  I visited some schools on the East Coast, and they had similar requirements. For Cornell and NYU, they usually take 4's and always take 5's. It appears some places accept 3's on a few tests, but that usually just allows you to transfer out of the class, it doesn't get you any credits. To actually get college credits takes a 4, or a 5, they seem to be more strict on the science and English tests most places I looked. 
