<p>^ I was wondering the same thing when I first saw this thread! :D</p>
<p>
You are competing against the other international applicants. Many international applicants have stellar SAT I scores (1500 or better) and near max TOEFL scores (>110/120). If you were the MIT admissions committee, which applicant would you pick?</p>
<p>It’s hard to distinguish yourself with TOEFL as it is a relatively easy test to get near full marks.</p>
<p>But test scores are not everything for MIT. They allow the option for TOEFL so they can pick the truely talented students whose native language is not English. If you consider yourself a MIT caliber student, don’t write yourself off yet.</p>
<p>@GoBlue81: I am depending on the fact that a 112 and 1590/1600 would make up? Plus, the average TOEFL score at MIT is like 106, I think. While the average SAT II is 740 to 800 in Math II, and 700 to 800 in Science. They DID say on the site that they look at them equally, they wouldn’t say that for no reason.</p>
<p>@molliebatmit: Seriously, that’s so cool, I really like Ben Jones, he had the most inspiring blog(like the one about his job), why doesn’t MIT try and bring him back. I bet he was able to attract lots of applicant by virtue of his passion.</p>
<p>
Is there really a difference between 106 and 112? Many international applicants have the ability to score the perfect 120. But if they scored 106 the first time, they wouldn’t bother to take it again as it is above the minimum (and TOEFL is incredibly expensive). Instead they would focus on SAT. A high critical reading score is much harder than a full mark in TOEFL.</p>
<p>As for SAT II, I know many students with triple-800’s in math and sciences. So again it is hard to differentiate with SAT II when you are applying to a school like MIT.</p>
<p>yes, but then how come the average SAT II is what I mentioned above, anyway, I (we) will know tommorrow, good luck, if your applying.</p>
<p>“But test scores are not everything for MIT. They allow the option for TOEFL so they can pick the truely talented students whose native language is not English. If you consider yourself a MIT caliber student, don’t write yourself off yet.”</p>
<p>Good luck tomorrow.</p>
<p>
I feel like a broken record on this thread, but the MIT admissions committee considers only the best scores of the applicant’s TOEFL or SAT I scores for international students. Only one or the other matters.</p>
<p>@mollie: haha, I know what you mean. I have a question: did the majority of people at MIT have international/national recognition?</p>
<p>No. Many did, but not the majority. Of course, it’s harder for international students, who tend to be more accomplished.</p>
<p>@molliebatmit: do you know the acceptance rate this year for international applicants? I saw a lot of int’l reject on the MIT blog. And just being curious, has MIT admissions office ever mixed up names and sent out wrong decisions?</p>
<p>That information will be released in the next few weeks, but the admissions officers generally don’t publish that information until they have a few minutes to breathe.</p>
<p>Generally international students are competing for around 100 spots, since MIT has a cap on international students, so the admit rate is often around 5%. It could be lower this year.</p>
<p>Thanks! =)</p>