SAT scores and are SAT scores really optional on college applications?

[Anonymous]

Dear Parents,

Is 1500 SAT score considered good in general? Do kids have a chance to get into a decent university like UMD etc. with 1500 SAT score? Should they try for another SAT attempt? Are SAT scores really optional meaning is it advisable to not report a 1500 score on the application? Appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Surely your student who scored 1500 is smart enough to answer that question.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, you don't know if a 1500 SAT score is good?

[Anonymous]

But if not, they should definitely submit the score, because they are probably to smart enough to have any other achievements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But if not, they should definitely submit the score, because they are probably to smart enough to have any other achievements.

*Not smart enough

[Anonymous]

Yes, 1500 is a good score for UMD. While there are never any guarantees, we know of plenty of kids accepted with upper 1400s.

[Anonymous]

It is a very good score. Even most Ivy’s say between 1470-1600. However, lots rejected with perfect 1600 so no guarantees, but YES, 1500 is a very very good score.

[Anonymous]

1500 is not good. Only 1600 will do.

[Anonymous]

Look at the 50% score for admitted students if you can find it. If you can not find, then Google the school name and CDS (common data set). Unfortunately with test optional the average scores are rising and a 1500 may be too low to submit at some schools. Also the answer to this question may depend on how strong the rest of the application is. A 4.0 class president kid with a 1500 score will not need is as much as a kid with lower grades and less impressive ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the 50% score for admitted students if you can find it. If you can not find, then Google the school name and CDS (common data set). Unfortunately with test optional the average scores are rising and a 1500 may be too low to submit at some schools. Also the answer to this question may depend on how strong the rest of the application is. A 4.0 class president kid with a 1500 score will not need is as much as a kid with lower grades and less impressive ECs.

There is no scenario in which a 1500 is "too low" to submit. It might not be a guarantee into schools the way it once was for the reasons you outlined, but a 1500 remains an incredibly impressive score since we're talking about a scale of 1600.

Let's not kid ourselves here.