<p>The percentiles are probably higher than this, because a lot of people are going to find/have found the writing section a problem. </p>
<p>4 year colleges I'm referring to are public schools, such as SUNYs. :) </p>
<p>1400 - 42nd percentile ... not great, and definitely retakeable
1550 - 50th percentile ... acceptable for 4 year colleges
1630 - 60th percentile ... acceptable for 4 year colleges
1740 - 70th percentile ... good for 4 year colleges
1830 - 80th percentile ... great for 4 year colleges
1900 - 90th percentile ... excellent for 4 year colleges
2000-2400 - 91st to 99+ ... amazing for 4 year colleges</p>
<p>To be in the middle 50% of applicants at top LACS, you probably need ~2100.
Middle 50% of OK LACs, you probably need a ~1980.
Middle 50% of respectable state schools, you'd probably need an 1800.
Middle 50% of HYPS, you probably need a 2200.
Middle 50% of Cornell, UPenn, Dartmouth, and Brown, you'd probably need a 2100. </p>
<p>These are just guesses...and yeah, you are treating 1500s like crap. A lot of people who got 1000s (500/500, 490/510) on the old SAT wound up at state schools. Their median scores don't tell us anything about their average student. :)</p>