Quote Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy View Post
The essay is probably one of the last aspects that are considered in your application. They want numbers first and foremost. It's the best judge for where to place you on the gradient, SAT(ACT)/GPA are the numbers they look to first. If you aren't in the median you're not even in the considered pile.

Average GPA of a student entering my school last year was a 3.8. Sad fact is, they were probably, mostly, rejected from many of the UC's they applied to.
It depends entirely on the college. Obviously you go to one that values grades and is selective, but obviously most colleges are less demanding. Some consider essays because they demonstrate the applicant's writing ability. They do put more weight on SAT scores, though. Those are really important. It's a good idea to take it multiple times if you don't do well the first time.

Quote Originally Posted by sycld View Post
Then again, this depends on the school. Some of the schools that are only moderately competative will
consider your numerical indicators in light of your essay, provided that you at least showed, for example, marked improvement, or, say, if there were an anomolous dip in your performane that could have corresponded to a difficult event in your persoanl life. You also better have a damn good explanation that you explain well in your essay.
Oh yeah. Some do consider personal life problems like that if you bring them up as a reasonable explanation for why you didn't do as well as you could have.