<p>Can relatively high test scores make up for mediocre class rank?
I have an unweighted GPA of 3.81 and a class rank of 65/520</p>
<p>Could my above average test scores - 1490 (M/V) SAT and 33 ACT help my less than stellar performance in high school?</p>
<p>Definitely. An UW gpa of 3.81 is fine. You must be in a crazy competitive school.</p>
<p>It would help a lot if you were instate though.</p>
<p>Simple question…which is taken more into consideration when it comes to admission: four years of high school (grades, classes, rank) or four hours of a test? I think the answer is pretty obvious. I do not want to discourage you or anything…you seem to be doing just fine. Congrats on the score and much luck to you :)</p>
<p>Actually no, laxguy. Unless he goes to one of a select few public high schools around the country, it sounds like his school has a more than healthy amount of grade inflation.</p>
<p>While the relatively high SAT score will help your odds, chaudoinker, it won’t be a significant boost, particularly if you’re OOS. That is, of course, unless you’re black.</p>
<p>Actually no, laxguy. Unless he goes to one of a select few public high schools around the country, it sounds like his school has a more than healthy amount of grade inflation.</p>
<p>Ah thats a good point.</p>
<p>what the heck? grade inflation? im 65th in my class… how does that show grade inflation?</p>
<p>we base class rank off numerical averages (our valdictorian has an average of 102) i have an average of like 95.5</p>
<p>and even so how would that show grade inflation? 3.81 is a lousy GPA and both of my test scores are at least in the 98th percentile in the country</p>
<p>lol, the fact that you think 3.81 is a ‘lousy’ UW GPA only further proves cavalier’s point, not to mention your valedictorian having a 102 average.</p>
<p>If you’re really interested in UVA, it’s worth a shot, but don’t expect anything. The SAT score probably won’t make a difference- it’s only slightly higher than the OOS average</p>
<p>still, how can you say that with my test scores? dont compare them to those of OOS students accepted to UVa, compare them to students in general. how do you explain me having these test scores, and having a class rank of 65/520 (outside the top 10%) if my school has inflated grades?</p>
<p>You studied for them? You got lucky? You’re a better test taker than others? There are lots of explanations, but in the end, as BG points out, your four years in high school are a better reflection of yourself than four hours on a test. And right now a valedictorian running around a school with a 102 UW average sounds pretty inflated to me.</p>
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<p>It shows that you’re not even in the top 10% of your class with a GPA of 3.8. lol. The fact that you think it’s a lousy GPA is reflective of the environment at your school - one in which grades are generally inflated. Your test scores here are irrelevant. All they show is that you’ve underperformed relative to your supposed ability (unless, of course, you go to one of the few elite high schools in the country).</p>
<p>based on all your stats a 3.81 uw isn’t even good enough to crack the top 12 percent. cav302 is right. with those kinda numbers it must be an incredible school or incredible grade inflation.</p>
<p>edit: what he said^^</p>
<p>And by incredible school meaning INCREDIBLE, where you don’t have to go to random online sites for college advice… lol</p>
<p>that 102 grade point average is weighted… we get extra points for honors and AP classes - and laxguy how many times do i have to say this, our gpa’s are not based on the 4.0 scale, they are based on the average of the actual grades we recieve in our classes.</p>
<p>sv3a, i didnt study for either of them and i got a 33 twice on the act, did i get lucky twice?</p>
<p>Listen, nobody’s trying to say you aren’t smart, so don’t get so defensive. Tests like the SAT and ACT may generally be a valid gauge of how good a student is, but the fact is that it is only a test. Top grades throughout high school demonstrate consistency and hard work over FOUR years, versus maybe putting a month into learning a test and doing really well on it.</p>
<p>so calculate your gpa based on a normal 4.0 scale.</p>
<p>90-100=4
80-89=3
70-79=2</p>
<p>That’s a very broad scale…</p>
<p>My school’s is:</p>
<p>94-100 = 4.0
89.5-94 = 3.5
83.5-89.5 = 3.0
79.5-83.5 = 2.5</p>
<p>etc.</p>
<p>This discussion of GPA conversion is irrelevant.</p>