<p>I am applying to MIT early this year and I have a question:</p>
<p>I got a pretty low score on AMC12 2007 (84), but I was also the one who organized the test at my school (it was the first time the test was offered at my school), held a fund raiser to pay for it, and coached/founded/organized math team. I also took AMC/AIME classes after getting a low score in the hopes that my math team and I will be better prepared for the test this year.</p>
<p>Would you suggest.. a) mentioning my score and explaining that I organized all participation, that it was my (and my school's!) first AMC ever, etc., that I got the highest score from my school even though my score wasn't amazing and even though I taught myself algebra and precalculus etc., b) not mentioning my score but still explaining the above (it seems like this might be fishy... talking about taking the test but not having the guts to mention my score - not really my style) or c) not mentioning either? </p>
<p>Also, throughout high school I've taken a lot of classes through MIT's ESP program (run by undergrads) (summer HSSP, junction and delve) that were not for credit and not always graded but that have played a really huge part in my education, seeing as my school's course offerings are not so extensive. I'd like to mention/list these on my application. Would they be more appropriate in the Self-Reported Course Page or the Additional Information section?</p>
<p>1) AMC scores - they ain't gonna care about your low score, man. I didn't score much higher than you, and I didn't have any of your super-impressive AMC-related achievements, and I still got in. So. Mention it, mention it, mention it!! What you did is really super-cool.</p>
<p>2) I would put your ESP stuff in the Add'l Information section. That's just my gut feeling, though - you could email an admissions officer or something, just to make sure.</p>
<p>AMC scores - Yes, mention them, and the other stuff you did with AMC/math team as well. What you did shows a passion for math, and as far as the "low" score (I never took the AMC and know little about it, so I don't know if that's actually a low score or your perspective is just distorted), MIT wants people who are highly capable of learning and achieving, not people who are already math (or whatever subject you wish to study) gods. I mean, if you're already a math god AND you're highly capable of learning and achieving, more power to you, but it's not necessary.</p>
<p>I got in with a 2 on AP Calc BC and Bs in all of my high school math classes except AP Stats. I got in. Furthermore, I got through my math GIRs just fine, on my first try for both, and took and passed four extra math classes on top of that.</p>
<p>Also, I would mention that you were the highest scorer in your school. That's significant, probably more so than your actual score.</p>
<p>My high school, being the super-nerdy place that it is, actually requires everyone to take the AMC (they set aside a certain period and everyone in the school just takes it). I tracked down my scores to put them on my application, and all of my friends were like "why are you doing that if you never even qualified for the AIME [or whatever it is, I was never really clear on that...]?" I mean, I just stuck it on there because there was a space for it, and I knew I had taken the test. I don't remember much about how it was graded, but I can almost guarantee you that I scored lower than you did.</p>
<p>Seriously, just don't think so hard about it. In your case, you have a whole story about it to tell- so go with that.</p>