Will my ACT/SAT scores balance out my low GPA?

talligator

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
15
Of course, there's not know-all-tell-all person around here, and I'm aware you can only give me opinions, but I think most of you have a better idea.

GPA is a 3.50 unweighted, but I've taken 7 AP's and all honors courses.

ACT: 32 composite: 34 Math, 34 English, 30 Reading, 29 Science

SAT: 2110 total: 680 C. Reading, 740 Math, 690 Writing



Thanks.
 
To be considered academically qualified, I think the minimum requirements are that you have passed all the courses USMA requires from applicants. Such as having passed math up to trigonometry, etc.

I got accepted with a 3.0 GPA (weighted) and a 31 on my ACT.
 
GPA has absolutely no direct impact on your WCS.

Class rank (which is usually based on local GPA) is the metric that USMA uses.
 
Doesn't West Point Admissions recalculate your GPA too based on their own formula?
 
To be considered academically qualified, I think the minimum requirements are that you have passed all the courses USMA requires from applicants. Such as having passed math up to trigonometry, etc.

I got accepted with a 3.0 GPA (weighted) and a 31 on my ACT.

Well, if that is true that would make me very happy! Because I have a 3.53 unweighted, and a 4.589 weighted GPA, I'm in AP Calc BC, next year taking Calc 3, in AP Physics B right now, next year AP Physics C (which is the calc-based one).

But honestly, I don't feel that that is true - can anyone verify that?

Thanks,
TheChicagoan
 
I think you are in good shape academically.
However, that is only a part of the overall evaluation.
Are you an athlete?
Are you a team Captain?
Are you in any leadership positions in your school?
Can you easily pass the PT test?
Did you go to Boy's State?
etc etc
West Point is looking for people strong in all three areas - academic- leadership - physical fitness
 
GPA has absolutely no direct impact on your WCS.

Class rank (which is usually based on local GPA) is the metric that USMA uses.

Just wondering how an appointee can state that as fact??

My understanding is there is significantly more involved, such as:

- Overall competitiveness of your school
- how many AP's were available vs what you took
- Quality point for AP/IB impact on class rank

Whether this is just weighting applied to your raw scores or some other subjective score input to the WCS I've not heard stated.

Consistent input from all the academy admissions teams in briefings and field force input has been to achieve the best GPA you can with the most challenging curriculum you can handle. IE: High class rank with easier schedule (no AP/IB) is not as good as a more challenging curriculum but with lower GPA/rank.
 
Broad picture-
60% of a candidate's evaluation is based on academics.
1/2 comes from Class rank and the other 1/2 from SAT/ACT scores.
The class rank is weighted with how many students are in your class as well as how many graduates from your school attend 4 -year colleges.
For example - if you go to a very competitive high school ( as determined by your school's profile), your class rank will most likely be adjusted upward.
Why use class rank as opposed to GPA? Because it is fair. You don't want to be compared grade wise with another candidate from another school that is more competitive or less competitive than your school. You are instead compared with the students in your school.
SAT/ACT scores do compare you with students across the nation, but everyone takes the same test and everyone is graded the same.

To add on to what Hawk said - guidance from WP admissions is for students to take the hardest classes that they can take and still make an 'A' or 'B' in.

Candidates really shouldn't compare themselves with one another. There are way too many variables involved. To compare yourself with someone who says they had a 3.0 and 31 ACT doesn't paint the whole picture of that candidate's file. Your file will not be identical to their file. One may have a LOA, one may not. One may be a recruited athlete, one may not. Your nomination situation may be different ( competitive district v not so competitive district, ranked v unranked slate etc,) .
I understand the desire to want to compare but it is really not fair to yourself. You may get incorrectly encouraged or discouraged.

Best advise - do the best that YOU can do.
Sure, get input, ask questions, but in the end, present the best file as possible and be confident that you did your best.
Then - let admissions take it from there. :thumb:
 
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