Chances of acceptance at MIT

Chance Me / Match Me!
21

<p>MIT is a lot more lenient on people with high math/low verbal SAT scores than the converse... this is a math and science school after all, and many MIT students are just not good writers.</p>

<p>My boyfriend, for example, got a 450 on his SAT II in writing, and he's doing extremely well here at MIT. And he's a white boy from Massachusetts -- not famous, URM, or an athlete. (MIT doesn't give an admissions boost to athletes, btw -- athletics is on par with other ECs.)</p>

<p>And for dooit, who asked how many people get into MIT with a 510 verbal, the answer is "about 5% of the incoming freshman class". (Data here</a>.) Sure, that's not a huge percentage, but it does mean about 150 people get in each year with sub-500 scores, not "1" person.</p>

<p>If your TOEFL scores are good, MIT may not even consider your SAT writing/verbal, as they only consider scores which present the applicant in the best light (source here, blog of the assistant director of admissions).</p>

22

<p>The stats I saw show 2% got in with a below 550 verbal last year. What do you want to bet they were hooked?</p>

23

<p>From what I know, MIT doesn't require SAT scores from internationals.
And wow, I wish I went to your school.</p>

24

<p>how come your achievement in school and your test score doesn't correlate?</p>

<p>my opinion is that (it may be wrong), if you are bright enough to take more than 10 APS and get mostly As in them, you will be able to score higher on verbal and writing.</p>

<p>if you managed to join all those clubs and take aps and do good on them, you have the potential to score higher on SAT</p>

<p>so you have the potential, if you have time why dont you start studying hard for it.
if you are rich, get a expensive tutor (though i am very against it because it doesn't show a student's real ability...... lol and coz i am too cheap to pay for it anyway)</p>

<p>And your ESL statue won't compensate for your low verbal writing scores...</p>

<p>normally if you have studied in an american school for 4 years, you will be pretty fluent both orally and verbally (don't know if i expressed myself clear)</p>

<p>i think the major problem in some area is that theres so many number of a certain group of nationality that ESL students interact with them in their native language most of the time.
i have seen many ppl in my school who has attentded the school for 3 years and yet speaks english vaguely.</p>

<p>in my previous school, i have seen many ppl becoming better then those i see today with only a year studying in the school. (including myself who learned english last 3 years)</p>

<p>it sucks to be an esl.. i just can't express myself very clearly in both my languages</p>

<p>anyway good luck
and theres always an option other than HYP S MIT</p>

25

<p>mollie...thanks for looking those up; you really said what I was trying to say in a much clearer, concise way. Anyways, my whole point is that we CCers can't accurately predict someone's chances of acceptance, and I don't think we should just tell someone who asks for his chances of admission that he won't get in if afteall, we can't even make accurate predicitions.</p>

26

<p>i agree with the previous poster; i think MIt accepts applicants with only TOEFL and SATIIs if international. i think they might even prefer that, since most schools ask for TOEFL anyway from all internationals.</p>

27

<p>Chocolover, remember...regardless of all of my optimism, I'm not saying that you will get in. At the same time, I'm not saying that you won't get in. Just remember to have some strong safety schools in the US if you want to come here to study regardless of your admission to MIT or your other top choices.</p>

28

<p>Anonymous, don't you figure people on the "what are my chances" board really want to know what their chances are rather than a feel good answer? They can just ask their parents if they want the answer to be of course you'll get in.</p>

<p>We can guess fairly accurately because all the numbers are on record. If 2% of people with their stats got in last year, I don't think we're going out on a limb to tell someone chances are not good!</p>

29

<p>
[quote]

i agree with the previous poster; i think MIt accepts applicants with only TOEFL and SATIIs if international. i think they might even prefer that, since most schools ask for TOEFL anyway from all internationals.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Actually, anyone who considers English to not be his or her primary language (regardless of citizenship) can choose to take the TOEFL and three SAT II's. From the blog of the assistant director of admissions, which I linked above:

[quote]

Q. I am an international student or a student whose primary language isn't English. What are my testing options?
A. You have two options. You may do the SAT I or ACT and 3 SAT IIs as above, or you may choose the second option for non-native English speakers:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and two SAT II Subject Tests, one in math (level 1 (Ic) or 2 (IIc)) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).</p>

<p>Q. I am an international student, do I have to take the TOEFL?
A. No, we do not require the TOEFL for international students. However, you must submit one of the following: SAT I, ACT, or TOEFL, in addition to the required SAT IIs.</p>

