25th Percentile: What It Means for Your Kid’s College Admissions Chances?

[Anonymous]

If your kid's ACT/SAT scores are in the 25th percentile of a college, does that mean they stand a chance, but it is unlikely, or does it mean they do not stand a chance? What does it mean to be in 25th percentile?

[Anonymous]

It means if they submit their test score it probably won’t hurt and may help

Being below 25th is an uphill battle unless hooked

[Anonymous]

it means you dont submit it if possible

[Anonymous]

My kid's scores were around the 25th percentile for every school he applied to. He didn't submit the scores anywhere and got into all of the schools (8 of them EA and the other two accepted him RD after they deferred him).

[Anonymous]

It means than 75% of kids attending or admitted (depends what stat you are looking at) had a better score. 25% of kids have a lower score. So odds are won’t be admitted but always a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means than 75% of kids attending or admitted (depends what stat you are looking at) had a better score. 25% of kids have a lower score. So odds are won’t be admitted but always a chance.

That is absurd. It means you are in the range of test scores of students who were admitted AND reported their scores. The statement above is mathematically illogical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's scores were around the 25th percentile for every school he applied to. He didn't submit the scores anywhere and got into all of the schools (8 of them EA and the other two accepted him RD after they deferred him).

How do you get admitted ED at more than 1 school? I understood that ED applicants have to commit if admitted?

- parent who has only recently begun college admissions process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's scores were around the 25th percentile for every school he applied to. He didn't submit the scores anywhere and got into all of the schools (8 of them EA and the other two accepted him RD after they deferred him).

How do you get admitted ED at more than 1 school? I understood that ED applicants have to commit if admitted?

- parent who has only recently begun college admissions process

It says EA, not ED

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means than 75% of kids attending or admitted (depends what stat you are looking at) had a better score. 25% of kids have a lower score. So odds are won’t be admitted but always a chance.

That is absurd. It means you are in the range of test scores of students who were admitted AND reported their scores. The statement above is mathematically illogical.

No. You. That's true only of SCHEV because it polls first year students. Most like OP is talking about the percentages offered by the institution as a guide as to whether or to to apply, in which case PP is spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's scores were around the 25th percentile for every school he applied to. He didn't submit the scores anywhere and got into all of the schools (8 of them EA and the other two accepted him RD after they deferred him).

How do you get admitted ED at more than 1 school? I understood that ED applicants have to commit if admitted?

- parent who has only recently begun college admissions process

He applied EA to all of the schools. I needed to compare all of the FA packages so ED wouldn't have worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's scores were around the 25th percentile for every school he applied to. He didn't submit the scores anywhere and got into all of the schools (8 of them EA and the other two accepted him RD after they deferred him).

and hooked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means than 75% of kids attending or admitted (depends what stat you are looking at) had a better score. 25% of kids have a lower score. So odds are won’t be admitted but always a chance.

That is absurd. It means you are in the range of test scores of students who were admitted AND reported their scores. The statement above is mathematically illogical.

Of course this only includes kids that reported scores. Duh.

I assume OP is asking about a school that requires score.

[Anonymous]

Everything is reverting to the pre-Covid norm. Except for California, which has largely abandoned standardized tests. And that creates distortions because it's such a huge state.

So for schools that get a lot of California applicants, the TO numbers will reflect that. DMV students will be expected to submit scores. 25th percentile is not disqualifying. It's not going to help, but they've crossed the line and the rest of the app will be read.

[Anonymous]

When assessing this, be sure to consider the percentage of kids submitting. If a low percentage of kids submitted, like half or less, and you are 25th, then really you are top half.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the college.