Hey everyone, I just got my SAT scores back and scored a 1190. I'm a little nervous about my college prospects with this score. What kind of colleges am I looking at with a 1190 on the SAT? Would this be competitive enough for most schools?
A 1190 SAT score is a solid score and lands in approximately the 74th percentile, which means you scored higher than about 74% of test-takers. While this score might not be competitive for top-tier schools, there are plenty of colleges and universities where a 1190 would be considered a strong score.
For context, a 1190 SAT score would be regarded as average or slightly above average for many state schools and less competitive private colleges. You should have a good shot at being accepted into these types of institutions, provided your high school GPA, class rigor, and extracurriculars are also relatively strong.
It's essential to remember that college admissions are not solely contingent on standardized test scores. Your GPA, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities all weigh heavily on the admissions process as well. However, if you feel that your SAT score is not the best representation of your abilities, you might consider retaking the test or researching test-optional schools. For more information about test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional.
When researching potential colleges, be sure to look at their middle 50% SAT scores for accepted students. This data will give you an idea of the competitiveness of the institution and help you create a balanced college list containing target, reach, and safety schools.
In summary, a 1190 SAT score is a decent score that may be considered competitive at certain colleges, including less selective state schools and private institutions. However, it may not stand out to more selective or top-tier schools. If you're aiming for highly selective institutions, you may want to think about retaking the SAT, but remember that maximizing your college admission chances means building a strong overall application, by also excelling in other areas, like your GPA, essays, and extracurriculars.
Best of luck with your test-taking journey, and college process as a whole!
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