<p>While looking up my top choices for college(Vanderbilt, Emory, Brandeis, Tufts) I always find myself right around the 50th percentile of admitted students. Do I have a reasonable shot of getting into these schools, if I am not the superstar with 2400 SATs and 10 APs?</p>
<p>You should aim to exceed the 50th percentile of SAT scores if you want to be competitive for admission (75th percentile would be ideal, if your GPA is good enough). The given scores are taken from all students, including URMs, athletes, celebrities, e.t.c., and these groups usually comprise the lower 50th percentile of scores. The average middle of the road white student from overrepresented areas needs to score higher than the 50th percentile of scores.</p>
<p>That is, to a degree, true. But, you still definitely have a shot at your schools, especially if you have good ECs, great recs, and write a great essay.</p>
<p>@pinnipotto</p>
<p>Absolutely. Also, one’s high school GPA and class rank are more important than one’s SAT score, so don’t fret if your SAT score isn’t great. ECs and essays can make up for it.</p>
<p>^GPA is more important, but not by as much as people like to think.
And everything has to be taken in context…
A 2400 is much rarer than a 4.0 UW</p>
<p>And also, where you need to be (unhooked-No URM/athlete/legacy/etc) in the range also depends on the school.
At schools like WashU, Duke and to a lesser extent Dartmouth and Penn, being above the 75% is a HUGE help, as these schools are looking to raise their 75% mark.
However, 2 schools that come to mind as not putting in effort to raise their 75% mark are Columbia and MIT. </p>
<p>So, in a school in the first group, an SAT over the 75% is a big boost, but in the second group, being over the 75% makes you look slightly more academically qualified, but it’s not that huge of an advantage over someone at the 50% mark.</p>
<p>Alright, so lets look at it from my scenario. I come from a very small school, that unfortunately has no class choices. I am ranked one out of seven students in my class. I have a GPA hovering around 3.9(unweighted). I managed to do an independent AP (U.S. History) after pulling many strings. I am still awaiting those results. I got a 2070 on my SAT (1390 out of 1600). I have done work exceeding 1000 hours with autistic children. In addition, I have a killer essay already in mind. Can you give a better evaluation ofmy situation now? Thanks so much guys.</p>
<p>Interesting s snack. Do you happen to know how what you were talking about applies to Brandeis, Vandy, and Emory?</p>
<p>I think you’d have a real shot at Brandeis, Vanderbilt and Emory. Your GPA is great, and your SAT is fine for all of them. The autistic children EC/essay looks superb. Good luck!</p>
<p>Being above the 75% mark definitely helps a lot for those schools.
The only schools I’d really argue it doesn’t help for are MIT, Columbia and possibly Brown.
They already get very smart students and aren’t stat crazy…they’re more concerned with picking the students they like out of a very smart applicant pool.</p>
<p>GPA and strength of high school curriculum (how many years of core subjects, how many AP/honors) almost always trumps SAT scores. So, assuming you are in the middle 50 percent or so test-wise, and you have taken a rigorous high school curriculum, you are in very good shape for the schools on your list, in my opinion. Although you may get the impression from reading CC that everyone getting into those schools have perfect SAT scores and perfect grades, it isn’t the truth. Still, as always, every list needs safer bets as well. 
Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks alot guys. Quick question though: Do colleges take into account the selection of courses at the school, as my school has horrible course offerings(I still have the cores that I nees, i.e. 4 math, 4 english, etc.)?</p>
<p>Ugh, accident.</p>