us weight GPA or Class Rank more than SAT. Perhaps regional Us? Then as you state there are the test optional schools, some of which are highly competitive.</p>
<p>Look in common data sets (section C7) or [CollegeData:</a> College Search, Financial Aid, College Application, College Scholarship, Student Loan, FAFSA Info, Common Application<a href=“admissions%20tab”>/url</a> to see which schools give higher priority to standardized test scores than academic GPA or class rank.</p>
<p>For example, Lehigh University lists standardized test scores as “important”, but academic GPA and class rank as “considered”. However, rigor of secondary school record and recommendations are “very important”.</p>
<p>I recommend you look for a school where your GPA places you at the low end of the median range, or better. If the split is so great it suggests you’re a real underachiever, then in your application try to indicate what (other than getting good grades) has been your focus. Have you read all the works of a single author? Learned Swahili? Designed and built your own yurt? </p>
<p>Earlham College has a 25th-75th percentile GPA range of 3.1-3.8.
Earlham and other “Colleges That Change Lives” (CTCL) are good schools that might take a chance on an underachiever. Reed is a more intense school that might do so, if the evidence is strong enough that your grades don’t reflect your potential.</p>
<p>Look at the admissions data, not at who gets “chanced” by high school students on College Confidential.</p>
<p>75% of students admitted to Reed have an SAT-CR of 670 or above; 75% of admits have an SAT-M of 640 or above. However, 10% do not rank in the top quarter of their HS class. Reed admits a lower percentage of high-ranking students than peer colleges with equally high (or even lower) average test scores (e.g. Whitman, Macalester).</p>
<p>Reed is more selective than most of the other “Colleges That Change Lives”.
What are your actual stats (scores, GPA, rank)?</p>
<p>Much will depend on the reason for that 3.0. Is there an overall rising trend after a dismal 9th grade year? Was there just one very, very bad semester? Are all the grades in subjects X, Y, and Z stellar while the majority of the grades in subjects D, E, and F grades of D, E, and F? Or is this a solid 3.0 across the board?</p>
<p>“75% of students admitted to Reed have an SAT-CR of 670 or above; 75% of admits have an SAT-M of 640 or above. However, 10% do not rank in the top quarter of their HS class. Reed admits a lower percentage of high-ranking students than peer colleges with equally high (or even lower) average test scores (e.g. Whitman, Macalester).”</p>
<p>Even more (less?) significant for Reed, GPA + test scores + rank together account for only 20% of admission criteria. The rest is based on courses taken in high school, interview, recommendations, essays and ECs.</p>
I think there are very few, if any, colleges that place more weight on the SAT than coursework rigor and grades. It’s relatively easy to walk into a classroom for one day and ace an exam. Working hard for four years straight is something different altogether. </p>
<p>Poor grades coupled with a high SAT score, barring an extremely tough high school, often indicates a lazy or unmotivated student…not exactly what most colleges are looking for.</p>
<p>Usually the best you can do, as others have pointed out, is to look for colleges that accept a relatively wide range of grades and class ranks.</p>
<p>I just want to point out this is all YMMV. There are some schools where scores are weighted more than rank or GPA. As of a few years ago (I haven’t checked each one lately) Montana doesn’t look at GPA but scores and class rank are very important, for Nebraska GPA is just considered but scores and class rank very important, South Carolina has scores and GPA very important while class rank is only considered, and TX has class rank as very important, scores important, and GPA Not considered. As of three years ago South Carolina DID consider scores more important than both GPA and rank (no longer).</p>