For the new SAT, at what score will the SAT be sufficient not to hurt or help your application for a non hooked applicant? Like would a 1450 be “good enough” or a 1500 or a 1550… I know people will get in with lower scores but they have hooks or something that really sets them apart. I know there is no official cutoff but what is considered a “safe” score when applying to top schools?
I’m not sure how to define a “safe” score exactly. The best way I could recommend is to look at the common data set and see where the 75th percentile is. If you’re above that, then it is probably a “safe” score.
Since most schools only use the CR and Math section from the old sat, you can just add the two 75th percentiles together to get a composite, and then see how that compares to your score.
For unhooked applicants, I think you want to shoot for the average score at the particular school. I find it illogical and (thus) unlikely you’d be rejected on the basis of your test score if you scored at least as high as the average among those who were admitted. I can’t imagine the “test score hurdle” would be set *above the mean score. In fact, I imagine it’s below the mean… but try to be safe.
So at the tippy-top schools for SAT scores, that’s going to be about 1500.
Whatever the school is, I think a conservative, respectful approach is to shoot for the mean score… while acknowledging that the “hurdle score” is probably lower than the mean. I doubt Princeton is going to reject a 1480 SAT because it’s 20 points below the mean…
OP what schools do you fit best at?
For schools with low admission rate, there is no safe score for admission. Obviously, if your score is above the admission average, then your score is not likely the reason for rejection. It is not that once you have certain score then they look at something else. It is a holistic process that they consider multiple factors at the same time.
@prezbucky Ok thanks that makes sense.
@billcsho Yeah that’s what I mean, what kind of score would be enough where your score won’t be a weakness.
Google: “Common Data Set <>”
Section C will list the 25th-75th percentile SAT/ACT scores of admitted students. You will need to convert your SAT score to the old scale, if you took the redesigned SAT.
If your SAT score is on the low side of that mid-50% range, you are on shaky ground without a killer hook.
@PrimceMeridian How about having the average score for an unhooked(Asian male)?
Write a helluva essay to distinguish yourself from the pack.
^This. I get that you’re an un-hooked Asian and that demographic is a surfeit in top school app pools. But you with 1450 and a great “story” will capture the attention of readers over another guy with 1580 and a robotic essay.