Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:37     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
1580 waitlisted at Mich, denied at CMU, MIT, UIUC, GATech. Male, cs major.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:36     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Anonymous wrote:It checks the SAT box at T20 but that's about it.


This. It helps for us only at public flagships (UVA, Michigan, Texas, UNC). Not really that big of a deal (sadly).
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:36     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
I should add that they told us it might - MIGHT - help in RD, when schools are trying to boost average scores in today's test-required environment. Works better the lower you go down the ladder (not trying to be disparaging, just trying to explain).
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:35     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Anonymous wrote:Other than schools like Caltech?

I have looked at our Naviance, I don’t see a pattern where high test scores help admissions. There is always a healthy distribution of test scores for top schools.

Someone mentioned in the other thread that they help in Michigan admissions. What is your observation at your school?


of course it helps. schools want to be able to add that average into their stats. high gpa also helps.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:35     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Our private counselor told us not really, once you pass 1500 or 1550, for T10s.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:34     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
I wouldn’t have thought it was a big factor, but there is a study someone linked awhile ago of legacy admissions and race at Ivy + schools and it showed a clear benefit to very high SAT scores vs those with low 1500s. I think the paper was in Nature.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:34     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Anonymous wrote:It absolutely helps because these schools want to report top scores to USNWR and other ranking services (also skins). In some instances, the schools will “buy” the score with a merit scholarship. The reason you are t seeing them is due to their scarcity


I think T50 will do that, but not T20?

At HYPMS level, test scores matter even less?
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:34     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Yes getting above a 1550 helps assuming other stats equivalent. Last few years of test optional might have obscured but admissions at test required schools returning to pre covid norms.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:33     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Anonymous wrote:It checks the SAT box at T20 but that's about it.


That’s my understanding. Really top ones rarely care about scores once it checks the box.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:32     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
It absolutely helps because these schools want to report top scores to USNWR and other ranking services (also skins). In some instances, the schools will “buy” the score with a merit scholarship. The reason you are t seeing them is due to their scarcity
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:31     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Generally speaking, as long as you hit 700+ on both segments, you've crossed that bar. The rest of the application is what matters after that. The SAT is only one part of the equation, and colleges do not force rank applicants by SAT score.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:31     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Top scores are a dime a dozen. That alone isn't going to do much.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:30     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
It checks the SAT box at T20 but that's about it.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:30     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
What kind of question is that? Are you asking if a near perfect SAT schools helps admissions?
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 11:29     Subject: Does 1580+ help T20 admissions?
Other than schools like Caltech?

I have looked at our Naviance, I don’t see a pattern where high test scores help admissions. There is always a healthy distribution of test scores for top schools.

Someone mentioned in the other thread that they help in Michigan admissions. What is your observation at your school?