Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:59
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:FWIW. My kid had 1490 in spring Junior year. She is top 1% with highest rigor and good ECs at strong private. Her CC told her: 1) Only take SAT one more time then stop and 2) not submit 1490 to Wash U.
Yes, do not submit a 1490 (or lower) to Vanderbilt or WashU. Both have explicitly and openly told their counterparts in HS counseling offices this. They don't want that score.
I have a kid at Vanderbilt who submitted a 1490.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:59
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:FWIW. My kid had 1490 in spring Junior year. She is top 1% with highest rigor and good ECs at strong private. Her CC told her: 1) Only take SAT one more time then stop and 2) not submit 1490 to Wash U.
Yes, do not submit a 1490 (or lower) to Vanderbilt or WashU. Both have explicitly and openly told their counterparts in HS counseling offices this. They don't want that score.
Ugh, this is so incredibly cynical. And so corrosive. Can’t blame the kids for playing the admissions game. Can’t blame the school for playing the rankings game. But what does intellectual integrity look like in a campus community formed via this kind of gamesmanship?
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:59
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It’s weird to just be “what’s the school my kid can get into with these stats” as if the Top 20 are all the same.
Focus on fit.
I disagree. T20 schools are actually not that different. Most kids want them bc of the peer group (engaged, ambitious, smart). While Brown and Notre Dame (probably the farthest apart in the T20) are by no means interchangeable, their student bodies probably have more in common than not, and many (though not all) of the students at one would be happier at the other than any state flagship.
Unless OP's kid has a specific hook (which OP would have likely disclosed), being strategic about where the kid might get in makes a ton of sense. And it makes sense to manage expectations: an upper middle class kid with a 1490 from the DC area who has no outstanding ECs and doesn't check any boxes for institutional priorities is a long shot at every T20. Some kids with these stats are accepted, but not many.
Historically ND cared a lot about test scores if you’re unhooked. Maybe less so today. They have lots and lots of recruited athletes in many sports and many have test scores below the school’s average and they need the unhooked kids to keep the average up.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:54
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
I think we are see the end of the TO phase and are in the "test kind of optional" phase for T20, T50 colleges. Look at UC San Diego and what happens when you disregard a test that is valid predictor of success.
Ironically, Vanderbilt pre-covid had one of the highest average SAT rates. I just wonder if these top colleges are addicted to the increase in applications that they receive.
They should be forced to disclose to the applicant/consumer what the acceptance rate of TO students is versus those who submit.
Ironically, Vanderbilt pre-covid had one of the highest average SAT rates. I just wonder if these top colleges are addicted to the increase in applications that they receive.
They should be forced to disclose to the applicant/consumer what the acceptance rate of TO students is versus those who submit.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:47
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It’s weird to just be “what’s the school my kid can get into with these stats” as if the Top 20 are all the same.
Focus on fit.
I disagree. T20 schools are actually not that different. Most kids want them bc of the peer group (engaged, ambitious, smart). While Brown and Notre Dame (probably the farthest apart in the T20) are by no means interchangeable, their student bodies probably have more in common than not, and many (though not all) of the students at one would be happier at the other than any state flagship.
Unless OP's kid has a specific hook (which OP would have likely disclosed), being strategic about where the kid might get in makes a ton of sense. And it makes sense to manage expectations: an upper middle class kid with a 1490 from the DC area who has no outstanding ECs and doesn't check any boxes for institutional priorities is a long shot at every T20. Some kids with these stats are accepted, but not many.
the major matters here. A kid wanting to study Middle East Studies or something should be fine, assuming all other elements of app are strong. CS and a 1490 not so much.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:47
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:FWIW. My kid had 1490 in spring Junior year. She is top 1% with highest rigor and good ECs at strong private. Her CC told her: 1) Only take SAT one more time then stop and 2) not submit 1490 to Wash U.
Yes, do not submit a 1490 (or lower) to Vanderbilt or WashU. Both have explicitly and openly told their counterparts in HS counseling offices this. They don't want that score.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:45
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
It's enough to be in the pile, but the pile is thick and fewer than 10% will get the nod. You won't know unless you apply.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:43
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Do you mean the "top 20 that's really 40 schools long" per this thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1300946.page
If so, yes, 1480 is fine. It won't get you into all, but it will be high enough for at least 10+ of this top 40/20.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1300946.page
If so, yes, 1480 is fine. It won't get you into all, but it will be high enough for at least 10+ of this top 40/20.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:37
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
FWIW. My kid had 1490 in spring Junior year. She is top 1% with highest rigor and good ECs at strong private. Her CC told her: 1) Only take SAT one more time then stop and 2) not submit 1490 to Wash U.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:35
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:What about top 25? (Not OP)
ED to Michigan
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:28
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
TCU, SMU, Baylor
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:22
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
What about top 25? (Not OP)
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:15
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:It’s weird to just be “what’s the school my kid can get into with these stats” as if the Top 20 are all the same.
Focus on fit.
I disagree. T20 schools are actually not that different. Most kids want them bc of the peer group (engaged, ambitious, smart). While Brown and Notre Dame (probably the farthest apart in the T20) are by no means interchangeable, their student bodies probably have more in common than not, and many (though not all) of the students at one would be happier at the other than any state flagship.
Unless OP's kid has a specific hook (which OP would have likely disclosed), being strategic about where the kid might get in makes a ton of sense. And it makes sense to manage expectations: an upper middle class kid with a 1490 from the DC area who has no outstanding ECs and doesn't check any boxes for institutional priorities is a long shot at every T20. Some kids with these stats are accepted, but not many.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:06
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
It’s weird to just be “what’s the school my kid can get into with these stats” as if the Top 20 are all the same.
Focus on fit.
Focus on fit.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 10:00
Subject: what schools can a kid with a 1490.....
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Top 5 percent of class and willing to go TO? Yes it is possible. Go ED. Not top 5 percent of class? Unlikely but take your shot.
TO would be a massive mistake with a 1490.
Not at Vanderbilt where they don’t want to see that.
Vandy and WashU are close to being embarrassed at this point, with only half of their enrolled classes submitting.
Everywhere else in the T20 either requires scores or has a very high % submitting, such that one would only apply TO if hooked, and would certainly submit 1490. Not submitting 1490 would be a mistake, in my opinion.
Both are very vocal this cycle about what scores should be submitted. This cycle - this fall - both would indicated not to submit this score.
It is what it is. Who knows what it will be in a few years.