<p>I got rejected by Cambridge after a crappy interview 
I did get into Imperial, LSE, UCL and Warwick though. Two of them unconditional.</p>
<p>Now I need to get into a different school in Cambridge 
…Massachusetts!!!</p>
<p>I didn’t apply to Cambridge. One of my friends did (he just got rejected 
) and he told me the interview was all about solving math or science problems in front of the interviewer.
When I heard this, I knew I didn’t want to go there. MIT’s “informal” interview is really better, it shows that MIT really seeks “persons” and not just numbers or science beasts…</p>
<p>Do i have the lowest SAT score here???(2050: 630CR,670W,750M):)</p>
<p>@quiverfox: I have the same score as you 
670CR,650W,730M ! But believe me that score is not low, I know people who got accepted with lower scores (1800s and even 1600s !)</p>
<p>I took the ACT (as you can’t take SATIIs and the SAT on the same day). I scored a 31 (something around ~97th percentile), with my lowest sub-score being english, with a 29 (90th percentile… That lowers my score but whatever, it’s awesome for a non-native not-going to an english school student who did not prepped for the test).
What are your SATIIs ? I feel like mine are low (I took M1, M2 and PH and scored 700 on each), but I hadn’t covered all the material in class, so it’s kind of O.K. I’m retaking them in 2 weeks, though.</p>
<p>Anyways, our scores can’t really be compared to each other or to american applicants, as when haven’t studied exactly the same material, and we’re not as good in english (I think what really hurts intl students in the Critical Reading/Writing part of the SAT and the English part of the ACT, as this parts are made to get native speakers to make mistakes… I mean, if a native speaker makes a mistake, you could you expect a intl student to get a perfect score ?)
I also lol’d during the SATIIs. I had no idea what “odd” and “even” numbers meant, so I got 3 questions wrong for that… I took 2 practices tests before, and none was referring to even/odds numbers. That’s the kind of stupid mistakes that happen to intl students. Anyways, I now know what this means and I’m ready to retake the tests !</p>
<p>I got 800 M2 / 710 Ph.
@hennebou: MITChris said once that anything above 700 is completely fine. I don’t think you have to retake.</p>
<p>A sad reality is, despite our disadvantages in CR as non-native speakers, admitted international applicants tend to have higher SAT scores overall. Because the international admission for HYPSMC is very competitive, often our inherent disadvantages in SAT are overlooked. The only international student I know who got into Princeton from our school got 2370 superscored SAT. Ive seen few students with high 2200s who were waitlisted but it seems like those universities dont give out indulgences very often.</p>
<p>hennebou There is nothing “american” about Even and Odd numbers. You would be expected to know those no matter which corner of the world you live in.
I agree with you on the english part, but HateSMUS is right. Admissions to top universities are too competitive.</p>
<p>Why do you quote the word “american” ? I didn’t use it. I know what even and odds numbers are, I just didn’t know the english translation ! (In french, they’re called “nombres pairs” and “nombres impairs”). I’ve never learned the english words for it (that’s not really something they teach us here… It’s more like “Repeat after me : Where is Brian ? -Brian is in the kitchen”), and I don’t think you should be expected to know them no matter where you come from… Anyways, who cares.
