Is a 1400 SAT score competitive enough for the Ivy League?

I got a score of 1400 on my SAT, and I've been debating on whether it's good enough for the Ivy League schools. My dream is to get into Brown or Cornell. Do you think my score is competitive enough, or should I plan to retake the SAT?

First of all, congratulations on your 1400 SAT score! It's a great accomplishment and shows that you've been putting in a lot of effort. While a 1400 is an impressive score, it's worth noting that the average SAT scores for Ivy League schools are a bit higher than that.

For schools like Brown and Cornell, the middle 50% SAT score range is 1510-1750 for Brown (https://admission.brown.edu/explore/brown-facts) and 1470-1510 for Cornell (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/cornell-university/admissions).

That being said, your chances of admission depend on more than just your SAT score. Ivy League schools consider a holistic approach when reviewing applications. They look at factors such as your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, leadership experiences, and personal essays. A strong application in these areas can compensate for a slightly lower SAT score.

You can also consider applying test-optional. In fact, some schools within Cornell are even test-blind: https://admissions.cornell.edu/policies/standardized-testing-policy

If you have the time and resources, it wouldn't hurt to retake the SAT and try to improve your score. Alternatively, you could also consider taking a practice ACT and seeing if you naturally perform better on that test. Just remember that the admissions process is unpredictable, and no one element guarantees your acceptance or rejection. Focus on building a well-rounded application, and try not to stress too much about scores. Good luck!