S/O: Which schools don’t want scores below their 50th%?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are all giving me heartburn. My average kid (3.4 GPA, 6 APs), is sharing her test scores with all the schools she is applying to, which is 1120 on the SAT, plus two AP scores (one 3, one 4). Her counselor said it was the right call. She's applying mostly to schools with 70% admit rates or higher -- JMU, VCU, Mason, Mary Washington, but in most of those places, her scores place her around 25%. Our thinking was that since her grades are also not amazing, the combination together tells schools that's college ready if not a stellar student. She's applying to 9 schools, two of which she has no chance at (William & Mary and Va Tech), but the other 7 are like what I mentioned above.

I think her essay will be decent -- I've not read it, and she's not an amazing writer, but she's working with an essay coach and is on draft 4-5. She wants to major in education. Basically, this is a kid who is college ready, and I feel like should be able to get into a state university.

She's white and we are full-pay. We already submitted the scores, so there's no going back now, but someone tell me what the odds are that she will get in to one of those 7 places?

I would not submit an 1120 anywhere. I know that is not what you want to hear.

[Anonymous]

My kid got a 1400 on the SAT. He's submitting to about half the schools he's applying to. Rule of thumb - upper end of their SAT range. One AO suggested looking at the % of students who were admitted TO vs. the % of students admitted whose SAT score aligned with the applicant and put yourself in the bigger pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are all giving me heartburn. My average kid (3.4 GPA, 6 APs), is sharing her test scores with all the schools she is applying to, which is 1120 on the SAT, plus two AP scores (one 3, one 4). Her counselor said it was the right call. She's applying mostly to schools with 70% admit rates or higher -- JMU, VCU, Mason, Mary Washington, but in most of those places, her scores place her around 25%. Our thinking was that since her grades are also not amazing, the combination together tells schools that's college ready if not a stellar student. She's applying to 9 schools, two of which she has no chance at (William & Mary and Va Tech), but the other 7 are like what I mentioned above.

I think her essay will be decent -- I've not read it, and she's not an amazing writer, but she's working with an essay coach and is on draft 4-5. She wants to major in education. Basically, this is a kid who is college ready, and I feel like should be able to get into a state university.

She's white and we are full-pay. We already submitted the scores, so there's no going back now, but someone tell me what the odds are that she will get in to one of those 7 places?

Damn how do you score 1120 in this day and age. Maybe 30 years ago I wouldn’t bat an eye but not now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are all giving me heartburn. My average kid (3.4 GPA, 6 APs), is sharing her test scores with all the schools she is applying to, which is 1120 on the SAT, plus two AP scores (one 3, one 4). Her counselor said it was the right call. She's applying mostly to schools with 70% admit rates or higher -- JMU, VCU, Mason, Mary Washington, but in most of those places, her scores place her around 25%. Our thinking was that since her grades are also not amazing, the combination together tells schools that's college ready if not a stellar student. She's applying to 9 schools, two of which she has no chance at (William & Mary and Va Tech), but the other 7 are like what I mentioned above.

I think her essay will be decent -- I've not read it, and she's not an amazing writer, but she's working with an essay coach and is on draft 4-5. She wants to major in education. Basically, this is a kid who is college ready, and I feel like should be able to get into a state university.

She's white and we are full-pay. We already submitted the scores, so there's no going back now, but someone tell me what the odds are that she will get in to one of those 7 places?

Damn how do you score 1120 in this day and age. Maybe 30 years ago I wouldn’t bat an eye but not now

It is a low score. OP, it was a mistake to submit and your college counselor did not give good advice.

[Anonymous]

My DC has a 32 and is submitting everywhere. Most schools on his list are in the 50-100 range, so this test score tends to fall right at or above the 75%.

[Anonymous]

DS, as unhooked, has ONLY been looking at 75th percentile. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got a 1400 on the SAT. He's submitting to about half the schools he's applying to. Rule of thumb - upper end of their SAT range. One AO suggested looking at the % of students who were admitted TO vs. the % of students admitted whose SAT score aligned with the applicant and put yourself in the bigger pool.

Where was this advice given? I’ve sat through a full dozen admissions info sessions this spring/summer/fall at T30 schools and never remotely has any admissions officer given any specific numerical advice or even advised looking at the school averages. Not once.