As for the scores, I think it really depends on the school. Some universities seek numbers (like caltech), other don’t (like MIT). I trust MIT when they say that numbers are not used as cutoff between two candidates.</p>
<p>Unless an applicant has a very unique and significant accomplishment, I think it comes down to scores + personal characteristic + moderate ECs. For those, I mostly saw 2300+ SAT scorers. Perhaps, the admission officers in MIT really don’t care about SAT once an applicant breaks 700 in each section, but I think it becomes 750 for internationals for its competitive nature.</p>
<p>For even and odd number, I think you should have learned such terms before taking SAT test. I didn’t know the English terms ‘even’ and ‘odd’ numbers in grade 9 math, but I learned it afterwards. There would be tons of English mathematics terms in university level math, and not knowing such terms would deter you from having successful learning in the university.</p>
<p>Just had my MIT interview. I’m not sure how to feel lol! my EC said we have an hour, but we kept talking for over two hours. So that might be a good thing. He asked some really odd questions…</p>
<p>This definitely wasn’t your typical “MIT Interview” though. Not once was I asked “why MIT?” or describe your interests or anything of that sort. Just really random questions. The EC seemed super nice, but you never know!</p>
<p>I wonder how much of an impact does the interview have on the overall application…</p>
<p>John12w, you are fortunate to have an face to face (I assume) interview! I think MIT requires all applicants to be interviewed, if not available in their areas, by phone or skype. I really don’t feel comfortable when talking to someone through phone or skype, so I prefer meeting in person. Was there any question that threw you off?</p>
<p>@HateSMUS: Not “threw me off”, but definitely made me think. I can’t tell you exactly what the questions are, because they were so specifically random that may compromise my privacy lol (Yes, that random). If you’re asking out of worry that you might be asked the same questions, then you have nothing to worry about, because I guarantee you will NOT be asked the same questions I was asked. In fact, there’s probably a higher chance that you would be struck by lightening than to have any other EC ask those questions…</p>
<p>Wow guys, I had my interview a month ago ! Was you’re interview scheduled for January ? That’s strange.
About the scores, I think you’re wrong HateSMUS. Tests can’t be used as a cutoff because they don’t really show your level : a 750 is equal to a 790 or a 730 (it can change for small mistakes), and some genius people are also very bad tests takers.
You say that they only admit +2300 at the SAT. How come that their 25th percentile is around 2100 then ?
I believe ECs are worth more then tests scores for top school (if you have a good score, of course). And grades/transcripts are also worth more then tests scores (because it’s an average on 4years, not some test written in an hour).</p>
<p>^ My EC was really busy, and couldn’t do it earlier.
btw, I agree with you. I don’t think there’s a “Cut-off” score. Scores without context don’t mean much, if any. (especially at MIT…)</p>
<p>I’ve never said there is a cut-off. I just commented my observation of internationals accepted to MIT. Students with 2300+ SAT scores were all I found around me. This means MIT tends to accept internationals with exceptional scores. International admission is much more competitive, so you should disregard MIT’s 25th percentile. The statement about 750 in each section was from admission officers, that there is no point to retake SAT once you reached 750 in each section. In other words, it is worth to retake SAT if one didn’t reach 750 in each section. Of course, some geniuses who already showed their exceptional talents in other field could be excused.
From what I’ve seen, top schools want students with exceptional transcripts, SAT scores and extracurricular activities. Perhaps one factor is more important than the others, but international applicants are much better off with all of those.</p>
<p>I disagree, strongly. What distinguishes an applicant with a 750 from another with a 700?? NOTHING! The curve could have been different on one test, or one of them may have got ONE more answer wrong than the other; any case, SAT Scores are there to qualify YOURSELF for the university, not to be compared to everyone else in a ranking list.</p>
<p>The reason that you’ve seen only 2300+ internationals be accepted (presumably on college confidential) is purely a correlation vs causation debate. High SAT scorers tend to also have great ECs and spotless high school transcripts. However, a 2100 scorer with exactly the same transcript and ECs wouldn’t be treated any differently from the 2300+ scorer because the SAT simply cannot accurately measure success potential /academic prowess.</p>
<p>Something that is broadcasted by MIT is their ‘everything in context’ methodology. Taking advantage of the opportunities presented to you in life and in high school, being a nice person and having passions are SOOO much more important than SAT scores. </p>
<p>I know a guy who got into MIT with a 550 in Critical Reading and he just had to take some expository writing classes at MIT to make up for it. </p>
<p>So basically, the SAT doesn’t qualify you more if you do really well, it just has the capability to disqualify you if you totally bomb it (less than 2100?)</p>
<p>Guys, have your recommendations been received according to the MyMit account?</p>
<p>Mine haven’t. I think it maybe due to the volume of applications but I am starting to get a bit worried.</p>