Hi! I’ve posted a couple of times in hopes of starting the college search for 11th grader. His first SAT score came in this morning at 1330 or 90th percentile (670 reading, 660 math). I realize that 90th percentile on these boards is considered below average. I was hoping to not have my son take this test again but being so close to 1360 where merit scholarships I understand kick in make it crazy for him not to give it a couple of more tries.
So anyone here with this score range - how were acceptances? What colleges did you target? In our home state various websites indicate NC State is a match but Chapel Hill is probably more of a reach. Thanks for any insight you can provide for folks with kids in this score range.
I suggest that rather than setting targets now, you take a holistic approach. What you know now is that your son will have competitive test scores. What about his grades? Is he taking AP courses? What about his extracurricular activities and achievements (awards, commendations, products, etc.) You can probably assume that his SAT I scores will improve on a retake. But there are also other tests, including repeating the SAT and advanced tests.
What you have reported so far is really encouraging; your son is likely to have some very good options.
In 2005, my DDs SAT score was over 100 points less than your kid’s. And it was her second take.
She got accepted to the colleges of her choice.
There are over 3000 colleges in this country…there is someplace for everyone.
In addition, there is a growing list of test optional schools (google…fairtest) so if you really feel your kids SAT scores aren’t up to snuff…look there.
And really who said that an SAT score in the mid 1300 range was below average. Please show me that reference. I’ve been around here for a LONG time…and what you are saying just isn’t true.
In fact…start looking at some of the threads started annually about kids with SAT scores that aren’t 1600…and see where they have been accepted. Those threads are in the parent forum.
Plus your son is a junior, next spring or fall he is likely to do much better with that much more learning under his belt. What you know now is that he will be a good applicant for many top tier schools at the rate he is going.
SAT scores place 500 as the middle score. Some who take the test will decide they are not college material. Most will go to schools other than their state flagship or other top tier/elite schools. Your son (not you) will be talking sometime with his guidance counselor about colleges that match his ability and HS record. He (not you) will need to decide which schools to aim for. Remember, as teens get older they take on more and more control of their lives, including college choices.
Thanks! Unfortunately, my son is going to be constrained to a budget and the college search will likely be a family affair. He may love a 50k school but if he, for example, gets into a state flagship for a total of 23k all in, he is going to have to have a very compelling reason to ask us to spend 2x more!
I got some advice of good Jesuit colleges that may give merit aid. He is taking AP Chem and AP US History but his ECs aren’t spectacular - consistent and long term showing he commits and sees things through.
@thumper1 - I noticed a lot of the college bound on this board and parents posting are shooting for the ivies, and elite privates in general. It seems these boards skew towards posters whose kids get mega high scores/grades/ECs but maybe I haven’t been around long enough.
To your point, I have received valuable insight here so far and it has been very helpful!
My youngest had a higher CR score, but his math score was never going to break 700. He was a B+ to A- student with a rigorous schedule. AP World as a soph, APUSH and AP Bio as a junior, AP Euro, AP Calc and AP Physics C as a senior. I think any of the schools he considered as matches/safeties would be good matches for your kid, but what would be appropriate for your kid would depend on your finances and your kids’s particular interests. Any of the SUNYs would be affordable. Fordham, American, GW, Syracuse, Brandeis all might be worth a look. That’s just east coast schools and a science kid might have a different list.
Yes how is his GPA? My S18 has applied to both UNC and NC State. His gpa is 4.4 w, and his SAT is 1350. Everything else he is hitting on all cylinders. UNC is a reach while NC State is a match. Hope that helps.
dont know what state you are in but i would suggest going on the state U data set to look at the # for gpa and sats . this does not gaurantee admission (like perfect score doesnt gaurentee ivys etither) but considering the state schools filter out kids w gpa and sats primarily (not saying evrytime but mostly they weed out w gpa sat combo) it would be a good place to start.
also had a low 13 on my 1st sat but 3rd time over was @1450. i would encourage taking sat again and lasttime shld be in aug of senior year so give ample time in the summer to study before the last shot. then invest time in college app and higher classes senior year…worked for me… goodluck
@hannuhylu - It’s true only on CC because it’s a site where 50% of the conversation focuses on the top 50 schools in the country, 40% focuses on the next 50, and 10% addresses the other 7,000+ institutions in the country. 90th percentile on standardized testing is a good score, but it’s table stakes for many conversations here.
The other reason scores are important here is that many schools will offer merit scholarships.
Old thread but wanted to update folks who worry about standardized tests. In December, 2017, DS got a 1330 1st score SAT. By July, 2018 DS had a 32 AC (or 1450ish SAT). So another parent who can say that 1st score isn’t a predictor of future scores. He took in total 2 SATs (one on his own, one in school) and 2 ACTs (one on his own, one school). He was stronger on the ACT which we all thought because of time pressure he wouldn’t be. You never know!
Did he prep this time? I will say my kid’s ACT score went up 3 points composite from the end of sophomore to the end of junior year without a whole lot of effort. And could have been 4 on a different test day (he felt the math section was unusual on his test day - he had consistently been testing higher on that section in practice). I might have him just try again in the spring after some prep unless he is really resistant if he wants those bigger doors possibly open. If he doesn’t that’s ok too.
And don’t let anyone tell you that is below average. LOL.
He did a prep course last year before his 1st 1330 SAT - it taught test taking strategies. Before the 32 ACT I would say he practiced about once a week for a couple of hours for about 5 weeks (between end of finals in June and the July test).
After his 32, he said “I’m done”. I replied “fine by us - you just gave yourself some more options”.
D19 got around a 1300 on her first SAT take, which we knew was below her abilities. She took an online prep course that guaranteed a 160-point improvement, which I was skeptical about. Turned out to be completely accurate–she got a 1490 on her retest. Really thrilled with that, which is much more reflective of the rest of her academic performance.
