Much of the admission process relies on the results of tests like the SAT. Of course, there are colleges that accept 2.5 GPA, but iIf you’re about to sit this important examination, it’s worth considering the possible outcomes that might occur if you get a certain score. Everything seems to be ranked from best to worst these days, and as such, it’s easy to find and examine a list of the top 8 colleges with highest SAT scores.
Your college admission requires you to excel in a number of areas and according to a varied range of criteria, but it’s clear that your SAT score is one of the most significant of these factors. Read on to discover what the SAT really means for your future.
All about the SAT
When you sit your SAT highest score is determined by a standardized system, making your results directly comparable with those of any other student anywhere in the country. As most colleges expect you to take the SAT highest score achievement is a top priority.
For your preferred college test score is an easy way to gauge how good you’ll be as a student. That said, the colleges with the highest average SAT scores use other additional indicators to evaluate their prospective students so it’s important that you have a range of extracurricular activities to call upon.
Getting Top Marks
As for what is a high SAT score, that really depends on which colleges you’re applying to and how your peers have done. Generally speaking, what is a high SAT score in a college like Harvard is going to be far higher than what would be considered high in a local community college. It’s all a matter of perspective and you should aim to do as well as possible on your admission exams regardless of the average SAT score of your favored school’s student body. But if you are not so good in studying you may try to enter law schools that accept low LSAT scores.
Typically speaking, an Ivy League college like Harvard would consider a GPA below 3.5 to be unacceptable except in rare circumstances. In contrast, colleges on the lower end of the scale would categorize only those scores approaching 2.0 to be prohibitively low.
Tests like these can be studied just like any normal subject so you can safely use the expert tips below and learn how to boost your SAT score to a number to be proud of.
- For each subsection within the math section, the questions are ordered according to their difficulty. As the hardest questions are towards the end of each portion of the test paper, you can complete the relatively easy and intermediate questions first and worry about the toughest ones if you have time at the end. You can still score well by acting the easier questions.
- Really analyze your weaknesses and find out what you struggle with most of all. If you can get to grips with your problem areas, the confidence boost you’ll get will have a knock-on effect and lead to an overall improvement as you relax and calmly take your test.
- Consider the types of questions that you fail at. You may notice that you remain unable to answer the same old question type whenever you try an example paper for practice. Find out in which subject your lack of ability lies and ask your teacher for extra assistance on this topic.
- Look at which questions and topics come up most and study for those as a priority. Ultimately, your test is a numbers game so if you rig the game in your favor by understanding the unspoken rules, you’ll score much more highly.
Eight Schools with the Highest SAT Scores
If you’re predicted to do particularly well, you should consider applying to the colleges with highest average SAT scores. The 8 colleges here expect the highest standards from their prospective students so you should follow expert advice and get the highest score you can manage.
- Washington University in St. Louis has plenty to offer with great arts and sciences faculties and an undergraduate business program. Its average SAT score is 1474.
- Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee is well-known for its successful alumni and was established by the King of the Railroad himself, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Its average SAT score is 1475.
- What would this list be without the prestigious Princeton University in New Jersey? It boasts a number of Nobel Prize winners as alumni and has an average SAT score of 1495.
- If you aim to succeed in the liberal arts, Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut is the place to be. It’s very hard to get into but it’s worth it with an average SAT score of 1497.
- Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts is world-renowned and has produced some of the greatest minds ever to have existed. Its average SAT score is a mighty 1501.
- Cambridge, MA is home to another highly regarded school, of course. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) counts nearly 100 Nobel Prize winners as alumni. Its average SAT score is 1503.
- The University of Chicago is the place to go if you harbor dreams of attaining a PhD one day. Over 15% of undergraduates go as far as to earn a PhD. Its average SATscore is 1504.
- Last but obviously not least in this list is Caltech, formally known as the California Institute of Technology. You really couldn’t opt for a better school with its huge average SAT score of 1534.
Does Getting a High SAT Score Help Get Scholarships?
It’s one thing getting into a great college, but if you’ve done particularly well, you’re probably thinking about going for a scholarship. So, does getting a high SAT score help get scholarships?
One of the best ways to use your SAT score for scholarship purposes is to aim for National Merit scholarships which are automatically awarded to the top practice SAT scorers in each state. In addition to this, check with your preferred college whether they offer any kind of scholarship based on test scores.
Getting into one of the colleges with highest SAT scores is no mean feat and you’ll need all the help you can get even if you’re a genius. There’s a lot at stake so make sure you’re fully informed about the importance of doing well in your SAT. Use the tips above and score as highly as you can.
