<p>I'm looking at MIT and I plan to major in chemical engineering or something like that, along with maybe stats or business. The thing is, I got a 3 on the calc BC test and 4's on my bio and physics tests. Shut up I know. But I'm determined to get 5's this semester with my chemistry, AP micro and macro, etc. and maybe calc BC again.
Would MIT take a look at my AP scores and toss it into the fire?</p>
<p>If you can get 5's this year, I say you have a chance (definitely retake BC) depending on your other stats.
However, as I'm sure you know, MIT is one of the hardest to get into math/science colleges in the country.
With awesome stats elsewhere besides math/science AP's, your chances at other colleges would still be high (including HYPS)..with MIT it is tougher.</p>
<p>It's never too late. Those AP tests would indeed hurt your chances at MIT, but since (I'm assuming), you're a Junior, you still have a chance to nail your AP tests this year. If you can do that, I'm sure your lower scores from the past won't hurt you at all. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Just don't mention the any scores you don't want them to know, and they won't consider them - in fact, they won't even KNOW them. For example, the 3. Though, granted, it is questionable to have taken an AP class and not the test. So, if you are a junior, try studying more and taking at least calculus again.</p>
<p>Generally I say that test scores aren't the end of the world. This is an exception:</p>
<p>Get a 5 on the Calculus BC exam this year. </p>
<p>Often times, the reason to take these standardized math/science AP exams is to prove you can do this stuff to some basic level. When you apply with a slate of 5's on the basic math/science AP's, it's an instant indicator that "hey this kid has some substance behind him/her." You don't want to even give them a tiny reason to start wondering if you'll be able to handle the math GIR's.</p>
<p>
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Would MIT take a look at my AP scores and toss it into the fire?
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</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>If you can bring up that BC score, sure, it can only help. But I got a 2 on the BC calc test (a 4 on the AB subsection - my teacher went too slowly and ended up not covering some of the later material and rushing frantically through other parts of it).</p>
<p>Now, I was boosted by an 800 on the SAT-M and an 800 on the SAT Math IIC. And there was the respectable 4 on the AB subsection, which they saw. So they could see that I did have some math ability that for whatever reason didn't come through on the test.* And I had very strong science credentials. You do need to demonstrate, somehow, that you can do the work. If ALL your math ability indicators are low, you might have a problem.</p>
<p>I don't the the 4s on physics and bio are worth retakes.</p>
<p>*Once I got to MIT, I started in 18.01A, which covers the BC-only part of single-variable calculus in half a term and lets you take multivariable (18.02, or in my case 18.02A) during the rest of the fall term and IAP. Seeing as how I hadn't really learned any of the BC part in my BC class, as indicated by my score, this was definitely the right level for me.</p>
<p>Just don't mention the scores...there is no place for them on the application anyway if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>I don't think that's true... on the MyMIT application portion, there is such a section.</p>
<p>I was told by several reliable sources that if you "omit" scores, they can assume the worst, like you got a 1 or 2. Once they see your transcripts they will figure out that the scores were omitted. I say report them, show improvement or just write in the space what happened... and have your GC also
address it.</p>
<p>I am not sure if MIT can see "omitted" scores - but showing improvement over the course of a year is never a bad thing, in my opinion. I would echo that you should work on boosting your scores if possible. Even if it doesn't help you application, a solid foundation in calculus is hugely important for many classes and majors at MIT. </p>
<p>On a personal level, I applied to MIT having taken only two AP exams my junior year, Chemistry (5) and US History (4 - my teacher, while a great guy, didn't prepare us for the exam itself at all). I think APs are important but not generally deal-breakers.</p>
<p>^^I definitely don't think the humanities AP's can hurt you. Courses like history can be taught a lot of different ways--if they don't teach toward the exam, then you can do poorly. </p>
<p>Anyway, I thought they only offered AP's at the end of the year. If someone took an AP at the end of the junior year and scored poorly, the AP senior year would come to late to impact admissions.</p>
<p>If I take the BC test again and get a 5. Then I get 800's on my SAT math scores. then I get 5 on my AP chem. Would that offset with the ugly 3 and 4's? Also, this shows them that I've improved dramatically since my sophomore year, which is a good thing.</p>
<p>What do ya think?</p>
<p>...a sophomore taking BC Calc is impressive, at least in my book, even if you only got a 3.</p>
<p>Re-taking the exams can only help you, but don't stress out about it too much.</p>
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If I take the BC test again and get a 5. Then I get 800's on my SAT math scores. then I get 5 on my AP chem. Would that offset with the ugly 3 and 4's?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>4s are not ugly. Sure, 5s are better than 4s, but 4s are not ugly. Calm down.</p>
<p>Note that I apparently offset the aforementioned 2 with other parts of my application without doing a retake.</p>