How to interpret SAT scores for college admissions

What actually is the SAT — and how vital is it in a student’s journey? The SAT is a standardized college-admissions test (administered by the College Board) that measures two core areas: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math. Scores range on a 400–1600 scale and are used by colleges as one way to compare applicants coming from different schools, curricula, and countries. Why it matters (logically): • A comparable signal: In a world of different grading standards, the SAT gives admissions teams a common data point to evaluate readiness. • Scholarships & opportunities: Many scholarships, honors programs, and merit awards use test scores as part of eligibility or selection. • Benchmark & feedback: For students, a score highlights strengths and gaps — useful for course selection, targeted study, or deciding on remediation. • Global portability: SAT scores are recognized by many institutions worldwide, helping students who apply internationally. —but it’s not destiny: • Admissions are increasingly holistic. Grades, essays, recommendations, projects, and extracurricular impact decisions alongside or even instead of test scores. • Access and preparation vary widely; a single test can reflect opportunity as much as ability. Practical, logical advice: 1. Treat the SAT as one tool in your application toolkit. 2. Take a diagnostic, focus on weak areas, practice with official tests, and simulate real test conditions. 3. Research each college’s test policy (required, optional, or superscored) before deciding how much time to invest. 4. If scores aren’t representative, amplify other parts of the application (projects, portfolio, recommendations). Conclusion — logically speaking: the SAT is an important signal, not an absolute verdict. Use it strategically: measure, improve, decide — and don’t let one number define a student’s potential.

Worried your GPA isn’t high enough for grad school? Here’s some good news — a strong GMAT or GRE score can help you balance the scales. 💪 Admissions committees don’t just look at your grades. They look for proof that you can handle academic rigor now — and a great test score can do exactly that. Our latest article breaks down: ✅ How GMAT and GRE scores influence your application ✅ When a high score can offset a low GPA ✅ What else admissions officers look for beyond numbers If you’re aiming for top business schools or graduate programs, this one’s for you. #GMAT #GRE #BusinessSchool #GradSchool #Admissions #MBA #TestPrep #BrujoMethod https://lnkd.in/et8q8U3R

October brings cooler air, changing leaves, and the anticipation of the months ahead. For high school sophomores and juniors, though, October also marks the start of college testing season with the College Board’s PSAT. Like many transitions, this step can come with both excitement and a measure of unease. What is the PSAT and Why Do Students Take It?  The PSAT, often called the “practice SAT,” serves different purposes depending on grade level. The exclusively digital exam is offered in the student’s high school and is structured like the SAT. -For sophomores: The PSAT is a low-stakes introduction to standardized testing—an opportunity to get comfortable with the format and pacing while identifying strengths and areas for improvement before sitting for actual college entrance exams. -For juniors: The PSAT carries more weight. Scores can qualify students for National Merit recognition and scholarship programs while also providing a useful benchmark for SAT readiness. The Bottom Line: Whether the PSAT is “important” depends on context. While it isn’t required for college admission, it can open scholarship opportunities, guide test prep, and give students valuable experience in a testing environment. Why Start with Testing Early? Before students finalize their college lists, it’s wise to plan on testing. Here’s why: -College requirements vary. Some schools require test scores, while others are test optional. Building a list before knowing your student’s testing profile may limit options unnecessarily. -Flexibility is key. Once scores are in hand, your student can adjust their college list—either targeting more schools that require scores, or focusing on test-optional institutions. Adjustments are part of the process, and that’s completely normal. We anticipate that while more schools will reinstate test requirements in the coming years, the majority will likely remain test optional. Planning for testing ensures your student is ready either way. #psat #testingprep

Taking standardized tests has long been an important part of the college application process, and nowadays there are several different kinds of tests that students will encounter. Even though some universities are becoming test-optional, meaning that they won’t be required to send scores as part of the application, it is still highly recommended that you take the tests if you can since high scores can still contribute positively to your academic profile. However, it’s not always clear to students and their parents exactly when they should take these tests, and with multiple dates and types of tests offered, the choice can be difficult. While some tests like the PSAT and individual AP tests are only to be taken once, students can take the ACT and SAT as many times as they want. And these different tests carry different weights in the college admissions process. Here are our insights into when you should take each of these tests and what a general preparation schedule may look like. https://lnkd.in/gJsFEPYs #standardizedtests #collegeadmissions