<p>Q. I am an international student. Should I take the TOEFL or the SAT?
A. You may take either or both. We will consider the TOEFL or SAT equally without preference. If you submit both, we will use the test that makes you look best.</p>

<p>Q. What score should I get on the TOEFL?
A. TOEFL is the one test for which we have minimum scores. They are: 577 (PBT), 233 (CBT) and 90 (iBT). You should aim to meet or exceed these target scores: 600 (PBT), 250 (CBT), 100 (iBT).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>To be honest, my feeling on the verbal SAT is that you should do as well as you can, but don't stress over it; MIT doesn't care as much about the verbal SAT as the math. And if you feel you can do well on the TOEFL, take it by all means.</p>

<p>Note that if the OP's situation were reversed, 510M, high verbal, I would be singing a very different song. I have plenty of "unhooked" friends here with stellar SAT math scores and dismal verbal, but with my 690, I am the lowest math scorer I know!</p>

<p>(And I agree with Anonymous99 -- this is by no means a ringing "OMG you're totally in". But I think the people who automatically proclaim the OP can't get into MIT due to a low SAT verbal score aren't familiar with the way MIT is.)</p>

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<p>To the OP, don't listen to the legions of grudges on here who think standardized test scores are everything. It's not. Your resume is impressive. Because you're an international student, your will verbal scores will have less of an impact in the scheme of things. Give it a shot. I think your chances are good. Don't be discouraged. Adopt a more positive outlook on things. It'll help you in the long run.</p>

31

<p>but the guy's math IIC score is a 720.
i got a 750 and placed in the 74th percentile
don't you think that might present a problem, mathematically?</p>

<p>you need a real, real big hook, but i'm just being a realist, not a hater.
the best of luck to you, bud.</p>

32

<p>I know it is hard to get higher percentiles, but I was told that they don't look at percentiles, they only look at scores..?</p>

33

<p>I mean, I don't have any problems expressing myself or anything, it is just.. vocabs and grammars. It is so hard to get good at it</p>

34

<p>in my opinion you should go to <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.collegeboard.com&lt;/a> and look at the middle 50% of the scores for math and verbal. MIT for you seems to be a very long shot unless you can really raise your SAT scores. I just came from an MIT presentation in my area and the associate director of admissions told me that scores are very important, they are the standard of judgement. without a good sat score it is hard to get into any college, no matter the extracurriculars (unless you are as suze said an amazing athlete, urm, etc.)</p>

35

<p>well, i mean, the adcom's wont look at the percentiles
but considering that about a quarter of the people who took math IIC got a 750 or higher
that means a lot of people got a high score on the math IIC
and people who score high on that test are probably mathematically oriented, and are applying to schools like MIT</p>

<p>the point i'm trying to make:
your math score is good, but when you're looking at the competition, it's not going to be easy bud. chances are most of the people you're going to be up against probably scored higher than a 720 on that exam</p>

<p>but by all means, APPLY AND FIND OUT YOURSELF! i mean, don't let the opinions of these people actually get in the way of you applying. i'm only trying to add to the picture of the applicant pool you'll be going into. i'm only pointing out some facts for you, you can discern what you want from it. but the only way you can find out if you'll make the school of your dreams is... to apply. (:</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

36

<p>I think you don't show the strength in math/science that they would let your verbal scores slide. Remember, there is someone w/ all 800s that is rejected. What do you bring the table that would lead them to accept you over that person? If you have a good answer to that question, than you have a pretty good chance of being accepted. Otherwise, I think you really need to start looking at some other schools (but give MIT a shot EA if it is your dream).</p>

37

<p>Of course apply, at least you will have some chance then. But know that the odds are against you.</p>

<p>I think the OP was looking for a realistic representation her chances not sugar-coated optimism. That's why you asked us right?</p>

38

<p>I guess, I have to ask, because no one can actually tell me what my chances are..
But Oh, well...
I guess, at least, I think there is a hope for me...</p>

39

<p>I'm not going to argue here or anything, but the best thing you can do is apply. As many posters have said on other threads, by applying to a college, you raise your chances of acceptance significantly.</p>

40

<p>As a male, your chances are super slim.</p>

<p>MIT accepts about 10% of males vs about 30% females</p>

<p>BTW Don't listen to these people, you really dont have a chance at MIT, and you have a super slim chance at your other schools</p>