<p>Absolutely correct Sdma. Also, almost 100% of the students with 1100-1300 on their SATs who get into Cornelll or Duke or Penn attend those schools. So, let us say 500 of Penn's 2,500 Freshmen had SAT scores between 1100-1300, that means that altogether, Penn accepted only 500 or so students with SAT scores in that range. But Penn accepts roughly 5,000 Freshmen and has roughly 25,000 applicants. I would venture to guess that over 10,000 students apply to penn with SAT scores between 1100-1300...and only 500 (5%) or so will actually get accepted. So the odds of getting in aren't good. </p>
<p>Michigan is similar, but not as extreme. In 1997, I remember seeing states for admission. Roughly 90% of applicants with SAT scores over 1400 were admitted and roughly 90% of applicants with SAT scores under 1200 were rejected. And yet, at Michigan, 25% of the students have SAT scores under 1230.</p>
<p>One must never look at the average SAT scores or at how other, subjectively weaker, applicants are doing or have done, as an indicator of how one is going to do.</p>