What Can I Do with a 1300 SAT Score?

Getting a bit worried here about my SAT score. I got a 1300 and I'm not entirely sure where this places me. What kind of colleges should I be targeting with this score? Or should I be retaking the SAT to aim for a higher score?

A 1300 SAT score is fairly solid, placing you within the 86th percentile of all test takers. This means you scored higher than 86% of all students who took the SAT, which is certainly a strong showing!

However, determining which colleges you should be targeting largely depends on the rest of your profile such as your GPA, extracurricular activities, and the rigor of your academic coursework. While a 1300 SAT score is competitive for many universities, if you're eyeing highly selective colleges, you might want to aim for a higher score.

For example, if you're considering colleges like Rutgers University-New Brunswick or University of Massachusetts Amherst, your score is around the middle 50% SAT scores for these schools. On the other hand, Ivy League schools and similar top-tier institutions usually have middle 50% SAT scores ranging from about 1450 to 1550.

Should you retake the SAT? Only you can make that decision. Consider factors such as how much time you have before college applications are due, how much of an improvement you think you can make with additional preparation, and whether your time might be better spent on other aspects of your application, such as improving your GPA or investing in extracurricular activities.

Remember, while test scores are one part of your application, colleges look at your application holistically. Things like your essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities can also make a significant impact on your application.

Moreover, don't forget that some colleges are test-optional or test-blind. With test-optional schools, you have the option of submitting your SAT scores, but your application won't be negatively impacted if you choose not to submit them. Test-blind schools, on the other hand, will not consider SAT scores at all. Hence, if you have a strong profile outside of your SAT score, these types of schools could be good options to consider.