A 1300 SAT score can leave you stuck with one main question: “Is a 1300 SAT score good enough to get into a reputable college in the U.S.?” . Well, to this we would say that the 1300 SAT score is definitely above the national average , which is something to feel proud of. But if you want to send your SAT score to your dream colleges, including places like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton , you need to have your superscore of more than 1450, which is 150–200 points higher than 1300

New York University isn’t just a name on a college list; it’s a rhythm, a skyline, a campus built into the heartbeat of downtown Manhattan .  Step out of the subway at West Fourth Street and you’re already on NYU’s campus. There’s no gate, no stone archway telling you you’ve “arrived.” Instead, Washington Square Park is your quad, professors hold office hours in cafés, and the sound of saxophones from the music school drifts past the Stern finance labs. New York University

Whether it’s autonomous cars rolling out of the Robotics Institute or machine learning models written in dorm rooms, Carnegie Mellon University doesn’t just admit students; it cultivates inventors, coders, problem-solvers, artists, and analytical thinkers. Each college under its umbrella, from SCS to CFA , has a distinct personality, but all expect one thing: sharp, prepared applicants who can back their ambition with numbers, stories, and structure. And yes, that includes

The University of Southern California gets tens of thousands of applications a year. Everyone applying thinks they’re standing out. Most of them aren’t. Now, SAT scores, do they matter at USC? Technically, no. Realistically? If your score is strong, it’s your best friend. At IvyStrides , we’ve worked with enough students to know when a test score seals the deal, and when it quietly buries an otherwise solid application. USC might be test-optional on paper, but trust us: opti

At IvyStrides , we hear one name come up again and again in our students’ queries: Emory University. Tucked into the leafy heart of Atlanta , Emory blends Southern character with global reach, a research powerhouse wrapped in a community that still remembers your name. Today, Emory calls itself test‑optional, but we know what that really means for a prepared student: a powerful chance to let your SAT score speak before your essays do. A well‑timed, correctly submitted score

We at IvyStrides have worked with enough bright, curious, college-bound students to know that “dream school” means different things to different people. For some, it’s an Ivy League name on a sweatshirt. For others, it’s a campus that feels alive with ambition. University of California, Los Angeles ? It’s both. There’s something magnetic about Westwood. Maybe it’s the light that sharp California brightness that fills classrooms and film sets in equal measure. At UCLA, studen

There’s something about Berkeley. It’s not just the California sunshine or the iconic Sather Gate that draws students in; it’s the energy of change, curiosity, and challenge. Walk across Sproul Plaza and you’ll feel it: UC Berkeley doesn’t just hand out degrees. It shapes reformers, researchers, and restless minds who want to do something that matters. And yes, that’s precisely why getting in is no easy task. The University of California system, Berkeley , especially, has on

Every year, someone walks into our virtual office, stares into the camera, and asks with half a grin and full-on nerves: “Be honest - should I even try for Cornell?” It’s a fair question. Cornell University is a heavyweight in the Ivy League. The kind that pairs a Nobel Prize pedigree with brutal winters, sprawling libraries, and a lecture hall that might change how you think about, well, everything. For some, it’s magnetic. For others, it’s mismatched energy in an elite dis

There’s something about Notre Dame University that resists quick categorization. It doesn’t court you with glossy promises or viral TikToks. It doesn’t have to. The gold dome glints in quiet defiance of trends, and the school’s reputation, which is equal parts grit, gospel, and gravitas, echoes well beyond its Midwestern coordinates. And yet, if you’re reading this in a quiet suburb outside Dallas or flipping through college options between AP classes in Austin, chances are

You’re probably staring at a list of college names, some circled, some starred, and maybe a few scratched out in red. Somewhere on that list, nestled between the heavyweights and the hopefuls, sits Washington University in St. Louis . It’s not an Ivy, but it’s often mentioned in the same breath. It’s elite, but not loud about it. And for many students, it feels like both a hidden gem and a significant leap. So, should you apply? At IvyStrides , we know this isn’t just anothe

