How good is a 1280 SAT score?

Hi there, I just received my SAT score and it's 1280. Kinda freaking out a little. Is this a good score? Can I get into a decent college with this score?

Hi there! There's a lot that goes into defining what a "good" SAT score is because it largely depends on your personal goals, and the requirements of the colleges you're interested in.

A score of 1280 falls in the 84th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 84% of all test takers. That's pretty solid!

However, individual colleges differ in what they consider a strong SAT score. For example, if you're targeting schools that are considered highly selective, like the Ivy Leagues or Stanford, they usually receive applications with SAT scores in the top 3% (typically scores over 1450).

On the other hand, many solid state schools and less selective private institutions consider scores around 1200 to be competitive. A score of 1280 would likely make you a strong candidate at these types of schools.

So, whether a 1280 is "good" really depends on which schools are on your list. I recommend researching the middle 50% SAT scores for admitted students at each of the schools you're considering. This will give you a clearer picture of where your score stands in comparison to other applicants.

Also, remember that though SAT scores play a role in admissions, many colleges also emphasize other components such as your grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. A stellar application in these respects can often help offset a lower SAT score.

Hope this helps, and remember it's just one piece of the puzzle!