Is a 1500 SAT Good Enough for Top 20 Schools?

Short answer: It depends on the rest of your application.

Longer answer: A 1500 is a strong score. At some Top 20 schools it’s competitive. At others it’s below the median for admitted students. Look up the middle 50% score range for each school on your list — that’s your real benchmark.

If your score is below the median, submit it only if the rest of your application is strong enough to carry it. If it’s at or above the median, it helps. Either way, the essays and activities list are doing significant work at this level.

Fun fact: Most people who take the SAT would trade scores with you.