I just got my SAT results back, and I scored a 1410. I'm not sure if that's considered good or if I should retake it. Can anyone tell me if a 1410 is competitive or average? Also, if retaking might improve my admission chances, especially at more selective colleges, do you think it's worth trying?
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A 1410 SAT score is considered very good, placing you above the 95th percentile of all test takers. This means you scored better than approximately 95% of students who took the SAT. For context, the average SAT score typically falls around 1050, making your score significantly higher than most students nationwide.
Your 1410 score will be competitive for admission at most colleges and universities. This score puts you within or above the middle 50% range for many prestigious institutions, including many state flagship universities and selective private colleges. However, for highly selective institutions like Ivy League schools, where the middle 50% of admitted students often score between 1450 and 1570, you might be slightly below their typical range.
Deciding whether to retake the SAT depends on your specific college goals. If you're targeting highly selective schools where the average SAT scores exceed 1450, a higher score could strengthen your application. Consider retaking the test if you feel you can realistically improve your score by studying specific areas where you lost points, and if you have adequate time to prepare without compromising other aspects of your application.
Keep in mind that colleges evaluate applications holistically. Your 1410 is strong enough that you'd likely benefit more from focusing on other aspects of your application, such as maintaining strong grades, developing your extracurricular activities, and crafting compelling essays, rather than pursuing a marginally higher test score. Many successful applicants to top universities have similar or even lower scores but stand out through other achievements and contributions.
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