<p>i'm an international student and i took the new SAT. My math is 800, but my verbal is only 550. Will the 550 hurt me so much or will MIT take in account that international students score lower on that section than native speakers?</p>
<p>MIT understands that international students will likely have lower verbal scores.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, however, that you're competing against international students who will have great verbal scores. It's not a matter of MIT not understanding, it's about there being better candidates. There is a quota (6-8%) on international students, and when you can only take so few, why not take the best? You really need to work on your essays and make sure they're great.</p>
<ul>
<li>Timur</li>
</ul>
<p>Yep, there are plenty of international students who, quite frankly, speak and write English better than most Americans do. And I'm not even necessarily talking about internationals from Anglophone nations. I've met some internationals from Latin America and continental Europe who wouldn't surprise me if they have scored perfect 800's on the SAT Verbal. One guy I know that's a veritable font of information about English grammer actually was born and raised in the Ukraine and whose native tongues are Ukrainian and Russia, but is also fluent in English as well as German, French, Polish, and a number of other languages.</p>
<p>The MIT admissions website indicates:
[quote]
For non-native English speakers (for entry year 2006 and beyond): You have two options: 1) take the tests required for native English speakers (see above), or 2) you may take the 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).
[/quote]
So if English is not your first language, you might want to take the TOEFL and see if you score better on it. (Also note, the SAT I is not required at all if you go the TOEFL route.)</p>
<p>Sakky: Is his name Oskar, by chance? I know a fellow with pretty much the same description.</p>
<p>what if i score really high on my TOEFL? I did it once and earned an almost-perfect score. Can that make up for my low SAT verbal?</p>
<p>Olo, nah, his name is Andrew (actually I think it really should be Andriy, and he just Westernized it when he came to the US).</p>
<p>rispat, as the admissions site says, if you submit the TOEFL, you only need to submit the two SAT II tests (a math and a science), and not worry about the SAT I. I would believe the answer to your question is "yes".</p>
<p>oh thanks mootmom...however, the i sent my SAT 1 already...i should've known....but i think the admission office might just look at toefl instead right? so it guess it's alright that i sent the SAT 1...cuz the 800 math should help me a bit...</p>
<p>Rispat: I'm sure they'll find it admirable that you scored so well on the TOEFL and still decided to send in your SAT scores. While it may not be as attractive as a student who got perfect or near perfect scores on both Math and Verbal, it's sure to make you more attractive than someone who only sent in a great TOEFL.</p>
<ul>
<li>Timur</li>
</ul>
<p>They would see the SAT I scores in the report sent from College Board with your SAT II scores anyway (all are sent on one report), but if you submit the TOEFL and asked to be considered using that score, they'll do so.</p>
<p>alright...thanks a lot for the clarifications! by the way, how or where do you tell them what to consider?</p>
<p>You don't need to; they'll consider whatever scores present you in the best light.</p>
<p>The MIT says all non-native speaker should take the TOEFL. What if you've been living in the US all your life, but speak another language at home? I speak Farsi at home and I didn't learn English until first grade. Although I usually do well in English class and write good essays, my verbal score on practice SATs is low compared to my math score (650-700 vs. 760+). What should I do?</p>
<p>From the Admissions website:
[quote]
For non-native English speakers (for entry year 2006 and beyond): You have two options: 1) take the tests required for native English speakers (see above), or 2) you may take the 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).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You're perfectly free, as you can see, to submit the SAT I rather than the TOEFL, and a 650-700 verbal score is fine.</p>
<p>Yes, as mollie says, we'll look at whichever scores most benefit the applicant. Rispat, we'll look at your TOEFL. Mathwiz, you don't need to take the TOEFL if you've taken the SAT.</p>
<p>thanks benjones...
ps. i like ur blog! and why doesn't the MIT ad office reply to my emailS?</p>
<p>What address are you sending them to?</p>
<p><a href="mailto:admissions@mit.edu">admissions@mit.edu</a>
anyways...might get a faster reply here from you....so...
how is the IB diploma regarded by MIT? If my total projected is 40, is that considered a good score?</p>
<p>IB is good, similar to AP. In particular, you'll want to get a 6 or 7 in the higher level math & science classes, which will put you in the competitive ballpark assuming everything else is solid. As so many of our applicants are competitive in this regard, selection really comes down to the subjective parts of the application - really put yourself into your essays and choose your recommendations carefully.</p>