Kaplan College Guide - Getting In - What Score Do You Really Need?

What Score Do You Really Need?

Colleges' average test scores vary widely. But if you're gunning for the most selective schools, you've got some work to do.

Did you ever hear the expression, "Wow, that person really has the whole package: looks, brains, money, etc.?"

Well, gaining admission to the nation's most selective universities is similar. You need the whole package: outstanding grades, enthusiastic letters of recommendation, a well-written application essay—and yes, top scores on the SAT or ACT. Here are the average test scores for some of the nation's most elite schools.

School	% Accepted	Average Test Scores
Harvard	9	SAT: Critical Reading–700-790, Math–700-790, Writing–700-790 ACT: Composite–30-34
Princeton	9	SAT: Critical Reading–680-800, Math–690-790, Writing–680-770 ACT: Composite–30-34
Yale	10	SAT: Critical Reading–700-790, Math–700-790 ACT: Composite–31-34
Columbia	10	SAT: Critical Reading–660-760, Math–660-760, Writing–660-700 ACT: Composite–28-33
Stanford	11	SAT: Critical Reading–670-760, Math–680-780, Writing–660-760 ACT: Composite–28-33
MIT	13	SAT: Critical Reading–660-760, Math–720-800 ACT: Composite–30-34
Brown	14	SAT: Critical Reading–670-760, Math–680-770, Writing–650-760 ACT: Composite–27-33
Dartmouth	17	SAT: Critical Reading–670-770, Math–680-780 ACT: Composite–29-34
Penn	18	SAT: Critical Reading–650-740, Math–680-770, Writing–650-740 ACT: Composite–29-33
Caltech	20	SAT: Critical Reading–700-780, Math–770-800
Georgetown	22	SAT: Critical Reading–640-750, Math–650-740 ACT: Composite–27-32
Duke	22	SAT: Critical Reading–690-770, Math–690-780 ACT: Composite–29-34
University of Chicago	38	SAT: Critical Reading–670-770, Math–650-760 ACT: Composite–28-33