Looking at 2026 numbers every school we visited admitted a greater proportion of kids submitting test scores than those applying test optional. A 1400 is a very good score, I would be concerned you are hurting your kid’s admissions chances by not submitting. A 1200 would be a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got a 1400 on the SAT. He's submitting to about half the schools he's applying to. Rule of thumb - upper end of their SAT range. One AO suggested looking at the % of students who were admitted TO vs. the % of students admitted whose SAT score aligned with the applicant and put yourself in the bigger pool.

Where was this advice given? I’ve sat through a full dozen admissions info sessions this spring/summer/fall at T30 schools and never remotely has any admissions officer given any specific numerical advice or even advised looking at the school averages. Not once.

Looking at 2026 numbers every school we visited admitted a greater proportion of kids submitting test scores than those applying test optional. A 1400 is a very good score, I would be concerned you are hurting your kid’s admissions chances by not submitting. A 1200 would be a different story.

Of course they don’t want to scare off potential applicants. Their job is to get everyone (regardless of scores) to apply to their school, so that they can choose who they want and reject the rest. If they start talking about average SAT scores for admitted students being 1550, they will scare people off. Of course the number is out there, but they will not harp on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS, as unhooked, has ONLY been looking at 75th percentile. That's it.

That is what our private counselor said with regard to our unhooked "average smart kid" son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got a 1400 on the SAT. He's submitting to about half the schools he's applying to. Rule of thumb - upper end of their SAT range. One AO suggested looking at the % of students who were admitted TO vs. the % of students admitted whose SAT score aligned with the applicant and put yourself in the bigger pool.

Where was this advice given? I’ve sat through a full dozen admissions info sessions this spring/summer/fall at T30 schools and never remotely has any admissions officer given any specific numerical advice or even advised looking at the school averages. Not once.

Looking at 2026 numbers every school we visited admitted a greater proportion of kids submitting test scores than those applying test optional. A 1400 is a very good score, I would be concerned you are hurting your kid’s admissions chances by not submitting. A 1200 would be a different story.

Of course they don’t want to scare off potential applicants. Their job is to get everyone (regardless of scores) to apply to their school, so that they can choose who they want and reject the rest. If they start talking about average SAT scores for admitted students being 1550, they will scare people off. Of course the number is out there, but they will not harp on it.

That doesn’t make sense, I think they want a wider range of scores so they can make more informed decisions about most candidates. This is consistent with the info sessions where they said they wanted good scores submitted. As long as test optional students are admitted at a lower rate, which is currently the case, I would submit 1400s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are all giving me heartburn. My average kid (3.4 GPA, 6 APs), is sharing her test scores with all the schools she is applying to, which is 1120 on the SAT, plus two AP scores (one 3, one 4). Her counselor said it was the right call. She's applying mostly to schools with 70% admit rates or higher -- JMU, VCU, Mason, Mary Washington, but in most of those places, her scores place her around 25%. Our thinking was that since her grades are also not amazing, the combination together tells schools that's college ready if not a stellar student. She's applying to 9 schools, two of which she has no chance at (William & Mary and Va Tech), but the other 7 are like what I mentioned above.

I think her essay will be decent -- I've not read it, and she's not an amazing writer, but she's working with an essay coach and is on draft 4-5. She wants to major in education. Basically, this is a kid who is college ready, and I feel like should be able to get into a state university.

She's white and we are full-pay. We already submitted the scores, so there's no going back now, but someone tell me what the odds are that she will get in to one of those 7 places?

Damn how do you score 1120 in this day and age. Maybe 30 years ago I wouldn’t bat an eye but not now

It is a low score. OP, it was a mistake to submit and your college counselor did not give good advice.

What is the average of the schools she is applying to? My kid only has a 1220 but the range of the school she is submitting to is 1090 to 1310 so she submitted her not so great SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are all giving me heartburn. My average kid (3.4 GPA, 6 APs), is sharing her test scores with all the schools she is applying to, which is 1120 on the SAT, plus two AP scores (one 3, one 4). Her counselor said it was the right call. She's applying mostly to schools with 70% admit rates or higher -- JMU, VCU, Mason, Mary Washington, but in most of those places, her scores place her around 25%. Our thinking was that since her grades are also not amazing, the combination together tells schools that's college ready if not a stellar student. She's applying to 9 schools, two of which she has no chance at (William & Mary and Va Tech), but the other 7 are like what I mentioned above.

