Hey pals, I just got an SAT score of 1250 and was wondering how good that score is. What kind of colleges/universities can I realistically aim for with this score? Any advice would be lovely!
Hello! A 1250 SAT score is a solid score, around the 80th percentile nationally. While it might not be competitive for top-tier institutions (like Ivy League schools), there are still many great schools where you can gain admission with this score. It's essential to remember that colleges don't just consider SAT scores in the admission process – other factors like your GPA, extracurricular involvement, essays, and letters of recommendation are also important to help you stand out as an applicant, but a 1250 is definitely a solid starting point.
With a 1250 score, you may be competitive at mid-tier state universities and some private schools. For example, schools like the University of Alabama, Arizona State University, and Indiana University Bloomington have average SAT scores around 1250. You can also consider schools where your SAT score is on the higher end of the middle 50% range, which might give you a better chance of merit-based scholarships.
To find colleges that match your preferences, interests, and score, you can use tools like CollegeVine's college search tool or the College Board's BigFuture. When searching, remember to factor in other aspects of the schools that might be important to you, such as location, size, and campus culture.
If you're thinking about retaking the SAT to improve your score, keep in mind that higher scores will open more doors in terms of college admissions and scholarship opportunities. At the same time, test scores aren't the end all, be all of college admissions, so if you don't opt for a retake, focus on showcasing your strengths in all parts of your application, and creating a holistically compelling portrait of you as a candidate.
Finally, it's worth noting that many colleges have gone test-optional since the Covid-19 pandemic, which could potentially be advantageous for you. There are subtleties to these policies, however – for detailed guidance on how to navigate them, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional
Good luck with your college search and applications!
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