SAT score 1230 - what colleges should I consider?

I recently got my SAT scores back and ended up with a 1230. I'm not exactly sure about how good this is relative to my college options. Could someone help me figure out which types of schools would be a good fit for this score? Thanks in advance!

Congratulations on your SAT score! A 1230 is a solid score that can open doors to many schools, so let's focus on college options suited to your score. It's important to keep in mind that while test scores are a part of your application, they're not the only factor.

Your 1230 SAT score would be considered competitive for moderately selective public universities and some private colleges. Schools in this category might include those with a 50-75% acceptance rate and where the middle-50% SAT scores of admitted students range from around 1100 - 1300. Here are a few examples of schools that may fit your SAT score:

1. University of Alabama - Birmingham

2. University of Kansas

3. Florida State University

4. Ohio University

5. Temple University

6. Texas Tech University

7. University of Kentucky

Please note that these are just examples - there are many other schools out there where your scores would be competitive. You can usually find a school's middle 50% SAT range on their website, or through third parties like CollegeVine.

Also remember to consider multiple factors when building your college list, such as location, size, academic majors, campus environment, and financial aid availability. Investigate further by visiting school websites, speaking with current students or alumni, or participating in virtual tours and admission events. You want to build a list of schools where you'll thrive personally and socially, as well as academically.

Additionally, don't forget to take into account your high school transcript, extracurricular activities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. Admissions officers are looking for well-rounded applicants, and demonstrating strong academic performance, leadership skills, and involvement in your community is just as important as your SAT score.

If you want to get a sense of how your overall profile stacks up at a particular school, I'd recommend checking out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable aspects of your application (GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, and yes, test scores) to give you personalized odds of acceptance at hundreds of colleges across the country: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator/. This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, whether by earning a higher SAT score or some other step, like taking a more rigorous course load for the remainder of high school.

It's a good idea to apply to a mix of target, reach, and safety schools. Target schools are those where your profile aligns well with the average admitted student. Reach schools are more selective institutions where your chances of admission are lower, but still within possibility. Safety schools are institutions where your admission is highly likely due to your academic profile exceeding the average admitted student.

Finally, it is worth noting that many colleges are currently operating under test-optional policies, which don't require you to submit a standardized test score. You're smart, however, to still be thinking about how your scores stack up, as including a score with your application can still be a good idea in many instances. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional/

Best of luck in your college search, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions!