SAT for highly selective colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP- OP you are wasting time to get a perfect score. Once you hit 750 on each part you are good to go. BTW. My 2020 hs graduate got a 1580 first time sitting but did not get into every school. High test scores are not everything in college admissions.

Thank you! That is exactly the sort of information I am looking for.

That is what I was thinking but so much of what I thought I knew turned out to be wrong. Hence, wanted to confirm that it is not a mistake to stop trying to get higher score.

You already knew the answer.

1580 vs 1600

Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think any AO differentiates between applicants with scores >1550 - they are get a ✓++ on that... Then all 1500-1550 are ✓+, 1400-1500 are ✓, etc...

AP scores, GPAs, recognitions, etc.. are what differentiates those 1550-1600 kids.

The statements that start "I don't think" are the ones that give me pause here...
Have AOs discussed this openly?
I do agree that most of the differentiation occurs beyond the test scores, especially at and above the 75th percentile for a school.

Agree. The differentiation (a 36 or 35 ACT, for example, or a 1580 or 1600) is important to colleges because statistically, it is a fact reportable to most ranking services and one of those factors reported to alumni every year ("once again, X college had a record number of applications and our selectivity rate has gone down even more" (OK that result was actually due to marketing but a lot of alums don't understand that) "We have a record no. of 16 students with perfect SAT scores", etc.). The top scores are so important, in fact, that many second-tier SLACs have scholarships just to nab those students. My DC was offered large scholarships at three of these. When DC scored a 34 the amount offered went up from that offered at 32, and then went up again when DC hit 36. So it does matter.

My thinking is that 1590 is actually the best score. There is a possibility that 1600 would be viewed either

1) Negatively as a sign of extreme test prep
2) Turning down 1600's because they can say "We turned down a record 20 students with perfect 1600 scores

Just wild guesses.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]NP- OP you are wasting time to get a perfect score. [b]Once you hit 750 on each part you are good to go[/b]. BTW. My 2020 hs graduate got a 1580 first time sitting but did not get into every school. High test scores are not everything in college admissions. [/quote]


I disagree. A 1500 does not make you "good to go". Example: last year's incoming UVA class had a 1520 at the 75th percentile. That means 25% had higher. [/quote]

Of the kids that actually submitted scores. Which is not 75 percent of the class.[/quote]

From CDS it looks like for many top colleges 70-80% of applicants submitted scores. So it looks like 85th percentile score is 1570-1580.

[Anonymous]

DD got a 1450, I'm hoping she can catch on as a sewing machine operator in the garment district.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again for the responses.

Child not planning to take the test again. Time is better spent on other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP- OP you are wasting time to get a perfect score. Once you hit 750 on each part you are good to go. BTW. My 2020 hs graduate got a 1580 first time sitting but did not get into every school. High test scores are not everything in college admissions.

Thank you! That is exactly the sort of information I am looking for.

That is what I was thinking but so much of what I thought I knew turned out to be wrong. Hence, wanted to confirm that it is not a mistake to stop trying to get higher score.

You already knew the answer.

1580 vs 1600

Really?

A score of 1580 being the 75th percentile is what threw me off. Initial thought if child gets a score about 1550 it would be pointless to take it again. Then somebody mentioned the 25-75th percentile scores for schools are reported and when I looked it up, was flabbergasted to find 75th percentile is 1580 for some schools. It seemed kind of insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP- OP you are wasting time to get a perfect score. Once you hit 750 on each part you are good to go. BTW. My 2020 hs graduate got a 1580 first time sitting but did not get into every school. High test scores are not everything in college admissions.

I disagree. A 1500 does not make you "good to go". Example: last year's incoming UVA class had a 1520 at the 75th percentile. That means 25% had higher.

So?

It doesn't matter that 25% have higher scores. It matters if the admit rate of 1500-1550 applicants is lower than the admit rate of 1550-1600.

Once you are above 75% ile, a higher score isn't needed to boost the CDS metric.


Top 25% of the admit group is rank-boosting "merit scholarship" territory, not "stretch admit" territory.

This is especially true since the "true" percentile of that score is even higher under test-optional.

This doesn't mean that 75%ile score is guaranteed admit, but it means that scoring even higher isn't necessary meaningful.

Anyone in the 1500+ SAT range should be expected to make measurable academic achievements that far exceed SAT, like many high AP scores or math contests or published writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think any AO differentiates between applicants with scores >1550 - they are get a ✓++ on that... Then all 1500-1550 are ✓+, 1400-1500 are ✓, etc...

AP scores, GPAs, recognitions, etc.. are what differentiates those 1550-1600 kids.

The statements that start "I don't think" are the ones that give me pause here...
Have AOs discussed this openly?
I do agree that most of the differentiation occurs beyond the test scores, especially at and above the 75th percentile for a school.

