* "Low" is subjective: What's considered low depends on the school's average SAT score. A score that's low for Harvard might be high for a smaller, less selective college.
* Holistic admissions: Most colleges consider more than just test scores. GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, recommendations, and demonstrated interest all play a significant role. A low SAT score might be offset by strength in other areas.
* Test-optional/test-blind policies: A growing number of colleges are test-optional (you can submit scores, but you don't have to) or test-blind (they don't consider scores at all). These policies are especially common at smaller liberal arts colleges and some public universities.
To find schools that might be a good fit even with a lower SAT score, consider:
1. Test-optional and test-blind colleges: Search online for lists of these colleges. Many websites and college search engines allow you to filter by this criteria.
2. Colleges with lower average SAT scores: Look at college rankings and profiles that include average SAT/ACT scores. Schools with lower average scores are more likely to accept a wider range of scores.
3. Focus on your strengths: If your SAT score is lower than you'd like, highlight your other achievements in your application. Strong grades, compelling essays, and impactful extracurricular activities can compensate for a lower test score.
4. Consider community colleges: Community colleges typically have open admissions policies and don't require SAT scores. You can attend for two years and then transfer to a four-year college.
5. Use college search engines: Websites like Naviance, Common App, and the College Board allow you to filter colleges based on various criteria, including average SAT scores and admissions requirements. Be sure to carefully review each school's individual admissions policies.
In short, there's no simple answer. Focusing on your overall profile and researching colleges with holistic admissions processes and/or test-optional/test-blind policies will be much more effective than searching for a list of schools that accept "low" scores.