ACT score/SAT score: safe zone?

Applying to College
1

<p>I was wondering at what score on both of these tests can an applicant be considered “safe”, that is, their scores are not going to be a factor that keeps them out of schools. I would like to aim for whatever score this may be. I ask this question not for the Ivy league schools, but the schools that are as selective but aren’t dubbed ivies. So this includes Rice, WUSTL, Northwestern, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, Tufts, BC, Georgetown, Duke, etc.
Thank you :)!</p>

2

<p>30+ ACT and 2000+ SAT </p>

3

<p>I’m inclined to say 32 ACT and 2150-2200 SAT, unless the applicant has a “hook.” Look at the Common Data Sets for most of those schools. People might get in with a 30/2000, but those scores are quite low for the most elite tier. Only 25% of WashU’s accepted students scored less than 32 on the ACT. That doesn’t bode well for someone with a 30.</p>

4

<p>I agree with above :)</p>

5

<p>True but I’m just saying those scores are ones to aim for and if you get them then by all means apply! nothing is ever guaranteed so just do your best</p>

6

<p>How would a 34 ACT fare @ these schools?</p>

7

<p>Probably pretty well</p>

8

<p>Nothing is a lock until you have the acceptance in hand. Plenty of 34s get rejected with sub-3.8 GPAs and if your coursework isn’t rigorous, all bets are off, even with a 34. I can’t tell you how many kids I’ve seen applying to your list of schools and a 33-34 ACT get rejected because they dodged the hard classes that were available. One test does not make up for 4 years of skating.</p>

9

<p>If you’ve taken the most rigorous coursework offered to you and have a 3.8+ GPA, a 2100+ SAT score or 33+ SAT score will put you in the safe zone where the main differentiating factors will be your essays and ECs.</p>

10

<p>I thought 2100+ and 32+ were comparable. 33 is like a 2200 whereas 32 Is a 2120</p>

11

<p>@sallymeno11 the conversion is not always true haha</p>

12

<p>@fnl012 That may very well be true, but there is no way a 2100 and 33 are equivalent. A 33 is, at minimum, a 2160.</p>

<p>@xFirefirex‌ I would call it 31/32+ and 2100+. 33 is NOT equivalent to a 2100.</p>