The middle 50%

<p>I've been talking to some friends, trying to figure out this omnipresent statistical range.</p>

<p>Let's say a school has the range ACT of 31-34. Are there more 32s and 33s (aka, is it a normal bell curve?) since they're in the middle? Or are there more 34s, less 33s, even less 32s, etc?</p>

<p>(And I'm not talking about Ivy League schools, I'm talking about hard but not ridiculously hard schools to get into. I'm talking more of the new Ivy's)</p>

<p>And some colleges announce enrolled ranges AND accepted ranges (obviously, enrolled ranges are lower since some accepted students go off to other colleges). Should applicants focus on the accepted ranges to (somewhat) predict decisions, or the enrolled ranges that are printed in college viewbooks?</p>

<p>I, personally, think that students should look at the accepted range when attempting to predict (crudely) decisions. Obviously, as you stated, many students who consider this there most difficult school to get into and have suboptimal stats will likely enroll, causing those numbers to be a bit skewed.</p>

<p>As for your first question, I would say that it is likely a bell curve, but may vary depending on the school. I do not see why it would be any different. However, one has to realize that many of the bottom 50% numbers are comprised of recruited athletes, legacies, and URMs, skewing the results. In reality, schools like the one I’m sure you are mentioning have higher standardized schools than others in the range, and I would probably gander that the real ACT middle 50% is around 32-34 if you discount the previously mentioned people.</p>

<p>Overall, you know that I am rooting for you, and I am sure you will do fine.</p>

<p>hilsa: I know, as a parent, that Feb-March are the hardest times to wait…I also know that if you applying to schools that accept <30% of their applicants, it doesn’t necessarily indicate what your chnces are; even if your stats “fit” into the accepted or enrolled range; especially for RD, what matters is whether they are looking for “you” at their school for next year…you could be in the 75%, but it may not matter if they are not looking for a male/female, from NE/SE/SW/mars who plays oboe/rugby/guitar hero…you get the point</p>

<p>Now, if you are out of the range, as you know, though, it makes it much more difficult…</p>