According to a study by the CollegeBoard, the following conclusions were made for SAT Application Trends over a ten-year period:

SAT test takers are diverse – a trend that’s increasing with time

Language and ethnic diversity is increasing

More females take the SAT

The majority of test takers are from public schools

3 in 4 students plan to apply for financial aid

Approximately half of the students plan to pursue advanced careers

Health careers are the most popular

The average scores per section are 501 for CR; 516 for Mathematics; and 497 for Writing IVY LEAGUE Colleges SAT and Admissions Trends

The following table highlights the percentage of acceptance at each of the 8 Ivy League colleges. These statistics signify the tremendous competitiveness of the highly selective application process.

Ivy League Colleges Overall Accept. Rate Regular Decision Accept. Rate Regular Decision Apps Accepted Regular Decision Apps Received Early Decision / Action Accept. Rate Percent of Class Filled by Early Apps Early Decision / Action Apps Received Early Decision / Action Apps Accepted Expected Number of Students to Enroll Total Apps Received Total Apps Accepted Brown 10.8% 9.5% 2,152 22,645 23.7% 37.4% 2,343 556 1,485 24,988 2,708 Columbia 9.8% 8.2% 1,857 22,587 22.5% 45.9% 2,841 639 1,391 25,428 2,496 Cornell 17.4% 15.5% 5,318 34,381 36.7% 39.7% 3,405 1,249 3,150 37,786 6,567 Dartmouth 12% 10.8% 1,783 16,559 25.5% 35% 1,571 401 1,090 18,130 2,184 Harvard 7% 7% 2,046 29,112 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 1,655 29,112 2,046 Penn 17.1% 14.4% 2,770 19,273 31.5% 48.2% 3,666 1,156 2,400 22,939 3,926 Princeton 9.8% 9.8% 2,150 21,964 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 1,300 21,964 2,150 Yale 7.5% 5.2% 1,209 23,088 13.4% n/a* 5,557 742 1,310 26,000 1,951 Perfect SAT scores don’t guarantee admission at these institutions. Other factors are also important, such as, an excellent academic record with a difficult course load, strong essays, personal statements, significant extracurricular activities, solid letters of recommendation, and great interviews. To get a specific understanding of what a good SAT score is for you, first find out what the 25th to 75th percentile of SAT’s are for the colleges to which you’re applying. Obviously if your scores exceed the 75th percentile, you could have a good chance of being accepted, as long as you have demonstrated that you possess the other factors that make you an exceptional candidate. Below are charts indicating the 25th to 75th percentile of SAT and ACT scores for the admitted students entering the freshman class of each Ivy League College in the fall of 2009. These charts represent data obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Brown University Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 1331 89% ACT 487 33% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 650 760 SAT Math 670 770 SAT Writing 670 770 ACT Composite 29 34 ACT English 29 35 ACT Math 28 34 Columbia University Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 1320 97% ACT 320 24% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 680 770 SAT Math 680 780 SAT Writing 690 770 ACT Composite 29 34 ACT English 28 34 ACT Math 29 34 ACT Writing 8 10 Cornell University Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 2987 94% ACT 1075 34% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 630 730 SAT Math 660 770 ACT Composite 29 34 Dartmouth College Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 858 78% ACT 236 22% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 660 770 SAT Math 670 780 SAT Writing 670 770 ACT Composite 29 34 Harvard University Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 1600 96% ACT 482 29% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 690 780 SAT Math 690 790 SAT Writing 690 780 ACT Composite 31 34 ACT English 32 35 ACT Math 31 35 University of Pennsylvania Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 2207 90% ACT 890 36% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 660 750 SAT Math 690 780 SAT Writing 670 760 ACT Composite 30 34 ACT English 30 35 ACT Math 30 35 Princeton University Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 1270 96% ACT 328 25% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 690 790 SAT Math 700 790 SAT Writing 700 780 ACT Composite 31 35 ACT English 32 35 ACT Math 31 35 ACT Writing 8 10 Yale University Students Submitting Scores Number Percent SAT 1218 92% ACT 360 27% 25th Percentile * 75th Percentile ** SAT Critical Reading 700 800 SAT Math 700 780 SAT Writing 700 790 ACT Composite 30 34 ACT English 32 34 ACT Math 31 35

So what does it mean for you?