I go to a small high school in rural Arkansas that doesn’t offer any AP classes. I got a 35 (33 overall) on ACT math and took Calculus at a community college junior year and im taking a MV calc course at the same Community College. I placed 6th at a state Math competition junior year (not going to disclose competition for privacy) I have a 4.0 GPA and neither parent went to college. I honestly didn’t even know that SAT subject tests existed until very recently. I feel confident I can do the work, and I want to major in Mathematics. I think I have exhibited the ability to do the work. Will MIT question my ability to do the work?
I am actually in a similar high school situation. I also had a friend with a similar SAT II math score and situation. Frankly, with all the conflicting viewpoints on this topic that I have heard, I don’t know what to think anymore. Just apply. Give it your best shot. Maybe we’ll see each other there.
Apply! It won’t hurt. If you let your dedication and drive (and some nerdiness) shine through, the score won’t matter as much.
If you are great at math but a bad standardized test taker, you should definitely apply.
However, if you are not great at math and the score reflects your actual math ability, remember that MIT has its own core curriculum (called “general institute requirements”) that includes both single variable-and multi-variable calculus, and two courses in physics. These can be challenging even for strong math students.
You can find out more about MIT’s GIRs here:
http://catalog.mit.edu/mit/undergraduate-education/general-institute-requirements
I agree with the above comments 100%.
A 650 math score will not, as you put it, automatically disqualify you. I have had classmates with comparable scores.
I remember a classmate of mine at MIT coming in with SAT scores in the 1200s.
But she had good grades, excellent extracurriculars, etc.
She ended up majoring in Course 7 (Biology) at MIT, and went on to get her PhD in Biology over at UC Berkeley.
@hebegebe @nakoruru Could OP still take the Sat 2 math for January and submit it on time? If so, I think OP should do this. Right?
Today’s the last day s/he can register for the sat. Yes, it’d be a good idea.