1590 SAT Percentile: Nearly Perfect?

Hey there! I got a 1590 on my SAT and I'm wondering how that fares percentile-wise? This has to be way up there right? Just trying to get an idea of how competitive this score is when it comes to college admissions.

Hello! Congratulations on your SAT score! A 1590 is an outstanding score and places you in the 99th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 99 out of every 100 test-takers. It's a very competitive score for college admissions.

This score will make you a strong candidate in terms of academic performance for all colleges and universities, including top-tier and Ivy League schools, as it meets or exceeds the average SAT scores for these institutions. However, it's important to remember that while a high SAT score is a significant part of your application, it is not the only factor that colleges consider.

Admissions to top schools are holistic, which means they evaluate your entire application—essays, extracurricular activities, awards, and letters of recommendation—along with your standardized test scores. So, while your score of 1590 gives you a competitive edge, it's crucial to ensure the other aspects of your application are equally strong, as at the most selective schools, unfortunately no single credential will get you in on its own.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at a particular school, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including test scores, GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at over 1,600 colleges around the country: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, for example by taking more rigorous courses your senior year or earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars.

Your 1590 SAT score is definitely a fantastic starting point, though! Best of luck with your college applications!