What GPA is needed to get in to American university?

Answer 1

It varies depending on the unviersity. Most university websites will offer some type of range. For example, the mean average range for Harvard applicants is between 1400 and 1580 (almost a perfect score). However, the average for Arizona State University (which also has some excellent and nationally ranked colleges) is between 990 and 1230. The national average was recalibrated in the late 1990's to again be 1000 (500 for verbal and 500 for math), with a perfect score being 1600. The College Board, who writes the SAT I and subject tests, provides a site where you can look up the averages for your school of choice. Below is a link to that site: http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1094&profileId=6 On a more personal note, I went to one of the most competitive private high schools in the country (the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy) and I saw FAR too many of my friends and classmates have meltdowns because of these tests. Colleges these days look at so much more than just your SAT I scores. I wouldn't devote too much of my time to perfecting my scores on these tests. That doesn't mean don't study, but I think the research has shown that you can only bring your score up so much with intense preparation--it kind of planes off. After all, it's supposed to be a test that measures innate reasoning and represent your cumulative thirteen years of primary and high school education. In fact, I got a 1470 on it, and, at the time, I thought I was doomed, as I was applying to Ivy League schools and thought it wouldn't make me "stand out" enough. Your time would be much better spent making your college applications attractive in other ways--e.g. writing a good resume of your activities, honors and awards, perfecting your essays, working on recommendation letters with teachers, participating in new things to put on your resume, and even taking some other exams that colleges will accept to either make you stand out more or even for class credit (in my opinion, the credit is the most valuable). These exams include SAT II subject tests (I was good at writing, which isn't tested on the SAT I, and I took that subject test and I got a PERFECT SCORE--think about sending that to a college!), CLEP tests, and AP tests. I ended up with a FULL SCHOLARSHIP, and I didn't have a perfect SAT score. Just work on showing what your strengths are, because that is what schools really want to know. By the way, I now work for a Universty as a senior staff member, so I can say this with some certainty.

Answer 2

a 3.4 GPA is needed so somewhere between a B+ and A- average.

Answer 3

Depends on which program you're applying for. Statistics are available here:

http://www.eduers.com/gre/averagescore/American_University.htm

Answer 4

American University's 2014 25th-75th percentile SAT scores are 590-690 on the Critical Reading section, 570-670 on the Math section, and 580-680 on the Writing section.