Hey everyone, does anyone know what would be considered a 'high' SAT score? Like top-tier, impressive to colleges kind of high? Really appreciate any inputs here.
Generally speaking, a 'high' SAT score is typically anything above the 97th percentile. As of the most recent changes in spring 2024, the SAT is scored out of a total of 1600 points, with 800 being the highest possible score for both the Math and Reading & Writing sections respectively.
A 'high' or top-tier SAT score would be anything 1450 or above, as this is often the 25th percentile score for many most selective colleges. However, truly impressive scores to these top institutions often fall within the 1500-1600 range. Attaining a score within this range can be quite competitive as it places you within the top 1-5% of all test takers.
But keep in mind that just as different colleges have varying median SAT scores, they can also have different perceptions of what constitutes a 'high' SAT score. Hence, it's good to research the median 50% SAT scores of the universities you're interested in. This information can provide a concrete idea of the score range that has been accepted by those institutions in the past.
Lastly, remember that while a high SAT score is significant, it's not the only factor that colleges take into account. They consider your application holistically, looking at other elements such as your grades, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and essays, among other things.
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