My SAT score was a 1340, and I don’t know if its good enough, borderline, or absolutely out of question.
I’m looking at a bunch of different websites online, but I found varying information about the averages SAT scores for the Ivy Leagues. Thus I’m not sure what to follow.
I’m a mostly A student, with a few Bs only. Lots of extracurriculars, but they’re all activities that I genuinely care about, not just for college fluff.
It’d be cool if you guys can let me know and give feedback. Thanks!
Look at the common data set for the colleges you are interested in (google school name and college data set) for the most accurate info. 1340 seems low to me, but not totally out of the question. For example, For 2015-2016, Cornell 25%ile -75%ile SAT (old) was 1330 - 1530 (huge spread).
I’d recommend you apply to 1-2, and focus on schools where you have a better chance at being accepted. Also consider retaking the SAT in October or trying the ACT.
When comparing your SAT score to the ranges reported by the schools, you must make sure to compare apples to apples. If you took the redesigned SAT, then you need to calculate the equivalent score on the old SAT scale.
I did, I calculated it and got 2010. I multiplied (1350*2400)/1600, which gave me 2010. I looked at the blog.prepscholar charts, however, and it said that Ivy League averages are around 1500 (which is far from 1340).
No, that’s not the way to do it. Look on the collegeboard website and use the conversion tool. And then don’t look at averages, look at middle 50 scores. Your score is on the low side, and probably below the 25%ile at all Ivy’s if converted to old SAT. Still, depending on the rest of your application, you may be one of the extremely lucky ones to get accepted with a score in the bottom 25%ile (since kids do get in with those scores). But you really do need to focus more on schools where your scores and GPA are a match and you need safeties.
Google “collegeboard SAT concordance”. There’s a table that converts the new SAT to the old test on a 1600 scale.
According to that table, 1340 on the new SAT is equiv to 1280/1600 on the old version.
From what I keep hearing, that’s slightly below average for an Ivy League, but you should still apply!
I’ve been admitted to Penn with a sub-2000 score on the old SAT, which translates to around the 1300s in the new one. My GPA throughout high school was a consistent 4.0 (I started getting B’s senior year though 
), and my extracurriculars were good but few.
I really think you should be set, but that’s just my opinion. Just keep in mind it’ll take a LOT of luck + great essays to help tip the scale in your favour. Oh, and don’t forget that specific colleges within the universities might have different acceptance rates.
Here are a few of the unis I was accepted to:
SAFETY: Penn State, Drexel, Purdue.
FIT: U Mich , NYU (not sure if I count these as reach or not)
REACH: UPenn
I have the same score too, super scored. I want to apply to Penn ED, so I’m going to study my butt off so I can take the September ACT & get a 32+. My GPA is a 3.82 UW/4.2W and although I’m a URM I feel that I should compensate for the gpa with good test scores. We can do this!! Good luck!
@KingCannabis that’s awesome!! Are you a URM? What school did you apply to at Penn? Did you apply ED? What do you think made you stand out, since you say your ECs were few? Sorry for all the questions!!
As an Asian, you are in the same category as a white kid, sorry to say. If you were a URM I might think differently, but your SAT score is probably not strong enough for most super selective colleges. However, there are always exceptions. If your cirucmstances are indeed noteworthy, this info is best addressed by your counselor.
Bear in mind, when you look at the middle 50% of admitted students at a super selective school, there are many stories behind all those people. They could be athletes, development kids, URMs, students from inner city schools and low SES, legacies, someone with an exceptional talent in something, etc… Your best shot is being above the 75th percentile with your stats. And that still guarantees nothing.
The optimism of the other posters is nice, but it isn’t reality for the 96% of applicants rejected at Stanford. Assume you will not get into a tippy top school. Make a list of safety and match schools, and of course, apply to a few reaches. If you are set on applying to a Stanford calibre school, you really should take the SAT again, or try the ACT. Good luck.
Hey! The questions are alright 
I hope you apply and get accepted!
I guess I’m a URM since I’m an international student. I personally applied to CAS RD, and I was surprised to be admitted RD with a few of my friends (with better looking applications) applying ED who got waitlisted. So I’d like to say apply ED if you’re really committed, but even RD should be good.
As for what made me standout, I guess I would say my Common App essay was my ticket to admission. I’m not comfortable talking about the specifics of the essay since it’s very personal, but that may be the key. Keep the essay close to your heart and honest. As cliche as it may sound it might actually help!
Aim for the highest GPA you can manage (4.0 would be killer), and for extracurriculars, do things that sound interesting. Mine were few but seemed to stand out, and they really went well with my ‘Why Penn?’ essay, where I mentioned my interest in different cultures (I took a few language courses here and there).
Keep in mind your application is a holistic process, so try to show your personality with consistency. Don’t mention, for example, how you love volunteering and helping people in need, yet don’t have a single extracurricular involving community service work. It’ll be an obvious sign of dishonesty or incompetence.
Hope I helped and good luck! (luck plays a massive role as well)
@KingCannabis International applicants are not URMs, which only apply to domestic applicants. For the Ivies, internationals face the toughest competition, I’m sorry to say.
@T26E4 Oh okay. Internationals face the toughest competition? I never knew that. Makes me a bit prouder I guess 
Hey everyone! I actually have the exact same score as @phytoplankton and just retook the SAT yesterday. I have about 8 EC’s not including sports (I enjoy them all and have strong leaderships). I’m mostly a straight A student (I struggled in Gov’t but it was actually my fave class which I’ll mention in my essays). I may apply ED to Darmouth (not expecting anything grand), but I just want some pointers on anything about social life, academic rigor, chances of admission, what Ivy may be best for me, etc. Anything would help, really. And just curious, did you guys submit AP scores? I’m retaking/taking a bunch this year but obviously that’s not gonna help me with apps. I heard it’s good to have them, but isn’t it bad for people like me to not report scores after taking a bunch of AP courses?