What's the scoop on average SAT scores for colleges?

Hey everyone, junior reporting here! I've been busy with SAT prep lately, and I'm just curious as to what the average SAT scores are for most colleges. I know it's a bit of general question since it varies by college, but any idea of a ballpark range? I'm trying to set some achievable yet challenging goals for myself, and this would really help. Thanks in advance!

Sure, happy to help out! While you're right that SAT scores can widely vary from college to college, a general rough ballpark is as follows:

For more selective, top-tier schools (Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc.), successful applicants usually have SAT scores in the high 1400s or above, often breaking the 1500 threshold.

Mid-tier schools (think highly reputable but not as selective as Ivy Leagues) usually see admitted students with scores in the 1200-1400 range. However, there can be quite a bit of variation even within this bracket.

At less selective institutions, a score in the 1000-1200 range can often be competitive.

But remember, scores alone won't get you through the door. Many universities review applications holistically, considering factors like GPA, rigor of coursework, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and personal essays.

A good way to get a more concrete idea on SAT expectations is to check the statistics provided by the colleges you're interested in. Known as the middle 50% score range, it refers to the SAT scores of the middle 50% of students accepted to a particular college, which can be found on the schools' official websites or their common data sets.

To find the Common Data Set, which is an institutional document breaking down a school's admissions process, simply google "[school] common data set." You can find the CDS directly on a school's website as well, but it's usually on an "Institutional Research" page that can be quite difficult to navigate to.

Remember to set a goal that is challenging yet doable for you, and that aligns with the colleges you're interested in applying to.

If you already have some sense of the schools you'd like to apply to, you can also check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including not just test scores but also 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

With this tool, you can experiment with entering hypothetical SAT scores, to see where you'll realistically need to aim to boost your chances.

Best of luck with your studies!