Hello everyone, I'm a junior and just got my SAT results back. I scored a 1470 and I'm curious, how good is that? Like what kind of schools should I be aiming for with this score? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hello! Congratulations on your score - a 1470 is an excellent result and it falls in the top 4% of students who take the SAT, which signifies strong performance. This score would be competitive at many top-tier institutions.
However, remember that while a strong SAT score is a key component of your application, colleges consider other factors as well. Your GPA, the rigor of your coursework, your extracurricular activities, and your essays will also play a significant role in admission decisions. For instance, if you've performed exceptionally in Advanced Placement classes, taken on significant leadership roles in extracurricular activities, or have had notable achievements, those will also matter greatly in selection processes.
Now, a 1470 SAT score would fit well within the middle 50% range for most schools, except for a few of the most selective schools such as Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Stanford, where the scores tend to be a bit higher. Still, your score doesn't automatically exclude you from consideration at these schools, because as mentioned earlier, they also highly value other parts of your application.
For instance, at Boston College, a school recognized for its strong undergraduate programs, the middle 50% SAT score range for accepted students is 1340-1490. Meanwhile, at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the range is 1330-1530. For Tufts University, it's 1420-1550. The same story is true for many others - your score will place you into a competitive position.
In summary, you have a lot of options with a 1470, but keep in mind that it's simply one part of your application. Make sure to also focus on crafting compelling essays, being active in meaningful extracurriculars, and getting strong letters of recommendation. Good luck with your college journey!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.