So I just got back my SAT results and I swore I was going to get a 1500+, as I was scoring higher on all of the practice tests, but I ended up getting a 1490. So I just wanted to know if 1490 vs a 1500 is that big of a difference (yes I know it’s literally 1 question difference) but I feel like there is an involuntary psychological judgment that makes a 1490 seem drastically different than a 1500. Honestly, the root of my question is whether a 1490 SAT will lower my chances, considering the fact that I’m applying EA and I am a URM. Thanks in advance.
-From an overly anxious senior
A 1490 vs a 1500? Of course not, that’s only 10 points. The trouble is that you’re being compared to the thousands of others students applying to Harvard, not some arbitrary point at 1500.
If your GPA and SAT IIs are high, I’d imagine you’ll probably still put across a competent academic profile, however you’re absolutely going to need to supplement it with a high-achieving and unique EC profile, like everyone else who is applying.
Additionally, they are not looking at the combined number out of 1600 - they are looking at CR and M separately.
A 690/800 will probably be viewed differently that a 740/750 with all things being equal. But 10 points, regardless, will not be the difference between acceptance and rejection.
@skieurope Well I got a 750 CRW and a 740 Math, didn’t know they valued scores that are both high rather than one high and one low, so that’s pretty cool thanks.
And I know that 10 points aren’t a lot, but something about a 1500 just sounds significantly better than a 1490, probably just my anxiety to be honest…
Yup. With 6500 SCEA applications to process in 6 weeks, AO’s will not be sitting in a circle praying for divine inspiration while they parse the difference on 10 points. Best of luck.
If they superscored the scores, will it be higher than 1500? So with the example given above, 690/800 and 750/750 will be superscored to 750/800 so you in fact you would have 1550! :-bd
Sorry, I just reread your OP, and I didn’t realize this was your only SAT, you didn’t take two. I thought your issue was that you had taken two tests, first one 1490 and the second 1500. My bad!