I think her essay will be decent -- I've not read it, and she's not an amazing writer, but she's working with an essay coach and is on draft 4-5. She wants to major in education. Basically, this is a kid who is college ready, and I feel like should be able to get into a state university.

She's white and we are full-pay. We already submitted the scores, so there's no going back now, but someone tell me what the odds are that she will get in to one of those 7 places?

Damn how do you score 1120 in this day and age. Maybe 30 years ago I wouldn’t bat an eye but not now

It is a low score. OP, it was a mistake to submit and your college counselor did not give good advice.

Good point.

What is the average of the schools she is applying to? My kid only has a 1220 but the range of the school she is submitting to is 1090 to 1310 so she submitted her not so great SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are all giving me heartburn. My average kid (3.4 GPA, 6 APs), is sharing her test scores with all the schools she is applying to, which is 1120 on the SAT, plus two AP scores (one 3, one 4). Her counselor said it was the right call. She's applying mostly to schools with 70% admit rates or higher -- JMU, VCU, Mason, Mary Washington, but in most of those places, her scores place her around 25%. Our thinking was that since her grades are also not amazing, the combination together tells schools that's college ready if not a stellar student. She's applying to 9 schools, two of which she has no chance at (William & Mary and Va Tech), but the other 7 are like what I mentioned above.

I think her essay will be decent -- I've not read it, and she's not an amazing writer, but she's working with an essay coach and is on draft 4-5. She wants to major in education. Basically, this is a kid who is college ready, and I feel like should be able to get into a state university.

She's white and we are full-pay. We already submitted the scores, so there's no going back now, but someone tell me what the odds are that she will get in to one of those 7 places?

Damn how do you score 1120 in this day and age. Maybe 30 years ago I wouldn’t bat an eye but not now

It is a low score. OP, it was a mistake to submit and your college counselor did not give good advice.

What is the average of the schools she is applying to? My kid only has a 1220 but the range of the school she is submitting to is 1090 to 1310 so she submitted her not so great SAT.

She's basically 25% for the schools she is submitting to. But her GPA is also 25%. So, our thinking was that being low on GPA + no scores suggests a much worse SAT. It's not amazing, but it's in the 60th percentile, so above average for college prep students. And she's applying to large, state schools largely, with 70% admit rates. I was thinking it bolstered her chances, but now I have doubts.

For the snobs above, she's not a great test taker. She's a great kid. She's prepared, organized, reliable, and works hard. There is no reason she should not be college bound.

And listen, I get it. I'm a reformed snob myself. I went to a top 25 school and graduated summa cum laude, and I was a 99% test taker myself, but she's not, and that's fine. Her grades are better than average. Her scores are better than average. What are the schools in Virginia you think the students like this should end up at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got a 1400 on the SAT. He's submitting to about half the schools he's applying to. Rule of thumb - upper end of their SAT range. One AO suggested looking at the % of students who were admitted TO vs. the % of students admitted whose SAT score aligned with the applicant and put yourself in the bigger pool.

Where was this advice given? I’ve sat through a full dozen admissions info sessions this spring/summer/fall at T30 schools and never remotely has any admissions officer given any specific numerical advice or even advised looking at the school averages. Not once.

Looking at 2026 numbers every school we visited admitted a greater proportion of kids submitting test scores than those applying test optional. A 1400 is a very good score, I would be concerned you are hurting your kid’s admissions chances by not submitting. A 1200 would be a different story.

Of course they don’t want to scare off potential applicants. Their job is to get everyone (regardless of scores) to apply to their school, so that they can choose who they want and reject the rest. If they start talking about average SAT scores for admitted students being 1550, they will scare people off. Of course the number is out there, but they will not harp on it.

That doesn’t make sense, I think they want a wider range of scores so they can make more informed decisions about most candidates. This is consistent with the info sessions where they said they wanted good scores submitted. As long as test optional students are admitted at a lower rate, which is currently the case, I would submit 1400s.

How can you tell at a particular school if TO is admitted at a lower rate? They show percentage of kids submitting SAT and percentage with ACT on CDS. Is there a percentage submitting test scores? Because some people submit both.

[Anonymous]

I thought the rule of thumb was to submit if in the middle 50% range (i.e., 25th-75th percentile) of accepted students.

This is often a narrow range. For example, it may be something like 33-34 on the ACT. So if you have a 33+ you should submit, but not if you have a 32.