I scored around 610 and 670 on my chem and math2 subject tests, respectively, and I was satisfied with those at first bu now i am having second thoughts… my math and reading are bothe above 700 on the regular sat. I do not want to take the subjects again because I am stressed from college apps on top of 5APs… please be brutally honest though: will those scores be crucial in my acceptance to MIT??
What is your GPA? Unweighted is best because schools vary so much in how they compute weighted GPA.
“I am already super stressed from school.”
You might want to think about whether you want to attend a super-stressful university. There are a LOT of very good universities to choose from.
i have a 4.0 unweighted 4.21 weighted, i wouldn’t particularly say i’m stressed from my school work but the whole application process added on with the stress of possibly having to retake the subject tests is what’s killing me
MIT is one of the few schools that put their subject test admission stat on their website. Your scores are indeed very low compared to that.
I was at MIT a very long time ago. However, I doubt that SAT results have dropped all that much in the intervening decades. I recall there being lots of students who had scored in the 600’s in English. I don’t recall anyone who had less than 700 on any Math or Science SAT. If there was anyone with less than 750 on any math or science SAT they weren’t admitting it. There were however many students (probably more than half) with one or multiple 800’s on the math and science SATs.
If you really want to go to MIT then you will most likely need much higher scores on your chem and math2 subject tests. However, I think that you should focus on other schools rather than stress out over MIT admission.
I would venture to guess that even low 700’s on subject tests are cause for serious concern. Can’t tell the absolute impact without seeing the whole application and then putting it into context with all the other applications.
My bigger concern is your stress level. MIT is a very stressful college. Lots of pressure on the students. Most of the MIT students do well under pressure and so they thrive in that environment. If you are at the point of not retaking the SAT tests because of the stress level, then MIT may not be a real good match for you.
You’ll be competing in a fierce pool of kids who are highly qualified, in each and every respect, including all the extras on top of great stats and rigor.
I agree with the others.
The typical MIT student breezed through HS and gets stressed once they get to MIT. If HS is stressing you, MIT will be too much.
Why do you want MIT?
What type of school are you attending?
Why are you taking 5 AP’s senior year, which ones, and is that common at your school?
Have you run the NPC on all the colleges you’re considering?
What are your safeties and matches?
Barring exceptional circumstances, MIT expects students to have no problem scoring 700+ (probably 740+) on their math and science tests. Your scores are good for quite a few universities, but don’t match what MIT expects.
In any case, it’s not just the test scores - with a 4.0 GPA that includes almost all honors and AP’s, 1500 on your SAT, two great EC’s carrying national recognition and/or a steady job and/or heavy family responsibilities, 750 on each of three subjects tests including one in the humanities… your odds would STILL be that applicants wouldn’t get into MIT. That’s what that level of selectivity means - most qualified candidates are turned down.
Therefore, the most important part of your job right now isn’t finding a dream school - finding a dream school is easy. The hard work is finding two safeties you like enough and can afford, then 3-5 matches you like and can afford.
One score in the high 600s might be fine. But both subject tests in the 600s is a red flag causing doubt that you will be able to succeed at MIT. The admissions office only wants to admit students that they are confident can do the work. They don’t want to put you in a position where it is not possible for you to succeed. So even if the rest of your application is stellar, these scores may put you out of the running.