So recently I got my first SAT back (I am a rising Senior) and I got 1540 (770 Math and 770 EBRW). I generally consider myself a strong math student (5 in Calc BC as a freshman) and was a bit disheartened at my math score. Further, when looking up the middle 50% range at my dream school (MIT), I saw that the range for math was [790, 800], putting me well below the bottom 25% of accepted students. How bad will the 770 Math look, and do I need to retake the test? Unfortunately, all test centers in my state are booked, so if the score is bad I will just apply test optional.
Furthermore, I scored a 4 in AP Spanish during the pandemic Spring 2020. I have been advised by my parents to not submit this score to MIT, but have found conflicting advice on this site. How bad would submitting this 4 (and a 4 in general) to a school like MIT when many people will be submitting 5s? Would it be better to just submit nothing, or would AdComs find something fishy about that?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
MITHopeful22
What do you want to major in? Is AP Spanish your only 4 (if I’m mathing correctly that’s sophomore year)? If you don’t have any other 4s and you don’t want to major in Spanish, it’s probably fine.
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A 1540 is not a low SAT score.
You don’t need to submit your AP scores until after admission (if MIT or any other college you get accepted to will give you credits for them).
And one 4 on the AP tests is not low either.
MIT is a reach for everyone who applies.
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I probably wouldn’t take the test again (you likely have more important/meaningful things to do), and I lean towards sending that SAT score based on the admitted and matriculated stats for Class of 2024 (Haven’t seen class of 2025 data). What does your HS GC recommend?
Here are Class of 2024 stats:
Admitted mid 50% ranges: EBRW 730-780 (so your 770 is above the median) and Math 790-800 (the 770 below the 25%ile as you mentioned). Composite range not listed. Admissions statistics | MIT Admissions
Class of 2024 Matriculated mid 50% ranges from CDS: Composite 1510-1570 (your 1540 right around the median), EBRW 730-780, Math 780-800. Common Data Set 2020-21 — MIT Institutional Research
I know you know that MIT is a reach for everyone, here are the Class of 2025 acceptance rates: 4.8% Early Action, 3.4% Regular Action (overall 4%). MIT admits 4.0% from unprecedented 33,240 applicants to the Class of 2025 | The Tech
In the big picture, make sure your college list is balanced, with more match schools than reach schools, and at least one affordable safety school. Good luck.
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There are many reports of “all test centers are full”. I suspect it’s a website/data issue, as I find it unlikely that all schools in a widespread area are fully booked for all four fall test dates only a few days after registration opened (there were reports that entire counties were fully booked within hours). Check in periodically for changes
If practice tests and other factors make you think you can improve your score, taking it again might be a good idea. If not, as others have pointed out, your current score is certainly sufficient for MIT to look at the rest of your application. And more than sufficient for almost anywhere else.
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Thank you to everyone for your very helpful answers. I’ve been lurking on CC for a while now, so I know just how much of a reach MIT is and have matches and safeties lined up 
I’m planning on majoring in CS + Biology. I think that I’ll just submit the score and focus my energies now on college apps and my research project, which will hopefully be more fruitful than banging my head trying to bump my score up a few points.
MITHopeful22
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You should submit that SAT and that Spanish AP scores. And I would not take that SAT again.
If you don’t get into MIT it won’t be these scores that keep you out, but hiding them might.
I seriously can’t believe we have arrived at a place where kids are scared to submit a 1540 SAT score.
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Every time someone says they are average or subpar, they drop a score at the 98th or better percentile. I’d hate to live with the pressure kids put on themselves. It’s unhealthy.
On MIT’s website it says they only give AP credit for a 5. Four is great but it won’t get you credit there. It will at most schools.
You’re a bright student. You are going to do great in life. Don’t over stress yourself. It will all be fine.
What match abd safety schools are on your list ?
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Don’t do that. You are better off sending the 770 than not sending it.
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as a fellow rising senior… you’re worrying too much. your SAT score is NOT low. according to r/a2c (although the stats are highly biased), there is a significantly lower proportion of test-optional students admitted than those who chose to submit test scores. regardless, your test score is not low at all. and a 4 for a STEM major in a language course is not low. in fact, a 4 is a credit to ANYONE that takes an AP test and it’s not bad because it’s not a 5. you will be fine.
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My match is my state uni. My safeties are a few local colleges that I can either get a 4-year degree at or transfer to my state uni.
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Penn State and Pitt are both safeties - in my opinion. You needn’t go below - but again, if you seek to get away or you want $$, you can look at Alabama, Arizona and Arizona State and you’d get great money.
There are some great private schools out there you should look at as well - Case Western, RPI, WPI, Rose Hulman, Rochester, as examples.
Are you a National Merit Finalist by chance?
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I actually submitted this SAT score for Alternate Entry. It worked out to being a perfect 228 out of 228 with the SAT cap adjustment, so I think I will at least be a semifinalist unless I seriously messed up the paperwork 
Not sure how that works or what that means but if you get there, you might find one of these schools such as ASU a better deal for you.
College costs are critical - so if you can go on the cheap, it’s typically worth pursuing.
Selective Colleges Offering National Merit Scholarships (â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– )
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Your scores are fine and you are right in focusing your energies elsewhere. Scores and GPA meet the benchmark and then it is about those other things.
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Does MIT not accept ACT scores? If you have a “perfect” ACT, use that.
But really, your SAT is fine too.
Of course. But that requires taking another test.
@MITChris would say that a 770 is not the reason one would be rejected. Personally, I value his input over any anonymous person who suggests you retake.
Regardless, MIT is a reach for all qualified applicants.
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It’s a sad state that one thinks 770 is bad. I assure you they reject many a perfect score. There are too many smart people out there for them to be able to accept more than a small fraction.
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As others said, a 770 is fine. Is a higher score better? Of course - that’s what “score” means. Is it hugely better or even noticeably better? I certainly wouldn’t worry about it enough to retake the test - especially as you have given us no good reason to suspect your second score will be different.
As for withholding a 4 on the AP exam, do you want to get into MIT or do you want to sneak in to MIT? I would say you should give admissions as much information as possible and not withhold anything.
Finally, there is an idea out there that to get to your dream school the important thing is to check all the boxes and succeed at everything you try. Succeed defined as perfection. The corollary to this is never to chance perfection by trying anything with any risk - just check the boxes, and don’t take risks! I would say this is not what MIT is looking for, and a hell of a way to live your life.
There is nothing even a little wrong with saying “I tried X, Y and Z, and while X and Y worked out, Z, not so much. I learned it’s not for me”. I might even say it’s stronger and more positive than “I tried X and Y and was perfect at both.”
Besides, a 4 is an accomplishment. Be proud.
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As a PS, sometimes I think people would be ashamed of being an Olympic silver medalist? Silver? Number two? I feel like number two, I’m such a failure!
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