<p>To Saona63: If he’s recruitable in swimming, he’s automatic everywhere except for MIT. If he is not good enough to make the swimming team and ignoring the ethnicity part, then he looks a lot like the multitudes of valedictorians with strong test scores and who are fairly well-rounded. A lot of people at elite schools have a profile like your son, but a lot of people who are rejected also have a similar profile. It could go either way; it’s for people with records like this that admission is a crapshoot. </p>
<p>The fact that he’s hispanic should help, but there are increasing numbers of competitive under-represented minority applicants, so I’m not sure how strong a hook it is anymore. If they had stats for minority applicants, this might help you figure out just how competitive the pool is, but I doubt schools share this information. However, my guess is that he will get in one or two of the following group: MIT, Yale, Brown, and Princeton; and that he would get in the rest of the schools you mentioned.</p>
<p>The guy’s math score is 770, which is perfectly fine. It looks like it is 730 because the “CR” is on the line above the rest of the scores. As for the SATII, most kids who get into MIT have 800 on the SATII math because of the curve, but it’s clear from the people who got in that scores above 750 are acceptable.</p>
<p>I wasn’t talking to Saona, I was referring to the original post.
But for Saona, swimming won’t really get him into MIT. Think about it - it’s an institute of technology. Also, he has SAT Chemistry rather than Physics… And a lot of his AP’s are not really relevant to the STEM area. His SAT is pretty good, however. Low chance, though… Make sure he doesn’t get upset if he gets rejected. And holy cow, make sure he applies to some “safe schools” too.</p>
<p>Back to OP. Go for it, you never know. Meaning, you never know who will be accepted and who will be rejected. It’s just like Mt. Everest; you never know who the mountain will let live and/or reach the summit, and who the mountain will kill. For example, a teenager who built a nuclear fusion reactor as a 14 year old didn’t get into MIT, but one of my friends knows an Asian girl who had mostly Bs and got in. And it’s not just about having a completely riveting story. Moral of the whole post? You only have no chance if you don’t apply. Seriously. Go for it. MIT’s application is better than most others, in my opinion.</p>
<p>To collegealum314, no he doesn’t want to swim in college. He’s very tired after 7 years of non-stop training. He could easily be recruited and paid for in lower schools but he doesn’t want to. Thank you</p>
<p>Undefined 123, he’s math score on the SAT part was 770, on the SAT II was 790… Yes he didn’t take Physics and instead Chemistry which he scored decent with a 760. However, MIT was his last choice of school. I’m sure he wont mind if he doesn’t get there, in fact I was thinking of telling him not to apply there and choose another one! Thanks for your comment</p>
<p>To Undefined123: My S applied to UF, I believe that’s a safe school for him. We are from FL and that’s the only school he would apply here. I believe UNC, UMich, UVA are a good match for him. Since he’s thinking of changing MIT ( he’s last choice) should he go for another 1 or 2 Safe schools?</p>
<p>@Saona63 2-3 safe schools is a good idea. I applied to a lot just so I don’t get stuck going to a community college. @molliebatmit No hierarchy? Then I guess for someone majoring in computer engineering, let’s say, taking chemistry over physics doesn’t matter?</p>
<p>Mollie was in biology, I’m in computer science. At the level of an SAT II, no, it doesn’t really matter. Most MIT students will change what they’re majoring in anyway, so I’m not sure why you think it has predictive value.</p>
<p>If this was google plus I would give this post a +1. SAT scores aren’t everything, and if your son feels passionate about MIT, then he should go for it. Like they say, the only way to have a zero chance of being accepted is to not apply. Good luck!</p>
<p>It sounds like the real answer is how much does your son want to go to MIT? The MIT application gives a lot more opportunities than the common app to show who your son is and what having him as a student will add to the MIT community. Like your son, my son has excellent grades, good SATs but little in the way of science awards. He loved MIT after his first visit, and he was undeterred even though he knew it would be hard and he would likely be at the bottom of his classes. If your son feels that strongly about MIT, and feels it would be a good match for him in his interests and personality, let him try. The application is a lot of work, so he should be willing to give it his all. Helpfully, the essays he writes for MIT can also be used in expanded or condensed versions for other applications. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if MIT is not your son’s first choice, or if a very urban, cold weather, study intensive school sounds like a bad fit for the boy you know best, maybe the work involved in putting together a MIT application isn’t right for him - or the best use of his time. My son is also having a heavy load for his senior year and it has been grueling getting the app done in time for EA.</p>
<p>No, it doesn’t matter. As people said, people switch majors anyway. You take the SATII which corresponds to whatever science AP you have already completed. Most applicants probably start taking science AP’s junior year, so that means they’ve only completed one. </p>
<p>There are plenty of better ways to show mathematical ability rather than taking the physics SATII, which is pretty easy anyway. For instance, qualifying for the AIME is a lot more impressive than an 800 on the physics SATII.</p>