<p>Quiverfox - Essays and scores definitely matter. Especially if your GPA is on the lower end. Your Act/SAT would be weighted more heavily in that case. GPA is actually a worse indicator of academic performance than a standardized test score. A 3.5 at a public urban school with a lenient curriculum would not be the same as a 3.5 at a rigorous, nationally competitive high school. That’s why you need the a standardized test score. The essay also gives insight about your character and goals for college.</p>