I’m a junior that just scored a 36 Composite on the ACT. However, my subscores were:
Reading - 36
English - 35
Math - 35
Science - 36
Is a 35 on the math section fine for MIT admissions, or should I retake the ACT for a 36 on math? It obviously seems petty, but I’m unsure of how much a difference a 35 or 36 in a subscore would make.
On a similar note, my school is hosting a free SAT, and I’m unsure if I should even consider taking it given my ACT score. I’ve done some SAT practice and have yet to score 1550+. As some added info, my school’s transcript records all SAT and ACT exams, regardless of student input.
Personally I think you can stop - as all your scores are in the middle 50% range and your acceptance or decline is not going to be impacted by one or two more total points.
MIT superscores so having more on your transcript shouldn’t matter. I hadn’t heard of that btw - but i’m sure they’ll look at only what’s on your common app and then your validation thereafter.
Your ACT scores are within the range of admitted students, and if your practice SAT scores are not meaningfully higher, there’s really no reason to continue with more standardized testing.
Check off the testing box and move on to the other important areas of preparing for college.
I suppose that a free School Day SAT isn’t going to hurt, but the chances of a “lucky 1560+” are pretty small.
For MIT and other top schools, think of SAT and ACT scores as a gate. Get a good enough score and you can pass onto the next gate. Too low and you don’t get thru. Those scores are good enough to get thru. Totally no need to retake the ACT.
Great point. I think what most miss however is that the bulk of MIT applicants who are rejected passed through that gate. Far too many assume that if they fall in the accepted ranges for GPA and test scores that they have a good shot. The odds are still long, they just aren’t zero, like they would be without hitting those benchmarks. TL;DR: your test scores won’t keep you out.
More importantly, the odds are long no matter your record, unless you have some major hook, like, for example, you’re USAMO Champion. Develop a list of safeties. It’s the most important part of the college application process.
You are correct in that looking at the SAT or ACT scores of those admitted give you absolutely no insight as to your chances of admission. I’ve never seen the actual data but know personally of applicants with perfect SATs who were rejected. I would assume that the stats on the range of scores for those admitted and those rejected would just about the same.