Mine got a 1480 and he got into to Pitt, GMU, UVA, VT, UT Austin, and USC

My DS also has a 1490, more rigor (9 APs) but weak ECs. The only highly ranked school he's applying to is UVA. All the other top schools where technically his stats are a match...1) I'm sure he won't get in as your average high-stats white boy with mediocre ECs and 2) even if by some chance he got in, those schools only give need aid which we won't get but we can't afford full pay. It's still highly unlikely he gets into UVA (based on our school's Naviance) but at least if he did, we could pay for it.

I think he'd have a lot better shot at highly ranked SLACs and possibly get merit since boys tend to be at an advantage with SLACs but he really wants the big college experience. So, he's focused on big state schools with honors colleges. Either in-state or OOs that give merit.

Sorry ^^ 75th percentile for students last fall was a 4.47

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a perfect fit for UMD or and might get merit at either.

. I don’t think so. 75th percentile at UVA is a 1500 and a 4.7. 11 AB classes is not unusual.

Anonymous wrote:Yale, rice,jhu, vandy

Cornell and Michigan as safeties

This is just so far off for 1490 and 5 APs. Sorry to say. Our child was just in this position with a similar SAT and more than twice as many APs. That's a really nice academic record, the the reality is that the 25-50 ranking range is the place to look for matches and safeties, and maybe add a few reaches in the top 25.

Anonymous wrote:Yale, rice,jhu, vandy

Cornell and Michigan as safeties

Only if DC is URM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to MIT with that score...

Did you have a hook or two? Were you full-pay? That doesn't hurt.

No, I bet different generation. Maybe in 70s or early 80s.

Mid 2000s

hard to believe given sat changed to 2400 pt scale in 2005 but whatever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with that score is that I recently read (in the book Who Gets in and Why) that some schools only look at the first two digits. So a big difference between 1490 and 1500.

This isn't true. They have rubrics for all the scores (SAT 2s included) and GPA. That rubric then places you in a quartile. Then they look and score essays, hooks, race, etc.

It varies by school. Have you read the book?

Unfortunately, 1490 is not a differentiator when applying to top schools. And, given her grades, might be seen as underperforming. Hope she gets a chance to take it again.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with that score is that I recently read (in the book Who Gets in and Why) that some schools only look at the first two digits. So a big difference between 1490 and 1500.

This isn't true. They have rubrics for all the scores (SAT 2s included) and GPA. That rubric then places you in a quartile. Then they look and score essays, hooks, race, etc.

The problem with that score is that I recently read (in the book Who Gets in and Why) that some schools only look at the first two digits. So a big difference between 1490 and 1500.

Sounds like a perfect fit for UMD or UVA and might get merit at either.

Anonymous wrote:Ok, my DC was ecstatic she earned a 1490. Went to college counselor who was meh. Said, most of her choice schools were still reach for her and suggested to retake the exam. That's all well and good but with Covid, I just don't think we can do it again. She's all As. Has taken 5 APs - scores all 5s, one 4. One she did not take the exam. Captain of sports team. Other extracurriculars - nice but not huge. What are the best schools you think she could get into?

The reason the counselor said her choice schools were still reaches for her is literally everyone applying to them has similar stats.

From what I can tell, your daughter's biggest weakness is the lack of rigor in her high school classes if she's only taken 5 APs. My senior has taken 8 by junior year (and wasn't permitted to take any as a freshman). Her senior year class load is 100% APs and DE.

How many APs is she taking this year?

Anonymous wrote:Ok, my DC was ecstatic she earned a 1490. Went to college counselor who was meh. Said, most of her choice schools were still reach for her and suggested to retake the exam. That's all well and good but with Covid, I just don't think we can do it again. She's all As. Has taken 5 APs - scores all 5s, one 4. One she did not take the exam. Captain of sports team. Other extracurriculars - nice but not huge. What are the best schools you think she could get into?

All of the Top 20 schools are reaches for everyone -- and particularly if you do not have a hook (recruited athlete, legacy, URM, etc.). Ask your daughter to find one or two that are a good fit and apply with the understanding that admission odds are likely not much better than the overall admission rate (i.e. 10% or less).

Even better, if you have a clear favorite and it offers ED (and is affordable) then she can apply ED to slightly boost her chances of admission.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to MIT with that score...

Did you have a hook or two? Were you full-pay? That doesn't hurt.

No, I bet different generation. Maybe in 70s or early 80s.

Mid 2000s