How much do SAT scores matter in college admissions?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I'd been looking forward to receiving my SAT scores back on June 21 in the hope that they would give me a clearer view of which schools I can be looking at and how I can be sorting schools that I'm interested in into reach, maybe, and likely categories. However, after receiving my scores, I'm a bit bewildered as to how significant they are and what they mean. I received an 800 on Math and a 700 on Critical Reading; a composite score of 1500/1600. How can I interpret my scores?</p>

2

<p>that is a very competitive score for almost anywhere. What was your writing, although a lot of schools say they dont consider it, its still good to have a decent score in the section</p>

3

<p>You can sort schools by looking at their mid-percentile ranges (on the College Board site) and see where you fall. The rest of your resume is, of course, also important in admissions. Also check out what scores are needed to qualify for their scholarships and/or honors programs...your 1500 should stand you in good stead.</p>

4

<p>I was just at a seminar last week conducted by a former HYPSM senior admission officer, who is now a college admission counselor for a private high school. His contact with current admission officers convinces him that SAT I scores are used mostly as a threshold by highly selective colleges. "If you get above a decent, competitive level, you're okay." The scores indicated in the original post are at the "decent, competitive" level for pretty much any college in the country. The College Board Web site offers a convenient way to look up SAT I interquartile ranges for the most recently reported entering class at colleges all over the country, for example, </p>

<p><a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1251&profileId=6%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1251&profileId=6&lt;/a> </p>

<p>or </p>

<p><a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=988&profileId=6%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=988&profileId=6&lt;/a> </p>

<p>Overall national statistics for the class of 2006 </p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/SATPercentileRanksCompositeCR_M_W.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/SATPercentileRanksCompositeCR_M_W.pdf&lt;/a> </p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/PercentileRanksMathematics.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/PercentileRanksMathematics.pdf&lt;/a> </p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/PercentileRanksCriticalReading.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/PercentileRanksCriticalReading.pdf&lt;/a> </p>

<p>give some idea where you stand nationally compared to other applicants. Figures for the class of 2007 should be available in a few months.</p>

5

<p>hey i got the same, 700 CR, 800 Math/Writing
i'm number 3/345 in my HS with solid EC.....what type of schools should i be looking into, considering i want to study business?</p>