Any score INSIDE the 25-75% range will get your application READ and LOOKED AT.Any score BELOW the 25% range will probably keep your application from getting looked at unless you are a “special case” (recruited athlete, huge donor, sought-after minority, or any other student with an inside “liaison”).Rather than giving you one meaningless number, they provide you with a target to shoot for. These numbers are incredibly helpful because they give you a range. 50% of students who gain admission to Columbia score between a 700 and a 790 on their math section. Only 25% of students who gain admission to Columbia score above a 790 on their math section.

Only 25% of students who gain admission to Columbia score below a 700 on their math section. Take a look at Columbia’s SAT Math scores. What’s up with the two numbers and the slash? Shouldn’t they just show an average?įortunately for you, colleges DON’T release “averages” of their entering class’ SAT and ACT scores – they publish their 25/75 range instead. When you look up the average SAT scores for any particular school, you’ll see the scores presented like this: Once you have an accurate idea of how this all works, it’ll make your goals much clearer (and it might put a little bit of fire in your belly, too). What Scores Do You Need to Get Into College?Īs we discussed in my previous guide, how colleges use SAT and ACT scores, getting high scores isn’t about getting into college – it’s about getting your application read in the first place.īut how, exactly, do you figure out whether or not your particular scores are high enough to get you into your target schools?

Math sat score range