Photography Portfolio vs. School Grades?

Different schools may approach it differently, but the primary purpose of grades and SAT scores is to screen out applicants. They serve as automated filters to lessen the burden of reviewing tons of applications. If your grades fall below the screening threshold, your application could stop there and no eyes will likely view your portfolio. On the other hand, if someone does get to look at your portfolio and says, "Wow, killer portfolio!" your other stats might not become a slammed door. Do you want to take that chance? Good grades imply a work ethic. You may be a brilliant photographer, but low grades combined with high SAT scores might cause you to be perceived as undisciplined and/or immature and, therefore, unreliable.