Hello, I’ll get right to my credentials:
I have a 4.0 on a 4.0 weighted scale, however I got a 1240 on my SAT which I took in October and will be taking it again in April and May. I am an IB Diploma candidate and am part of the following Societies and Clubs:
National Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society
Public Relations Director & VP of Student Council
Co-President of Mock Trial at my school
Board Member of Rotary Club
Chief Business Officer of Stock Market Club
Founder of my Church Youth Organization
& have a job at a Supermarket
My College List consists of:
Duke University
Cornell University
University of North Carolina
Princeton University
Harvard University
Georgetown University
Furman University
Fordham University
Florida State University
Elon University
Tulane University
Butler University
Seton Hall University
High Point University
Stetson University
Other than the obvious ‘improve your SATs’ comments, any comments for improvements or thoughts on my acceptance to the following schools? I really want to go to Duke yet all of my reach schools are also very close.
For the top schools, think about what makes you you and what you will contribute to your new community. What makes you awesome. You will need to stand out among a crowd of well qualified candidates.
Wow. That’s a big list. Your SAT is going to be very low as is. If you’re going to be really competitive at a lot of the top ivies, you’ll need a 1500+, and to have a really good chance, 1550+. Ditto to what preppedparent said about needing something to be exceptional, so whether that’s going to be academics (Meaning test scores+ GPA) or ECs, try to find something that will really make you stand out. If I was to sort your colleges in to ranges, according to your SAT scores, it would go as below:
Possible with a score of…
1550+
Princeton University
Harvard University
1500+
Duke University
Cornell University
1450+
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill?)
Georgetown University
1400+
Tulane
1350+
1300+
Furman University
Fordham University
Florida State University
Elon University
Current:
Butler University
Seton Hall University
High Point University
Stetson University
You may be able to do a little better than my predictions above, but that’s my guesses of what will make you a strong contender. Obviously, don’t neglect the rest of your application, recs, essays, etc. Good luck.
There are no set scores you have to have to get into a school. You want to be within their averages, but test scores only make up one component of an app. In my experience/opinion, and from what other people have said, once you pass a certain SAT threshold the other parts of your app matter more.
@yonceonhismouth Of course, and for different schools, that threshold is different. I’m going off of what I’ve historically seen work out for people at these places. I’m trying to give the best estimates that I can based off of the currently unfixed parts of OPs application.
@Lehnsherr I don’t think that they look that closely at scores to cut off all applicants below a certain threshold. I personally know someone with a 1430 who got into Cornell. So you always have a chance if the rest of your app is upto par.
@namelessmonster Again, yeah. There are anomalies to any data set. But again, I’m trying to do all of this in the context of OP’s application. A higher score is, unequivocally, better, and a higher score therefore increases her chance of admission, at different rates depending on the place. I tried to give an estimate based on the selectivity of these schools, they weren’t meant to be absolute thresholds, just ranges at which I would say the OP had a really good shot at getting into the school with scores at that level. It’s possible otherwise, but I think those are the points where OPs chances would hit a certain level that I would call a good chance. Not meant to be absolute.