Is there anyone who can shed light on the latest acceptable range of SAT scores for Ivy League Schools? I'm trying to figure out what score I should be aiming for in my prep.
Ivy League schools are among the most competitive in the nation, and consequently, their SAT score ranges tend to be quite high. According to the most recent data, the middle 50% score range for these schools generally falls between 1450 and 1600. The exact score range can vary slightly from institution to institution, but across all eight Ivies, really the higher, the better.
Although these scores give you a good benchmark to strive for, keep in mind that these figures represent the middle 50% of accepted students – 25% of accepted students scored below this range, and 25% scored above. The middle 50% range doesn't determine an absolute cutoff point, so even if you're slightly below it, you could still have a shot if you showcase your strengths in other areas of your application.
After all, a superb SAT score is just one aspect of your application. At these highly selective institutions, you'll also need an excellent GPA, strong essays and letters of recommendation, and an impressive extracurricular profile. No single credential will get you in on its own.
Regardless of your SAT score, if you're looking for ways to strengthen your overall application to an Ivy League institution, I'd recommend checking out the relevant breakdown of their school-specific supplemental essays on CollegeVine's blog. The essays are a great way of showing what you have to offer beyond the numbers, and thus setting yourself apart from even other qualified applicants.
For example, you can check out the post for Harvard here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-harvard-university-essays/
Good luck with your college process!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.