Hi, I just got my SAT scores and I'm at a 1480. I'm hoping to apply to competitive colleges. How does this score stack up? I'm particularly interested in studying Business or Economics.
A 1480 on the SAT is a great score! Going by the numbers we generally see from College Board, it's well above the national average and comfortably in the top 5% of all test-takers.
With this score, you are considered competitive for many highly regarded universities. However, it's also important to remember that other aspects of your application, like your high school GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and essays, would also play a significant role in your admission to these competitive colleges.
Given your interest in Business or Economics, moreover, admissions officers at competitive colleges will also likely look at your Math score specifically. Students aiming to study these subjects typically have high math scores as these disciplines require strong quantitative skills.
For example, if you're looking at the Ivy League which are amongst some of the most competitive schools, the middle 50% SAT score range tends to be within the 1470-1570 range. Your 1480 falls within this range putting you in a good position, though it's on the lower end.
And, for most highly competitive business programs such as UPenn's Wharton or NYU's Stern, your score is within their middle 50% SAT score range as well.
Keep in mind, having a score in a school's middle 50% SAT score range doesn't guarantee admission, but it shows that, academically, you're in the ballpark.
Of course, standards can vary from one school to another. I suggest that you look at the average SAT scores for admitted students at the specific colleges you're interested in to see where you stand. You should also reach out to the admissions offices of these schools to get the most up-to-date information.
I hope this information was helpful and best of luck in your college application process! You're off to a solid start with that SAT score.
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