Understanding a 'good' SAT score

Hey, guys. Quick question - What's considered a 'good' SAT score these days? I mean, what should I be aiming for? I've taken it once, but am planning to give it another shot.

"Good" is a relative term when it comes to SAT scores and greatly depends on the caliber of schools you are targeting. However, to provide you some context, for the new digital SAT, scores can range from 400 to 1600.

If you are aiming for very selective colleges, like those in the Ivy League or other top-tier institutions, you'll generally want to aim for an SAT score above 1500, with a score above 1550 being particularly competitive.

For selective colleges (like many public universities and smaller private colleges), an SAT score in the range of 13500-1500 can be considered good.

For less selective or open admission colleges, an SAT score of 1150 or above should be adequate.

Of course, these are all generalizations, and to understand what score would be competitive for a specific school, it is best to research the median SAT scores of accepted students at that school. If your score falls within the middle 50% range for that school, then it's generally competitive.

Remember, the SAT score is only one aspect of your application. Your GPA, course rigor, essays, and extracurricular involvement are also factors that college admissions committees consider closely, so be sure to give ample attention to these aspects of your profile as well. Good luck!