<p>Obviously we all know what the middle 50% range represents, but what are the implications of that range? Where must an applicant fall within that range to be considered competitive, a lock, or having no chance? For example, Duke's middle 50% ACT scores are 30-34. What does a having a 33 mean for a Duke applicant?</p>
<p>Another question: Do the data represent accepted or enrolled students? Considering a school's yield, it could be a stark difference.</p>
<p>An unhooked applicant will want to be right up around the 75th percentile to be competitive for selective schools.</p>
<p>What does “unhooked” mean?</p>
<p>Unhooked usually means an applicant that does not have hooks such as underrepresented minority, first generation to go to college, legacy, or other hooks such as International Science Olympiad medals.</p>
<p>So like your average middle of the road normal white person?</p>
<p>I would say more like your average competitive applicant; not necessarily your average person.</p>
<p>right. 10char</p>
<p>True. Thanks, but man I feel alot less confident about my app!</p>
<p>Good luck on your application! I’m just a junior right now but I’ve been starting to heavily look at the college application process.</p>
<p>For very selective schools, you can’t rely upon SATs. For instance, at Georgetown (20% admit rate including wait list in 2009), they turn down many applicants who have SAT scores higher than the 75th percentile. That is because they put priority on other factors.</p>
<p>For less selective schools, the middle 50% of SAT scores of students who actually enroll is usually much less than the middle 50% of SAT scores of students who are accepted. That is because the students with the higher scores have the most choices and select other colleges.</p>
<p>For the average good college, being in the middle of the middle 50% is usually fine, as long as all your other qualifications are consistent.</p>