Puzzled about SAT average: What's the deal?

Hello friends! Got my SAT score last week. I'm wondering, when colleges say they carry a certain 'average SAT score,' what do they really mean? Basically, where should I be aiming if I want a decent chance at getting into most schools?

Hey there! To understand what colleges mean by "average SAT score," you need to understand a bit about statistics. When a university communicates that their "average SAT score" is a certain number, they're typically referring to the mathematical mean of the student scores. This means that all the SAT scores of admitted students are added together, then divided by the total number of students.

However, taking the 'average' often doesn't give the full picture because it can be skewed by exceptionally high or low scores. To give a more comprehensive understanding, colleges usually provide a ‘middle 50% SAT range’. This range indicates the 25th and 75th percentile of admitted students' SAT scores. So if you fall within this range, you can assume you're among the middle 50% of admitted students — you're neither in the bottom 25% nor in the top 25%. Students who score above the 75th percentile are in the top 25% and those below the 25th percentile fall in the lower 25%.

For example, if School A reports a middle 50% SAT range of 1300-1450, 25% of admitted students scored below 1300, 50% scored between 1300 and 1450, and 25% scored above 1450. You should aim to score at least within this range to be competitive, but remember, these scores are just guidelines.

Remember, every college will have their own average score or scoring range, and more selective colleges will naturally have higher averages. The best place you should aim depends on the specific colleges you're thinking about. So it would be highly beneficial to research the average SAT scores of admitted students at those specific colleges to give you an idea of where you stand.

Keep in mind that your SAT score is just one part of your application. Many other factors like your GPA, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, personal essays, and letters of recommendation also contribute significantly to your application as colleges look at applicants holistically. Good luck with your applications!