Expert: Bruce - 7/30/2008

Question
I have an SAT Verbal score of 540, Math 510, Reading 500.  I received several letters from Div III coaches to play lacrosse.  I looked the colleges up on www.collegeboard.com and it shows a range for SAT scores Verbal 540 - 640, and Math 550 - 640.  Will the 510 score in Math disqualify me from being admitted, or do they make exceptions if I'm being recruited to play lacrosse at the school?

Answer
The school you looked up has a "middle 50%" SAT range of 1090 - 1280. One fourth of all freshman will be above the 1280 and one fourth below the 1090. If your grades are solid you should be fine. Having a particular talent like lacrosse can help. And don't get too hung up on the SAT. It does not really predict college success much at all, and especially not beyond the first year.

I strongly encourage you to take the ACT if you have not already done so. In my career I have seen many students who have okay SAT scores but good grades do better (relatively) on the ACT. A good showing on that could open up more school possibilities for you.

Best wishes.

Bruce