Hi,
My sat score is 1450 ( 740 math, 710 reading), 710 in physics subject test, 770 in math 2, and 107 at Toefl(as I’m an international student). I would like to apply in math for an EA and will retake the sat 1 in nov. Are my scores too low to be admitted?
@Mbs12 Test scores aren’t everything, so no. Your scores are not too low to be admitted. They are in the top 97th percentile.
^^ @dreamforIvy: No, that’s not correct.
In terms of percentiles, instead of looking at the SAT percentile score – as admitted students can have one of those SAT scores, but not all of them – I prefer to look at the ACT translated score on Princeton’s Common Data Set (https://registrar.princeton.edu/university_enrollment_sta/CDS2015-16.pdf). Princeton’s 25th percentile ACT score is a 32 (C9 Data Point) – meaning that 75% of admitted students who submitted an ACT had a score of 33 or BETTER, while 25% of admitted students who submitted the ACT had a 32 or below.
If you go to the concordance tables (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/higher-ed-brief-sat-concordance.pdf) a NEW SAT score of 1450 is equivalent to a 32 ACT – so the OP’s SAT scores are EXACTLY at Princeton’s 25th percentile, meaning they are within Princeton’s range but on the low side.
The general thought is that successful admits with scores at or below the 25th percentile must have some other outstanding feature in their file to counterbalance such a low score – that might include being a recruited athlete, legacy, concert pianist, URM etc.
My son’s room mate was a math concentrator at Princeton. The department and courses are extremely demanding. To be a viable candidate you need to have done advanced mathematical work (ie proofs) prior to applying to Princeton, meaning you need to be at an extremely advanced level of math to be a viable candidate. For reference, my son’s room mate did multivariable calc in around 9th or 10th grade. Princeton has one of the top mathematics departments in the country and my son who was in the top 25 in our country (not the US) for math contests considered himself not viable for Princeton mathematics (he graduated BSE). You may be better advised to choose a different concentration if your preparation is not sufficiently advanced in mathematics.
Thanks for your answers! I hope that I’ll improve my score in november! I have one more question though. I’m a bit worried about my subjects tests score in physics. Is it too low?
My thought is that 710 in physics would be on the low end if you are applying as a BSE or physics concentrator, but not as a general AB applicant.