Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:22     Subject: 1250 on SAT
She could apply ED1 to Tulane without submitting scores and have a shot. Wisconsin is “test optional” but increasingly, not really. Miami joined the bandwagon of aspiring ranking-climbers by eliminating the supplemental, so I suspect tests might be marginally more important.

At Tulane and Miami, applying ED and being full pay will help dramatically but I would not submit a 1250 to either.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:19     Subject: Re:1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for the feedback so far. I appreciate it.

I just went back and looked at her grades since freshman year, and I actually underestimated her grades.

In ninth grade, she had 3 A- and a B+ in math. (She also had an A+ in Art and an A in PE, but I assume those don’t count).

In 10th grade, she had a B+ in English, A in Chem, and A- in math, Spanish, and history. (again, As in art class plus physical education, but I assume those don’t count.)

It’s just 11th grade where the grades dropped – we haven’t received final grades yet but in her mid-year report card, she had two Bs, 2 B+, and one A-.

Very rigorous and well-regarded DC private school.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Some of these are already on her radar, but some are not, so it’s good to have other places to research.



You can calculate GPA on your own. It looks like hers is 3.5 if final grades in 11th stay as they were midyear, though she seems to be missing a core class freshman year.

I'd be more worried about the declining grades this year across the board. Is she taking more rigorous classes, honors/AP if her school offers those? Where does she fit in the class?
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:11     Subject: 1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:My child has same SAT with more As, A-s with a B or B+ here and there, but may have less rigor as we are outside DC and DCUM rigor is beyond wild.

Looking at UVM, Syracuse, Umass, Penn State, U Del plus some smaller schools which I won't mention as it sounds like she wants larger. If she's into STEM maybe RIT? Maybe Pitt, UConn, Ohio State, Minnesota, or University of Arizona?

Again, your child might have a stronger school/more rigor so maybe these would be more safeties?


Private school does change the game. I still think the schools you mentioned are a little out of reach, but these suggestions are good.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:06     Subject: 1250 on SAT
Plenty of schools do not require standardized testing or at least give you the option to submit or not. In fact, that is more the norm these days for a majority of schools. With thousands of colleges and universities to choose from, please believe there is a place for everyone. Why not flip the script here and begin to consider where might be a good fit versus who would be 'willing' to take her without the scores? Honestly, this whole thing can get a bit out of whack. There IS a place for her. How much are you willing to spend? What about a larger school like Arizona or a mid size like UVM? Or CU in Boulder?
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 10:02     Subject: Re:1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for the feedback so far. I appreciate it.

I just went back and looked at her grades since freshman year, and I actually underestimated her grades.

In ninth grade, she had 3 A- and a B+ in math. (She also had an A+ in Art and an A in PE, but I assume those don’t count).

In 10th grade, she had a B+ in English, A in Chem, and A- in math, Spanish, and history. (again, As in art class plus physical education, but I assume those don’t count.)

It’s just 11th grade where the grades dropped – we haven’t received final grades yet but in her mid-year report card, she had two Bs, 2 B+, and one A-.

Very rigorous and well-regarded DC private school.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Some of these are already on her radar, but some are not, so it’s good to have other places to research.


She will be absolutely fine.

If she likes Tulane, have her ED1. She will probably get it, although possibly with that spring scholars provision they offer. Also consider SMU, Syracuse, Lafayette, U Miami, U Richmond. All of these are well within reach for full pay. Demonstrated interest will make a difference.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:58     Subject: 1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:Has she considered taking the ACT? My B+ student had <1200 on the SAT and scored 30 on the ACT.