Big win for Princeton — and for New Jersey higher education! 🎓✨ Princeton University has once again claimed the No. 1 spot nationwide in WalletHub’s 2026 College & University Rankings for balancing academic excellence and affordability. And they’re not alone — twelve New Jersey universities made the list, including: Stevens Institute of Technology New Jersey Institute of Technology The College of New Jersey Rutgers University Rider University Ramapo College of New Jersey Rowan University Seton Hall University Stockton University highlighting the depth and diversity of world-class higher education across the Garden State. From Ivy League labs to innovation hubs, New Jersey continues to lead the nation in preparing students for the future. #NJHigherEd #STEMEducation #CollegeRankings #InnovationLivesHere #NewJersey #EducationExcellence

A lot of people find college rankings valuable, and a lot of people think they’re severely overvalued. I see rankings as another tool to help navigate a complex problem. They’re not the only tool or the most important one. You can do just fine without ever consulting rankings, but they can help if you know how to use them. So how do you use them? #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeApplications #CollegeRankings https://lnkd.in/gquD_wKZ

THE PSAT AND SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Over the years, College App 101 has published a great deal about the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in newsletter and podcast format. Now fully digital, the PSAT/NMSQT occurs throughout October. Parents and students should consult their high school’s office of academic guidance or principal for information such as testing date, testing location, testing grades, and so forth.   While all high school grades (except seniors) may take the PSAT/NMSQT, the National Merit Scholarship competition occurs only among junior class testers. More than a million juniors compete every October for a National Merit Scholarship. The top 50,000 scorers become, in some way, a National Merit Scholar, most achieving Commended status. Of those 50,000 students, the top 16,000 scorers become National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. Eventually, about 1,000 Semifinalists are eliminated and there are 15,000 Finalists.   What is the relevance of the PSAT/NMSQT to selective college admissions? National Merit Scholars, even Commended status students, are more likely to win admission to a selective college, because National Merit Scholar status is the most elite high school academic recognition. Many such students enroll in colleges on the more selective end of the spectrum.   Parents, who are preparing their student to win admission to a selective college, would do well to ensure their student’s high school has a track record of graduating National Merit Scholars. #collegeadmission #collegeadmissions #collegeapplication #collegeapplications

A degree of studying – Students who treat education as a commodity perform worse than their intrinsically motivated peers | One of the pivotal transformations in the marketisation of higher education has been the introduction of tuition fees. A degree from a higher education institution can now, to some extent, be purchased like any other commodity. In this post, Dr Louise Bunce presents evidence that students who identify as consumers of their education perform worse academically than students motivated by an interest in the content of their courses. https://lnkd.in/eu_EePWh

A degree of studying – Students who treat education as a commodity perform worse than their intrinsically motivated peers | One of the pivotal transformations in the marketisation of higher education has been the introduction of tuition fees. A degree from a higher education institution can now, to some extent, be purchased like any other commodity. In this post, Dr Louise Bunce presents evidence that students who identify as consumers of their education perform worse academically than students motivated by an interest in the content of their courses. https://lnkd.in/eu_EePWh

Don't confuse high school graduation requirements and college admissions expectations. Realize that college admissions requirements are often the minimum and not what was taken by most students who were admitted. Right now, I'm getting questions from high school students, who are daunted by the workload in their courses. They want to know if it's OK to switch from AP to a less demanding course level or drop a course entirely. Occasionally, their schedule was too ambitious and dropping down a level is a good choice. But often these decisions will have secondary effects on their future college options. I'm not talking about choices that take MIT off the table. (Pro tip: MIT is off the table for most students.) I'm thinking about decisions that will significantly reduce their college choices, like not taking two years of a single world language or dropping math or science courses. If you're guiding one of your kids through these moments, make sure you aren't just asking if they can still graduate. Ask how it will effect their competitiveness for specific college paths. Then if the right answer is to adjust the level of a course or drop it entirely, do the work to consider a broader list of colleges that could still help their achieve their life goals.