Which is the best candidate for college?
GPA
9th: 4.00
10th: 4.00 (1 AP)
11th: 3.63 (5 AP’s)
12th: 3.80 (5 AP’s)
SAT I (R/M/W): 720/800/760
SAT II : 800 on 3 tests
EC’s: Pretty generic. Involved in MUN, Jazz band, NHS, etc. Plays no sports.
Student B
GPA
9th: 3.44
10th: 3.63
11th: 4.00 (4 AP’s)
12th: 4.00 (5 AP’s)
SAT I (R/M/W): 720/800/770
SAT II : 800 on 3 tests; 750 on two;
EC’s: Won many contests, one national and one regional. President of two clubs. Plays a sport (basketball).
Student C
GPA
9th: 4.00
10th: 4.00
11th: 4.00 (2 AP’s)
12th: 4.00 (3 AP’s)
SAT I (R/M/W): 550/660/640
SAT II : 650-700 on 3 tests
EC’s: Very active in school. President in three clubs. Plays three sports.
Favorite Answer
He has an upward trend from his freshman up to junior year unlike candidate A, who had a downward trend. While candidate A has had a slightly more rigorous course load, B seems to find more activities to fill his time with. SAT scores between the two are comparable, as are subject tests. B’s 750 on two of them won’t matter as colleges only assess the top three. A’s ECs are not special while B’s should be quite unique.
Student C is the weakest of the three. His course load seems far more lax and the SATs and subject tests are weaker than both of theirs. Extracurriculars may be the best of the three but that won’t make up the 300 point SAT gap between him and the others.