It’s tempting to treat college decisions like checkbox math. Grades? Check.  Scores? Check. Big-name school on the Common App? Check. But applying to Rice University isn’t a checkbox move; it’s a bold one. Because Rice is not just competitive, it’s distinct, and figuring out if it’s right for you goes beyond acceptance rates or a campus tour. At IvyStrides , we’ve worked with students from Plano to Princeton who fell in love with the idea of Rice and then had to decide if th

What if the right college for you isn’t an Ivy, but something just as good, and a whole lot more you? Vanderbilt University isn’t your typical top-20 school. It’s fiercely academic but never cutthroat, famously friendly without being fluffy, and wildly underrated on most “prestige” radars, especially if you’re outside the South. Should you apply to Vanderbilt for 2026? Let’s break it down. At IvyStrides , college should be more than a brand name; it should be an academic mat

Most Ivy League conversations orbit around the usual suspects, the coast-hugging giants with postcard campuses and name-brand bravado. But just north of the noise, in a town edged by pines and ideas, stands a college that doesn’t market itself loudly because it doesn’t have to. Dartmouth College isn’t just another Ivy. It’s the one that feels entirely its own. Tucked in the heart of New Hampshire, it balances the intimacy of a liberal arts college with the horsepower of a wo

Not every Ivy League school feels the same, and that’s kind of the point. Some are rigid. Some are prestige-first, people-second. And then there’s Brown. Tucked into a walkable stretch of Providence, Rhode Island , Brown University has quietly built a reputation for shaping minds that don’t follow trends they set. The students here? Curious, candid, often unconventional. They’re not afraid to ask better questions or learn across disciplines. They’re building their own paths

Tucked into the academic fabric of the East Coast, Johns Hopkins University isn’t just a college, but a launchpad for the intensely curious . Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) was America’s first research university , and it's been rewriting the rules of academic excellence ever since.  Johns Hopkins is where lab coats meet global policy, where a senior thesis might double as published research, and where students whisper about Nobel Prizes the way others talk

At IvyStrides , one of the most common questions we hear from students is: “Should I apply to Northwestern University in 2026?” And honestly, we get why the decision feels big. Northwestern is not just another competitive school. It’s a place with a magnetic campus that stretches along Lake Michigan , where Gothic arches meet modern glass labs, and where the buzz of downtown Chicago is only a train ride away. It’s known for brilliant faculty, bold research, and a culture t

Getting into the University of Chicago is no walk in the park. With an admit rate sitting close to 5% , most students glance at the numbers and think it to be impossible to crack. However, what we have observed over the years is that any applicant with diligence, grit, curiosity, and the capacity to work hard does make it in. Located in Hyde Park , Chicago, the university is only a short ride away from downtown. The University of Chicago is considered an amalgamation of hist

Duke’s campus in Durham , North Carolina, is one of the most beautiful in the country. Think Gothic architecture that rivals Yale, paired with cutting-edge research labs. The vibe is a mix of Ivy League rigor and Southern warmth. One moment you’re studying global health policy, the next you’re camping out in “K-ville ( Krzyzewskiville ) ” for Blue Devils basketball tickets. It’s a place where academics and community collide. Professors like Robert Lefkowitz (Nobel Prize win

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, better known as MIT, is located in Cambridge , Massachusetts, just across the river from Harvard University. For generations, MIT has been recognized as one of the world's most prestigious and influential institutions. Known for its strength in engineering, computer science, and research, MIT is more than a university. It is an ecosystem where innovation meets impact. From the invention of radar and GPS to the founding of companies like

Located in Philadelphia is the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school with extremely high standards and equally low admit rate. It's Benjamin Franklin’s vision of combining knowledge with real-world application brought to life. Wharton School of Business is a world renowned institution, a leader in undergraduate business education alongside, engineering, nursing, arts, and science programs. With an acceptance rate of just 4.1%, understanding the UPenn SAT requirem