Do Colleges Still Care About SAT Scores? Here’s What I Learned
When I saw my SAT score, I just stared at the screen.
It wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t amazing. It was just… average.
And for a second, I didn’t know whether to cry or celebrate.
I had spent months prepping for this. Late-night study sessions. Flashcards at lunch. Practice tests on weekends. People said this score would define my chances—open doors, close them, decide who I could become.
So when I got a number that felt somewhere in the middle, I didn’t know what it meant. Was I good enough? Was this the end of the road for my dream schools?
What I thought: The SAT is everything
Let’s be honest—this is what a lot of us are told.
That one test score can outweigh years of hard work. That top colleges want near-perfect numbers. That if you mess up this one Saturday, your future shrinks.
So we obsess. We track score percentiles like stocks. We compare with friends. We tie our value to a number.
But when I started researching what actually matters in college applications, I realized something that changed everything:
The truth? SAT scores are only one piece of the puzzle
Most colleges—especially now—look at your whole story.
Your grades. Your course rigor. Your extracurriculars. Your essay. Your recommendations. Your voice.
In fact, over 80% of colleges in the U.S. are test-optional right now. That means you can choose whether or not to submit your scores at all. And many students don’t.
Yes, if you have a strong score and it matches the school’s average, it can help.
But if your score isn’t where you hoped, you can still apply—and get in—without it. And that’s real.
What helped me shift my mindset
- I stopped seeing the SAT as a final verdict
It’s a snapshot, not a full picture. It doesn’t capture your work ethic, your creativity, or how far you’ve come. - I compared scores carefully
I looked at the “middle 50%” ranges of the colleges I was applying to. If I was in the ballpark, I included it. If not, I focused on strengthening other parts of my application. - I remembered test-optional means optional
Schools mean it when they say you won’t be penalized for not submitting a score. If your GPA, activities, and essays tell a strong story, that counts too. - I stopped letting a number tell me who I am
I’m proud of how hard I worked, even if my score wasn’t perfect. And that effort still shows up—in everything else I do. - I asked for perspective
I talked to my college counselor, who reminded me: “Colleges admit people, not scores.” That line stuck with me.
If you’re stressing about your score…
Just breathe.
You are not your SAT.
It’s okay if it didn’t go the way you planned. It’s okay to submit it—or not. It’s okay to be proud, disappointed, confused, or unsure.
You’re allowed to feel all of it.
But don’t let a number decide what you go for, who you become, or how worthy you think you are.
Colleges want you. Your story. Your voice. Your impact.
And no test can fully measure that.
And when it’s all over, take a deep breath.
You’re more than a score. You always have been.
Are you addicted? Are you under stress? Need to talk to someone? Text “HELLO” to 741741 or visit Crisis Text Line. Trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 to help you with your stress.
