SAT vs. Rank

<p>So if I have a really great SAT score, say 2300-2380, but wasnt in the top 5% of my class, more in the top 10-20%, what do you think my chances are of getting into really top schools..MIT,Princeton,Cornell,Williams...
Will the colleges consider the fact that my high school was the best in the country with really competitive kids and tough teachers and classes?
I'm an international by the way.</p>

<p>Colleges know that there's a difference between being valedictorian of a small-town high school and cases like yours. What matters more than class rank are your grades and classes you took. If you almost failed Algebra I, that would hurt, but if your rank got dinged because you didn't do so hot in Differential Equations doesn't matter.</p>

<p>My school doesn't rank.</p>

<p>Is your school well-known outside your country? Is it known to college admissions officers? </p>

<p>Your great SAT-I score will help, but you may want to make sure you also have some good SAT-II scores especially in subjects that could be identified as "weak spots" on your high school transcript.</p>

<p>I think they sort of compliment/confirm each other.</p>

<p>A top SAT and a decent rank could indicate a tough school. A low SAT and high rank on the other hand might signal grade inflation.</p>

<p>I think my school is known well enough. Its a Jesuit school and most Jesuits schools are known for being really tough plus we have quite a few Alumni who've gone on to really great schools in the US and other countries. I am hoping that what lolcats4 says is right about an SAT score identifying how competitive your school is.
Thanks vicariousparent, I'm retaking the SAT2 in December, and I'll work hard on making up for supposedly low-ish grades with that. What kind of scores are considered really good in the SAT2? I know that many people seem to do really well on it. I got a 760 in Biology and Literature the first time I took the exam. Are these okay scores?</p>

<p>Yea, I'm somewhat in the same situation.. Good Sat subject test scores would, I hope, explain the rigor of my curriculum, even though im still in the top 5-10% but here 70% + is considered top percentile in our school.</p>