So, I've got UPenn on my shortlist and I'm trying to figure out what kind of SAT score I should be aiming for. I've seen some posts about really high scores, but what's the average? Thanks for any help y'all can provide!
UPenn, short for the University of Pennsylvania, is indeed one of those colleges where the admitted students tend to have very high SAT scores. It's one of the Ivy League schools, so admission is competitive. Typically, students admitted to UPenn have SAT scores that fall in the top 7% nationwide.
For the most accurate information, it's best to look at the middle 50% of SAT scores for admitted students. The middle 50% score range is the range where the 25th to the 75th percentile of admitted students' SAT scores fall. For UPenn, the middle 50% SAT score range is typically between 1500 to 1570.
What this essentially means is that 25% of admitted students scored below 1500, while another 25% scored above 1570. The remaining 50% of admitted students had scores that fell somewhere in between.
Do keep in mind that these are just averages, and admission to UPenn is not solely determined by SAT scores. The application review process is holistic, which means admissions officers consider other elements such as your high school grades, the rigor of your high school courses, your extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and application essays.
Therefore, even if your SAT score is below the middle 50% range, you still have a chance of getting in if other parts of your application are strong. Conversely, even if you're in the top range, a strong SAT score doesn't guarantee admission.
Also, keep in mind that even though UPenn went test-optional for awhile due to the pandemic, for the 2024-2025 application cycle they have reverted back to requiring all applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score.
Good luck with your preparations!
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