The Scholastic Assessment Test is the most influential test in American life-a key to the doors of the nation's best public and private colleges. Over a million high school students are expected to take the test in the coming months. The SAT's influential role in college admissions is based largely on a perception, in and outside the worlds of high school and college, that the test is fair, that it rewards students who deserve to be rewarded. But in many instances, the SAT is not meritocratic. A growing body of evidence suggests, to enjoy the rewards of attending some of the best universities.
Every college is different.
Some large state colleges do not look past your GPA and test scores. Admissions for the other half of the class were based on grades, test scores, an essay, extracurricular activities and special circumstances. Small private colleges may take a closer look at your application, often passing it through several admissions officers. They may overlook weak GPA's and test scores if they see something special in you. If you have high grades in those semesters and low grades your first year, many colleges tend to overlook the low grades.