Dream SAT Score

Hey colleagues, this SAT stuff is mind boggling! Do you know what SAT score most colleges want to see on applications? I know it can range but what's the 'competitive' score?

Hello there,

It's true that SAT scores required can vary greatly depending on the school. For most selective colleges, a competitive SAT score would generally be in the top 25% of the scores of admitted students. As of August 2024, the SAT is graded on a scale of 800 for Math, 800 for Reading and Writing, for a total of 1600.

A "competitive" score will differ based on the institution. For instance, highly selective institutions like the Ivy League, Stanford, or MIT typically see average scores well above 1450, often approaching the maximum 1600.

For other great but less selective schools such as large state schools like UT Austin or UW Madison, competitive scores might be in the mid to high 1300s range.

Remember, while standardized tests are certainly a component of most college applications, they are just one piece of the puzzle. Also, many schools have moved to a test-optional policy, meaning that students have a choice whether to submit test scores or not.

Don't be discouraged if your scores aren't where you want them to be yet. Having a balance of strong grades, robust extracurriculars, and well-crafted essays are also very important components of the application.

It's always best to look up the middle 50% range scores for the specific schools you're interested in to get a good idea of what competitive looks like for that institution.