How much leniency is there for SAT scores at top schools?Answered
I got a 660 math and a 730 reading on my SAT which adds up to a 1390 overall. This is a good score, but for many T20 schools, and especially the Ivies, it falls short of the benchmark ranges. How much leniency would these schools have concerning the score? Would you recommend a test-optional submission for schools where the score falls below the benchmark? My father recommended that I submit the score to all schools, even Ivies because I am a Latino from a lower-income background, but with the recent gutting of affirmative action, I'm not completely sure whether or not I should oblige. Additionally, I want to major in Computer Science, and my math score is comparatively lower for most students in that major. Thank you for your time if you read this far!
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1 answer
Thank you for your question. You raise a lot of interesting points. Although affirmative action is dead for the time being, keep in mind that all T100 schools are figuring out ways to increase diversity and admit a well-rounded class of cohorts.
Given that you are Latino from a lower-income background, I would highly recommend that you submit your 1390. For a low-income Latino youth, that is an excellent score.
If you inquired here a year ago, I would have recommended that you apply through Questbridge or Posse because you probably would be an excellent candidate. If you are a senior and applying this fall/winter I would be very strategic about where you apply ED/EA vs. RD.
I don't know much about your academic narrative (GPA, APs/IBs, course rigor, DE course, college courses) your ECs (community service, leadership, volunteerism, sports, spike narrative, passion projects, talents), or your personal character so it's hard to know whether your 1390 is the only thing that is outside of the benchmark expectations.
If you are valedictorian/salutatorian at your high school, then you should shoot your shot at the top schools. If you are more of a A- student with average APs and ECs, I still would apply to an ED school but maybe somewhere like Wellesley, Barnard, Dartmouth, Cornell, Amherst, Williams, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, CMC, Scripps, Colgate, Hamilton, Vassar, Bates, Tufts.
I would not declare your CS major on your common application unless you have lots of ECs and work experience that supports a CS major. If you are the President of the Robotics team, won various STEM Olympiads, or know how to program in C++, Python then I would leverage your skills and experience. Otherwise, I would not declare a major since most schools do not expect you to declare a major until 2nd year, 2nd semester.
Good luck.
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Thanks so much for the insight, it really helped me with seeing the bigger picture! My EC's and course rigor are pretty standard/up to par for top schools so I think it is worth the shot. I also have proficiency in programming with multiple tangible pieces of evidence to prove it, so I think I for sure will declare computer science as my major. Many thanks for your help.