Deferred: Would it be beneficial to retake SAT or SAT II Chem?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>Hi. I was deferred yesterday along with most of you. I am contemplating retaking a standardized test in January and was hoping for some opinions.</p>

<p>I have taken the SAT 3 times and have a superscore of 2260 (780M 700CR 780W). I planned badly and last took it in May. I know that if I were to retake it now as a senior, my score would go up. I am confident that my critical reading could go up at at least 50 points. I could easily get an 800 in the writing if I bothered to learn the best method for writing a SAT essay. Three times is a lot though. Four might just be way too many times.</p>

<p>I took the SAT II Chem in October and received a 630, which is in the 44th percentile. I am confident that with a fair amount of studying, I could bring this up to 700+. Would it be worth it?</p>

<p>What do you think would maximize my chances in March?</p>

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<p>def take SAT II to get in the 700 range. apparently once you get 7__ you get a 'check' as in you've passed the standardized test portion of the admission review</p>

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<p>You know, maybe being deferred is a sign that your testing is all good and well. If it wasn't why wouldn't they have rejected you. I wouldn't retake.</p>

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<p>Retake the Chem for a 700+, but not the Reasoning-- after 2200 it doesn't really matter (I got in with 2160).</p>

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<p>Chem, no question.</p>

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<p>I'd like to echo dtl42 - don't stress out about the standardized tests too much.</p>

<p>That said, making the effort to study up for an SAT II and improve your score can be a good sign when your application is re-evaluated. If you're deadset on retaking, go with SAT II Chem. Your SAT I score is just fine. :)</p>

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<p>"apparently once you get 7__ you get a 'check' as in you've passed the standardized test portion of the admission review"</p>

<p>Hi, CoolCalculator. Did you mean that once we get 700-anything on SAT Subject Test, then we don't have to retake the test?</p>

<p>Did you mean that MIT admission officer treat 700 the same as 800?</p>

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<p>The admissions rate for SAT score ranges can be found here: MIT</a> Admissions: Admissions Statistics</p>

<p>I've also read posts stating that a "700 is the same as 800," but I've also heard an MIT admissions officer tell a crowd at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino several years ago that "scores in the high 700s" are competitive. The statistics in the above link show that students with scores in the 750 to 800 range gain admission at a higher percentage rate than do students with scores in the 700 to 750 range. However, I imagine that admissions officers take the larger context into consideration as well (socio-economic background, first language, any adversity, etc.). Bottom line: if your parents are both educated and upper-middle class and you have attended a good public or private school -- in other words, if you have had access to resources far beyond those of many other students -- then you should aim for scores in the high end of that range.</p>

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<p>Your SAT seems fine but it might help to retake the subject test. My D is in the same situation (deferred) and is planning to retake the physics subject test since she got a 680. Her other scores were in the 700's.</p>

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<p>Mollie, could you please respond to CoolCalculator's comment? I'm interested because I got low 700s on my SAT IIs.</p>

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<p>Post from Ben Jones on CC a few years ago (here:">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/3209061-post51.html)):&lt;/a>


</p>

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<p>Retake the chem only if you are convinced you will do substantially better. If you think you will do about the same skip it. it just reinforces the low score. IMO the SATII Math score is more significant anyway.</p>

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<p>Thanks Mollie. That quote was really helpful.</p>