<p>Lets say a college has a SAT math and verbal range for the 'middle 50%' of students attending that college or sth like that. What if your score in math or verbal (or even worse, both) is below that range? Should you forget about getting into that college? I know SAT's aren't the only thing considered, but It must be pretty important from what I've heard.</p>
<p>SAT's are super-important, no matter what you hear to the contrary. Chances are not very good. But hooked people get in; so it's not hopeless.</p>
<p>They ARE important, but those scores are only the middle 50%...so...a whopping 25% of the students at that university achieved scores lower than those reported ones...so you do still have a chance! :)</p>
<p>Good luck! :D</p>
<p>And a whopping 25% of students at top schools are hooked.</p>
<p>Look at the scattergrams -- I haven't seen one yet where grades weren't more important than SAT. You problem really comes in when both your grades and your SATs are weak. Good luck!</p>
<p>You still have a chance, just not a great one. Having the stats doesn't mean your in, anyways.</p>
<p>Chances aren't good, but that doesn't mean you can't get in.</p>
<p>If you're like 100+ below it, then probably not in.</p>
<p>If you're 50 points below it, maybe.</p>
<p>Even if you're in the range, it doesn't mean anything.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school. The 25/75 SAT figures are meaningless without considering the overall admissions rate and the number of students enrolled. At a small, selective, LAC, the bottom 25% are virtually all in because of some special ability or attribute. At a large, moderately selective public university, there are a LOT of students in that bottom 25%, along with a smaller % "below" who were denied admission. And as WashDad said, GPA is usually more important, regardless of school size or selectivity.</p>
<p>How far below the range are your scores? If they're pretty close and you have a good GPA, EC's, etc. to make up for it, you could be ok. Go with what glucose said. Within 50 points, it's worth a try. More than that, don't bother unless you have something super to add to the mix.</p>
<p>i got into American University with a 630 in verbal and their range is like 600-660, while my math was a 530 and their range was a 580-660 (or something like that) I was below their average sat by 100 points- I still got in ED! Of course, I'm not getting any merit aid, and it is a private school so the ED pool isn't that high, but they only accept like 230 out of 450 people who are their ED pool.</p>
<p>Of course my GPA and EC's were outstanding.</p>
<p>My essay was pretty good...</p>
<p>SAT's, I have discovered, aren't everything.</p>
<p>I got in PSU with a 380vSAT and their 25%ile is approximately 550 [or somethign like that].</p>
<p>I have seen this term used before...can someone tell me "scattergrams" are? How does one check them out?</p>
<p>AU is pretty easy to get into. </p>
<p>You should have SAT scores that are in the mid 50% range for your reach schools. For safeties and match schools, you want to be above the 75% mark. SAT scores are very important in admissions and if you are not in range, you need other stuff going for you. Whoever says that SAT scores are not everything, think about Harvard. 75% of perfect scores get in. I think Princeton has a 50% rate for perfect scores. While a 2400 does not guarantee you admission, 75%>10%.</p>
<p>Well I really want to go to U of Michigan. My math is 690 and my verbal is 550 CR and 570 WR (highest). So yeah, my math is alright (still sux but its in the range) but verbal might be a problem. However, im applying for engineering, so that might not be such a problem afterall. Thoughts? Thx for the replies btw.</p>
<p>SAT's are not as important as people make them out to be. I got into Cornell with a 1210 on my SAT nearly 70 points below the 25th percentile of acceptees!</p>
<p>awesome! that gives me hope =D</p>
<p>ya but hunter arent u URM?
if you are black you get 230 handicap on the old scale, if you are hispanic you get 180, but well, if u r an ORM(asian) you get -50</p>
<p>reference: the study from princeton university</p>
<p>M4gici4n. I had 40 points less in verbal than the verbal range for the middle 50%, but I still got in. My friend got in MIT with the verbal score of 480, but in his case he had Very serious international achievements in math. In my case, I had some hooks also. So I think one must have something outstanding in order to cover the low SAT scores.</p>
<p>or just become an URM by all means possible, maybe an ethnic surgery lol</p>
<p>SATs are definitely not everything. My friend got into Harvard with a 1860 SAT .</p>