Low Writing Score?

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I'm in the Class of '06 and I just received my SATs (790 M 800 V 710 W). If it matters, I have an 800 on the old SAT math, so I have a composite 1600. However, the writing score is kind of off from my math and verbal scores. I have an 800 on Math IIC and am looking for 770+ on US History SAT II and Chemistry. I think I could score higher than 710 on writing and the curve was a bit harsh, but I was wondering if it was worth a retake. MIT is my top choice, and I was wondering how they would feel about this (very good, but below my standards) writing score. Would a 5 on the AP Language test and a great admissions essay help offset this score?</p>

<p>I think you'll be fine with a 710.... I'd concentrate on more subjective things.</p>

<p>come on... i have a 660 writing and i'm still applying :)</p>

<p>your writing scores are awful and you will never be able to get into the college of your choice. not even a community college. i had better sat scores than that in 7th grade.</p>

<p>lol..... right.
dont worry, you're set.</p>

<p>honestly kids, admission isn't just about grades and test scores. i know one guy who had straights a's in high school... a private well-reputed one. he had a 1600 on his sat (yeah i'm old and ours only had V and M), but didn't get into mit. you know why? his only extracurricular activity was webmaster's club.</p>

<p>mit looks for people who excel in many things. while being president of the math team and getting perfect mu alpha theta scores is an awesome (yet somewhat geeky) achievement, being active in the student council, the arts, and varsity sports will help you get into your #1. admissions looks for officer positions and awards at the state and national level. don't forget about volunteer work and summer activities either... and MOST IMPORTANTLY write good essays.</p>

<p>a lot of it is also luck. you could be just the right kind of person they are looking for at the time your application pops into the committee's hands. best wishes to all of you.</p>

<p>I got in this year with a 660 writing SAT II, which I think is the same thing as the regular SAT writing portion now. </p>

<p>I wouldnt worry about the scores if I were you. what gets you in is everything else. You need to show them that you care about the activities that you participate in...not just that you did them for an application. The essay is also very important. I know i put everything i had into that. </p>

<p>High scores are great, but from what i have heard, once you reach a certain score to get yourself considered, application readers base their decision on the rest of the application. You have much better things to worry about than raising that score.</p>

<p>how bout a 2130... with a 790 math... (but i do have an 800 math II)?</p>

<p>hehe, about the being balanced thing... would it hurt if you we're balanced in a different fashion? in addition to doing math/sciency clubs and competitions, i'm also really passionate about violin, as i have 3 meaningful ecs about that...</p>

<p>It seems as if MIT only wants your scores to be in a certain range... Matt has stated that anything with a 7 in front of it is normally good (I believe this because I only had a 700 math, hehe).</p>

<p>as long as your test scores are within the school's expected mid-range, they're fine. Test scores in the stratosphere have never promised anyone admission. </p>

<p>Writing is becoming more and more important, but it's STILL just one score, and is considered in a broader context.</p>

<p>I think what surprised me a lot about MIT admissions is the emphasis on personal qualities. I was amazed by how little things like Intel STS mattered in the big scheme of things. The only thing that really seems to "guarantee" admission to MIT is RSI -- and NO ONE has any clue how someone gets into that!</p>

<p>i just looked at the mit website, and their class profile has midranges for math, verbal, math iic, science, and "humanities" . would a great score on the US history take precedence over my 710 on writing and take the slot of "humanities"? <em>crosses fingers</em></p>

<p>Your scores and grades are entered into a formula which computes an index for you. However, I wouldn't be too concerned, as your score is not low (it begins with a 7). And even if it was, my experience with the fellow admitees and current students is that one low humanities test score won't hold you out (one person had a 550 verbal).</p>

<p>i got in with a 590 writing sat1 and a best of 670 satII, i made a post about it a few weeks ago.</p>