Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 14:45     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
EA UMD OOS, FCPS, Some merit.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 14:35     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
1570 UC Berkeley
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 14:05     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Low 1500s boy 24, RD northwestern and Cornell
Low 1500s girl 26, ED Penn
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 14:04     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
SCEA to Yale unhooked.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 14:02     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Carleton ED
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 13:44     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My sense from our college counselor is that you can take a 1550/1560 and feel comfortable being in the mix at all schools including HYPS. But your question presupposes that it is SAT scores that make the difference for unhooked kids. I think GPA and class rigor matter more, with good ECs also making a big difference. But my kid is a junior so I have no direct experience and would love people’s take on my thoughts.

Common data sets for all top 20 schools say test scores are considered while GPA, rigor and ECs are very important.

Yep, it's the ECs + major. My DC with 1580, 4.0/4.92 from a magnet was shut out of T20s. Ended up UMD as a dual CS/math major. Their ECS were lackluster. They are super smart but didn't have much motivation in HS.


The holy grail is the 1580 and a classics/ French/ Slavic language & lit/ gender studies/ medieval studies/ Middle East studies/creative writing /fine arts major…. You know all those humanities slots they are trying to fill. Plus a few awards and ECs to match and you’re golden.

No one cares so much about a computer science major with the 1580.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 13:40     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Anonymous wrote:My sense from our college counselor is that you can take a 1550/1560 and feel comfortable being in the mix at all schools including HYPS. But your question presupposes that it is SAT scores that make the difference for unhooked kids. I think GPA and class rigor matter more, with good ECs also making a big difference. But my kid is a junior so I have no direct experience and would love people’s take on my thoughts.

Common data sets for all top 20 schools say test scores are considered while GPA, rigor and ECs are very important.


ECs and awards (and major) usually matter more than the highest test score

- two kids at Ivy/T10 in last 2 years
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 12:35     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Accepted to an HYP in RD with that score, but grades/rigor and good ECs.

Also in at UVA and W&M OOS, Notre Dame, Dartmouth

WL at UMich and Vanderbilt

Score is just part of the package
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 12:34     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Northwestern and Cornell. RD. Unhooked girl. Social science major. Public. Full pay.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 12:15     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Anonymous wrote:My sense from our college counselor is that you can take a 1550/1560 and feel comfortable being in the mix at all schools including HYPS. But your question presupposes that it is SAT scores that make the difference for unhooked kids. I think GPA and class rigor matter more, with good ECs also making a big difference. But my kid is a junior so I have no direct experience and would love people’s take on my thoughts.

Common data sets for all top 20 schools say test scores are considered while GPA, rigor and ECs are very important.


Me again. Just read the same thread but for kids in the 1400s with higher ranked schools than on this thread. Makes me feel even more that the test score being the main component of these threads elevates how important (or less important) scores are after a certain point.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 12:15     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Anonymous wrote:My sense from our college counselor is that you can take a 1550/1560 and feel comfortable being in the mix at all schools including HYPS. But your question presupposes that it is SAT scores that make the difference for unhooked kids. I think GPA and class rigor matter more, with good ECs also making a big difference. But my kid is a junior so I have no direct experience and would love people’s take on my thoughts.

Common data sets for all top 20 schools say test scores are considered while GPA, rigor and ECs are very important.

Yep, it's the ECs + major. My DC with 1580, 4.0/4.92 from a magnet was shut out of T20s. Ended up UMD as a dual CS/math major. Their ECS were lackluster. They are super smart but didn't have much motivation in HS.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 12:12     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Anonymous wrote:Everywhere. Every college has some kids with those scores.

I doubt *every* college does.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 12:09     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
My sense from our college counselor is that you can take a 1550/1560 and feel comfortable being in the mix at all schools including HYPS. But your question presupposes that it is SAT scores that make the difference for unhooked kids. I think GPA and class rigor matter more, with good ECs also making a big difference. But my kid is a junior so I have no direct experience and would love people’s take on my thoughts.

Common data sets for all top 20 schools say test scores are considered while GPA, rigor and ECs are very important.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 11:55     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Holy Cross.

Sorry to hear.


DP, but you’re a jerk. Don’t be a miserable person, do better.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2026 11:54     Subject: Where did unhooked 1550-1560 kids ended up?
EA at University of Florida (honors program) with a nice but not full scholarship. Top 5% in mcps HS.