Do you ever wonder what it is like to be judged by a school from a single score? As you go through senior year, you realize how much one test can matter for a college to make a decision on you. Although some colleges are test optional, others require applicants to submit their SAT scores. The test is not based on all material you’ve learned in the 9th-12th grade: evidence-based reading, writing, and math. It is a Scholastic Assessment Test supposed to measure how well you will do in college. 

Students that are not good test takers are already at a disadvantage. For many students, the SAT is not just a reflection of intelligence but a test of nerves. Some students struggle to focus or simply freeze when they start the test and forget everything. Students go through hours of studying for this test and could end up with low scores because of one specific downfall: testing anxiety. 

This problem remains: If you do not have the number they are looking for on your SAT, you will not earn a spot at the college. Even when colleges review students’ resumes, regardless of clubs, extracurricular, or additional involvement. They still look at just the number. If you do not have the number they are looking for on your SAT, you will not earn a spot at the college. With this downfall, colleges really miss out on spectacular people and do not get the opportunity simply because of a number. 

The average score for larger schools like JMU, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary range from 1200-1400. The average SAT score for a smaller score like Longwood consists of 1000-1050. This could vary based on the major you will be attending, or just the requirement of the school. 

“You are more than just a number,” is what many families remind students of throughout the college process. Admissions decisions too often overlook years of students’ academics just for a single test score. Students deserve to be seen as more than a number.