+1 on checking out the ACT. It was a better test for both of my kids than the SAT. I'd recommend your student taking 1 or 2 practice tests just to get used to the structure/timing, and then give it a try. You may be surprised and the result and if they've been studying for the SAT, the same concepts/strategies should still apply.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:41     Subject: Re:1250 on SAT
My kid (high school class of 2025) from a DC private had somewhat but not wildly higher grades and a similar SAT score. They applied test optional and had lots of choices. Things have surely evolved since then but I think your daughter will have choices too. Look carefully at your school's admission data (Naviance or whatever), consult with the college counselors and apply strategically. If going outside the US is a possibility, you can often get a good sense of what GPA is needed for admission for particular majors/courses or schools within the larger university -- when my kid applied to McGill, for example, they knew their GPA was well above the previous year's published cut-off. (That said, I don't know if McGill is still test optional for US applicants.)
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:35     Subject: 1250 on SAT
What does your college counselor say? If you're at a private they should be able to pinpoint what her chances are with those grades and that score.

Since she's taking PE for credit, she's not at NCS. And it can't be Sidwell as they don't give A+ or A- grades. So OP is probably talking about a Catholic school or a second tier DC independent school neither of whom will be given the grace by colleges for lower grades that a place like NCS or Sidwell are.

There really is no way any of us can tell you unless we know the school.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:30     Subject: Re:1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for the feedback so far. I appreciate it.

I just went back and looked at her grades since freshman year, and I actually underestimated her grades.

In ninth grade, she had 3 A- and a B+ in math. (She also had an A+ in Art and an A in PE, but I assume those don’t count).

In 10th grade, she had a B+ in English, A in Chem, and A- in math, Spanish, and history. (again, As in art class plus physical education, but I assume those don’t count.)

It’s just 11th grade where the grades dropped – we haven’t received final grades yet but in her mid-year report card, she had two Bs, 2 B+, and one A-.

Very rigorous and well-regarded DC private school.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Some of these are already on her radar, but some are not, so it’s good to have other places to research.


Yet another bullshit DCUM burying the lead post. Now all the sudden she’s a top student at a top private.

You remind me of a retirement calculator. When you don’t get the results you want, you change the numbers.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:28     Subject: 1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:At an academically rigorous school, those grades are fine.


Agree. But chances of Miami and Tulane would be better if a 1350 could be submitted.

Op. I’d invest in test prep. Dd was similar profile and we didn’t, went test optional, and she was disappointed some of the results. In at Penn state but not Villanova, for instance.

Ed could help, but you’re asking the kid to commit without fully going through the process.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:25     Subject: 1250 on SAT
What’s your school’s Naviance/Scoir look like? Consider ED test optional to Tulane.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:09     Subject: 1250 on SAT
At an academically rigorous school, those grades are fine.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:08     Subject: 1250 on SAT
Michigan State, CU Boulder (not stem or business), Univ Oregon, Univ Cincinnati are all bigger schools my A/B 1300 non stem kid got into. Love that Cincy campus (if you like modern). She submitted the 1300 everywhere she applied.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:06     Subject: Re:1250 on SAT
Does she want urban, suburban, or rural and what major?

That SAT is very similar to my kid's though mine had a stronger GPA for sure, and she got into some very decent schools going TO. Didn't apply to any T25 but that was never the goal.
Anonymous
Post 06/12/2026 09:05     Subject: Re:1250 on SAT
Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for the feedback so far. I appreciate it.

I just went back and looked at her grades since freshman year, and I actually underestimated her grades.

In ninth grade, she had 3 A- and a B+ in math. (She also had an A+ in Art and an A in PE, but I assume those don’t count).

In 10th grade, she had a B+ in English, A in Chem, and A- in math, Spanish, and history. (again, As in art class plus physical education, but I assume those don’t count.)

It’s just 11th grade where the grades dropped – we haven’t received final grades yet but in her mid-year report card, she had two Bs, 2 B+, and one A-.

Very rigorous and well-regarded DC private school.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Some of these are already on her radar, but some are not, so it’s good to have other places to research.


"very rigorous and well-regarded DC private school" means all of those schools you listed in your OP are on the table. Haters will trash me for saying this and insist it's not true but it is. Those grades at a rigorous private are worth a lot.