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QUESTION: How much weight do my SAT scores really carry in admission decisions?

CollegeBound.net says...
That's a tricky one, and of course, it varies from school to school. One thing's for sure, however, is that the SAT isn't as all-mighty as it once was. In recent years, there's been a sort of anti-testing sentiment, in which schools have declared that they won't even ask for scores on applications.

That being said, the majority of competitive Colleges and Universities are still very much interested in who you are as a complete student, and one component of that is how you perform on the SAT or ACT. But there are many other factors, too, like your high school GPA, your contributions to school and society in the form of extracurricular activities, your College Application essays and recommendations, awards you've won, and if you've shown interest in their school (it's a good idea to schedule a visit!). Of course, some schools, like the highly competitive Ivy Leagues, for instance, require a better testing performance than others.

Think of your SAT score as a tie-breaker of sorts. If all things are even between you and another student they are considering, your score can be one of several factors that may help tip the scales in your favor. So it's worth it to study, do practice exams to get a feel for the test, and rest up the night before. But depending on the selectivity of your choice schools, for the majority of students, you're probably better off focusing your time and energy on being the best student you can be and turning in solid College Applications, rather than flipping flashcards.

Best of luck!


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Dawn Papandrea is the Managing Editor of The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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