What constitutes a good SAT score?

Hey everyone, I took the SAT recently and I was wondering, at what score would you consider it a 'good' score? I don't want to stress out more than necessary, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!

A "good" SAT score can vary depending on your goals and the colleges you're interested in. In general, a good SAT score is one that places you in the competitive range for the schools you're targeting. I'll break it down into three categories to give you a better understanding.

1. Above Average (1100-1300):

A score in this range is above the national average (which hovers around 1050). It can open doors to many state universities and less selective private colleges where a majority of students score in this range or slightly below it.

2. Competitive (1400-1500):

If you're aiming for more selective schools, you should be targeting a score in this range. When you hit the 1400–1500 threshold, your application becomes more competitive at schools ranked between 30–100 in the national rankings. Additionally, with a score in the upper tier of this range, you may be very competitive for some top 50 schools.

3. Highly Competitive (1500+):

For top-tier universities, you'll typically want to aim for at least a 1500 to be competitive – with many of the most selective institutions having average SAT scores of 1550 or higher. A 1500+ SAT score can boost your chances of admission to highly ranked and Ivy League schools but keep in mind that these schools also place great emphasis on other factors such as GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays.

Ultimately, it's essential to research the average SAT scores of students admitted to the specific colleges you're targeting. This information is often available on the schools' websites or in admissions pamphlets, and they will provide the middle 50% range (or 25th to 75th percentile) of admitted student scores. Aim for a score within or above this range to improve your chances at a given school. Remember, though, that every aspect of your application contributes to the admission decision, so focus on creating a well-balanced profile.