Agree. The differentiation (a 36 or 35 ACT, for example, or a 1580 or 1600) is important to colleges because statistically, it is a fact reportable to most ranking services and one of those factors reported to alumni every year ("once again, X college had a record number of applications and our selectivity rate has gone down even more" (OK that result was actually due to marketing but a lot of alums don't understand that) "We have a record no. of 16 students with perfect SAT scores", etc.). The top scores are so important, in fact, that many second-tier SLACs have scholarships just to nab those students. My DC was offered large scholarships at three of these. When DC scored a 34 the amount offered went up from that offered at 32, and then went up again when DC hit 36. So it does matter.

My thinking is that 1590 is actually the best score. There is a possibility that 1600 would be viewed either

1) Negatively as a sign of extreme test prep
2) Turning down 1600's because they can say "We turned down a record 20 students with perfect 1600 scores

Just wild guesses.

Utter Nonsense.

[Anonymous]

For RD, having less than outrageously strong scores may actually be a bit better bc of schools practicing yield protection. This is a REAL issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For RD, having less than outrageously strong scores may actually be a bit better bc of schools practicing yield protection. This is a REAL issue.

Definitely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For RD, having less than outrageously strong scores may actually be a bit better bc of schools practicing yield protection. This is a REAL issue.

Definitely

Yes. Happened earlier this year - a lot.

Super strong can help in ED. After that, will be everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not humble brag. Sorry it came out that way.

Child registered for December and scheduled a tutor to start from later this month.

I used to think 1500 is pretty much all you need. Then looking at stats recently 75% percentile is 1580 for some schools. My question is: Is 1600 pretty much what top schools expect?

I understand that students take SAT multiple times and it is just the best score that many of these schools consider, so does it make sense to try to improve on it?

It didn't come off as a humble brag. At all. it's an actual concern and you've every right to ask it. Ignore the poster whose entire identity is sitting on this forum all day being nasty as quickly as possible. What a life that must be.

If the 75th percentile is 1580, it's an insane situation, it is what it is. Personally, I would advise my kid to stop there. But based on the general advice people give to students for schools they really want to go to, it's not unreasonable to try for the 1600.

I would tell my child to now let it go. They are very lucky to be well within range. Now, focus on the rest of the application. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not humble brag. Sorry it came out that way.

Child registered for December and scheduled a tutor to start from later this month.

I used to think 1500 is pretty much all you need. Then looking at stats recently 75% percentile is 1580 for some schools. My question is: Is 1600 pretty much what top schools expect?

I understand that students take SAT multiple times and it is just the best score that many of these schools consider, so does it make sense to try to improve on it?

It didn't come off as a humble brag. At all. it's an actual concern and you've every right to ask it. Ignore the poster whose entire identity is sitting on this forum all day being nasty as quickly as possible. What a life that must be.

If the 75th percentile is 1580, it's an insane situation, it is what it is. Personally, I would advise my kid to stop there. But based on the general advice people give to students for schools they really want to go to, it's not unreasonable to try for the 1600.

I would tell my child to now let it go. They are very lucky to be well within range. Now, focus on the rest of the application. Best of luck.

Thank you for the kind words and very helpful suggestions. Have a great weekend!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP- OP you are wasting time to get a perfect score. Once you hit 750 on each part you are good to go. BTW. My 2020 hs graduate got a 1580 first time sitting but did not get into every school. High test scores are not everything in college admissions.

I disagree. A 1500 does not make you "good to go". Example: last year's incoming UVA class had a 1520 at the 75th percentile. That means 25% had higher.

So?

It doesn't matter that 25% have higher scores. It matters if the admit rate of 1500-1550 applicants is lower than the admit rate of 1550-1600.

Once you are above 75% ile, a higher score isn't needed to boost the CDS metric.


Top 25% of the admit group is rank-boosting "merit scholarship" territory, not "stretch admit" territory.

This is especially true since the "true" percentile of that score is even higher under test-optional.

This doesn't mean that 75%ile score is guaranteed admit, but it means that scoring even higher isn't necessary meaningful.

Anyone in the 1500+ SAT range should be expected to make measurable academic achievements that far exceed SAT, like many high AP scores or math contests or published writing.

Agree with the last paragraph except the "anyone in the 1500+ range"... the cutoff for this group of high achievers vary by college. At UVA, it's probably 1500ish, which means a 1550 applicant should worry about retaking the SAT. At Harvard, an unspiked 1550 applicant should try probably try again. But I agree with PPs that say that 1580 is the same tier as 1600.

many of the 50%tile and under applicants are hooked or spiked, so they don't need the same quantifiables as the general applicant pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD got a 1450, I'm hoping she can catch on as a sewing machine operator in the garment district.

The garment district is now in China.