To submit or not submit? That is the question….

[Anonymous]

DC has taken the SAT three times. Final score is 1460 (710v, 750m). This score is between the 25th and 50th percentiles for their “reach” schools, most of which appear to have about 30-40% apply test optional.

DC has great grades (3.95+ us) from an area public with high rigor; decent but not outstanding extracurricular activities. No hooks. LOCs will be fine but public school is big and doesn’t have a particularly close relationship with any teacher so we don’t expect those to be anything special.

Submit scores?

[Anonymous]

Its a case by case decision for each school.....

[Anonymous]

If under 50th I would go TO
Any AP scores? Which universities are you looking at?
without amazing LOCs, no other hook, and only basic ECs the kid will look like everyone else, and is a long shot for any school in the T30. T50 probable, Go ED if you can.

[Anonymous]

I agree, case by case. But if your kids school is high rigor in a wealthy neighborhood, the colleges will EXPECT everyone to have taken the SAT at least once, and will know that going TO is to hide a low score. Now, having said that, 1460 is not a low score. So there's your dilemma.

[Anonymous]

What are the schools?

[Anonymous]

Generally this depends on the school. The 50th percentile advice is outdated by a year. Submit if at or above the 25th.

[Anonymous]

Study like a madman during the summer and retake in August. Just study reading portion. Get 750. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice...DC is not taking the test again. Mental health > 40 points.

"Reach" schools are in the T20-T40 range (ranging from Michigan to Emory to BC). We are full pay and they will ED somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally this depends on the school. The 50th percentile advice is outdated by a year. Submit if at or above the 25th.

I vote to submit.

Just manage your kid's expectations. That's a good score, but he'll need some safeties. (As does everyone.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally this depends on the school. The 50th percentile advice is outdated by a year. Submit if at or above the 25th.

I vote to submit.

Just manage your kid's expectations. That's a good score, but he'll need some safeties. (As does everyone.)

+1 I agree with the PP who said the colleges will assume from his HS that no-test=bad score. That's an excellent score.

[Anonymous]

I would submit. Above 25% is good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the advice...DC is not taking the test again. Mental health > 40 points.

"Reach" schools are in the T20-T40 range (ranging from Michigan to Emory to BC). We are full pay and they will ED somewhere.

Pick an ED2 as well if possible. Make sure that your son has targets and safeties he likes, the schools you name are long shits with the stats and activities you describe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the advice...DC is not taking the test again. Mental health > 40 points.

"Reach" schools are in the T20-T40 range (ranging from Michigan to Emory to BC). We are full pay and they will ED somewhere.

Pick an ED2 as well if possible. Make sure that your son has targets and safeties he likes, the schools you name are long shits with the stats and activities you describe.

Long shots, interesting word choice from autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

I would submit. That is a good score. In the context of this application as you describe it, it’s a positive data point.

Temper expectations and have a good solid list below the BC/Emory level. Keep the focus on likelies, rather than reaches.

[Anonymous]

I totally understand not taking the test again. Your DC got a good score and a higher score doesn't offer any guarantees. A 1460 is 97% percentile. Between that and a good GPA, there are a lot of options. However, it is tricky b/c a lot of popular schools that would show up for stats like that are also lottery. Safeties are schools with lower stats for incoming freshman and what should be targets on grades/scores alone are actually "reaches" b/c of low admission rates. We are struggling with it, too, but there's nothing to do about it. Cast a wide net and be glad you can afford to ED.