The Elusive SAT Score

I'm wondering if anyone knows what SAT scores most colleges actually accept? I know they have ranges listed but what's the usual admitted student's score? A little anxious about this.

The truth is, the SAT scores that most colleges "accept" can vary quite a bit depending on the competitiveness and selectivity of the school.

For instance, at many of the most selective schools, average SAT scores can be quite high. At Harvard for Fall 2024, for example, the middle 50% of accepted students scored between 1480 and 1580.

However, it's important to understand that these are averages, not cutoffs. Schools often admit students with scores below these ranges if they have other strong aspects to their application—such as a standout essay, impressive extracurriculars, or fantastic letters of recommendation.

On the other end of the spectrum, many state schools and less competitive private schools have average SAT scores that are considerably lower.

If you're looking to get a sense of what SAT scores you should be aiming for, I'd recommend looking at the middle 50% range for accepted students at the schools you're interested in. This information is usually available on the schools' admissions websites, and it can give you a good sense of where your score should ideally be.

One other thing to keep in mind is that many schools have gone test-optional or test-flexible in recent years, meaning that they either do not require SAT scores at all or offer some flexibility in the test scores you can submit. For the 2024-2025 application cycle, several notable schools including Columbia University, Princeton University, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago are still test-optional. This means that how much weight your SAT scores hold can depend quite a bit on the policies of the schools you're interested in.