<p>Study the SAT practice guides over the summer and take practice tests. Do a lot of reading since that helps the Verbal more than anything else. It is common for SAT scores to go up quite a bit between junior and senior year. For RD, you can take the test in the Fall or even as late as January 2006.</p>
<p>Don't take the SAT more than three times. If you don't, they will take the highest verbal score and highest math score without regard to when it was taken. If you take it more than three times, they will average all of the verbal scores and average all of the math scores.</p>
<p>tanonev's right, i mean my SATs were pretty mediocre, but I had excellent essays, teacher rec, and ECs. I'm currently a sophomore at Penn, and as far as I've seen, Penn for one doesn't place THAT much emphasis on SATs...as long as your high shool report card is pretty, and your teacher recs are good, that kinda makes up for soso SATs. At least, that's what happened in my case.</p>
<p>the r, i am a jr who is a big fan of penn. i agree w/ you regarding their view of the SAT's. I have seen many scores in the 1300s (old) that were accepted. </p>
<p>At Ivy Leagues, the near-requirement is a super high rank & some strong unique outside activities. </p>
<p>But I would say generally to not hope for too much if you have below a 1400, although you do have a chance.</p>
<p>Concerning the 50% ranges. It is easier to get in during ED. It is easier to get in if you are an URW, legacy, athletic, development case or VIP. For a non-URW during RD, you need to have a SAT score towards the top of the SAT range. Lets say that the 50% SAT range for a school is 1400-1500. A strong candidate needs to have a 1450. It is okay to listen to stories about people getting accepted with a 1300, but they had some very strong hook that is not being mentioned. Be careful how you pick your safeties, matches, and reaches. A college is not a match because you are inside the 50% range.</p>