Please help me interpret DC's test scores
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Anonymous
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Just got scores:
ACT: 30 composite SAT: 700 average on math/reading; 550 on writing In my day (thousands of years ago), these were good scores (except for the writing score). I got into very competitive schools with lower scores. That was then. Now, since they changed the SAT scoring, what do these scores mean? Can anyone help? I'm thinking: No Ivies or highly competitive SLACs -- these scores are too low for all of those, no? Are these good enough for the second tier SLACs? Hamilton, for example? DC is not interested in large state schools. Thanks for any help interpreting these scores. |
Anonymous
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Does your school have Naviance? It's an online program that shows graphs, with SATs on one axis and GPA on the other axis, representing how kids from your school have done at dozens (or hundreds, depending on your school) of colleges. Bear in mind that Naviance won't give you all the info, for example that outlier with SATs of 1800 got in because he was recruited as quarterback, in order to protect kids' privacy. Still, Naviance is probably the best info you'll get anywhere.
The Fiske Guide and colleges' own websites usually show SAT scores. If your kid is at the 26th pctile then the college is a reach. 75th pctile generally means a good shot, except at the most competitive colleges where it's basically a roll of the dice. Another source of info is www.collegeconfidential.com. Do NOT get sucked into the "Chance Me" threads, where super-anxious kids give their stats and ask random and often ill-informed strangers to estimate their "chances" at a given college. Instead, go to the Results threads (e g, Results 2018) to see who got in, who was wait listed and who was rejected. Very generally, Ivies, Ivy-like colleges and top SLACs want SATs of 2200. Maybe 2100 with hooks or an astounding achievement in some EC. |
Anonymous
| PS. Ask the high school counseling office re Naviance. They will need to set you up with an account. |
Anonymous
| PPS. 25tg pctile, not 26th. |
Anonymous
| Schools like Hamilton are not so second tier and I think they would be a reach. Especially Hamilton with its emphasis on writing. The writing is the least important of the three but that is quite a low score and could stand out. Can he retake it? |
Anonymous
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Note that many schools discount the writing score, as they don't think it's a particularly good measure of writing skill. Your DC's essays will be a far more meaningful indication of his ability to write.
What's his GPA? Google "College navigator" and search for some of the schools you are interested in. Look at their admissions data, here you can see the middle range of SAT and ACT scores. This will help you get an idea of what the schools are looking for. FWIW, I don't know if I'd consider Hamilton second tier, but that's not to say your DC wouldn't be a candidate. I'd consider second tier (in terms of acceptance rates, not necessarily in terms of the education he would get there) more like Lafayette, Trinity, Union, Conn, Dickinson, Skidmore. If he wants a highly ranked school, he might also consider some of the highly regarded schools in the Midwest that have higher acceptance rates and fewer kids from the mid Atlantic--Oberlin, Carleton, Grinnell, Macalester. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks for the advice. I just checked Naviance. DS has 3.75 gpa, good private school. Hamilton is fine with DS's scores, not a reach at all, according to Naviance. But I still don't understand these SAT scores. Does this mean DS has an SAT of 1950? That seems like a very so-so score. If his writing score were 700, then he'd have a 2100 SAT, which according to Naviance data for his school, wouldn't get him into any of the top SLACs, like Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin. He wants an East Coast SLAC. Bard? Dickenson? Is Lehigh considered a SLAC? It's not that large! I'll look at college confidential. I'm really confused by the college search process these days! I applied to three colleges way back when... All are completely out of reach for DS, yet back then I got in easily with worse grades and worse scores. |
Anonymous
Three things: 1) More people going to college, and the same number of slots at good schools = harder to get into. 2) SAT and ACT scores have changed some. A 1400/1600 is roughly equivalent to a 1300/1600 back in the day, and many more people prep now, so scores are even higher than the recentering would explain. 3) Grade inflation. When I was in school in the 80s, a 3.7 easily put you in the top 10%. I'd be surprised if an unweighted 3.7 gets in the top 25% now,and there are tons of classes that give extra points leadng to GPAs way above 4.0. In short, you can't 100% compare stats from then and now. |
Anonymous
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Even more important than standardized test scores is your child's academic performance in school. I would worry more about his unweighted GPA and academic rigor rather than getting bogged down with respectable test scores. He can always take the tests again.
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Anonymous
| I would not look down on the ACT composite score of 30. If you review the stats, that puts DC in the 95% percentile! Yes you probably cannot get into an Ivy with that but if all of the "others" that go into consideration are there....consider going just with the ACT score and forget about the SAT. All schools today take either. Point is, do not underestimate what a 30 can do for DC. |
Anonymous
| While Hamilton's stats say 1950 is an average SAT score, remember that your DS without a hook, is not in this category. Hook meaning athlete or minority. Realize that their admit rate is 27% which translates to 73% of their applicants are denied admission. |
Anonymous
| I had a poor GPA (bright but distracted) and didn't even take the SAT (ages ago -- school didn't offer it). I did take the ACT and my 30+ scores (I tested well) opened many more options than relying on the rest of my record would have. |