<p>Hey. I'm applying to schools like MIT, Yale, UChicago (top 3 choices), etc. next year.
On my SAT Is I got a 740 CR, 670 M, and 730 W. Would it be neurotic or prudent to retake that? I know the math is on the low side, especially for MIT, but it seems ridiculous to retake, and to pay again for a 4 hour test because I'm 30 pts lower than my goal score.<br>
Supposing I take the Math I subject test and get 750+ (which is statistically likely judging from my practice tests) - would that cancel out my measly 670? </p>
<p>I'm not trying to avoid taking the SAT Is again out of laziness - I just think that 670 is an alright math score. If it's not good enough for Yale or MIT though, I guess I'll retake it, because I do love those schools and I don't want to be an insta-reject, but I'd like to know what other people think.</p>
<p>1st: I would strongly advise Math2 over Math1, it just looks THAT much better
2nd: It really depends how badly you want it compared to how much you hate testing XD
I DESPISE testing, but I wanted to make my chances as high as I could (without being obsessed, like taking it 5 times or something), so I retook my 2210 (800CR/740M/670W) and went up to a 2340 (SS) without any studying (790CR/760M/780W).</p>
<p>I would recommend retaking, but it honestly is your call. Congrats on the 2140, good luck next year! If you can get above a 2100 it really isn’t that big of a deal, however when it comes to HYPSM every little bit of effort can help =D</p>
<p>Top schools will prefer the MathII, and it’s not hard. You get some precalc concepts, but most of it’s the same old algebra and trick questions. It has a greater curve too. I’d say to retake the SAT (knock out some Kaplan tests beforehand too), but it’s your call.</p>
<p>Your SAT’s good, but what about the rest of your profile? Test scores don’t get you guaranteed into top colleges, but they’ll help. There will probably be thousands applying to MIT/Yale with 2300+ scores, and your profile will have to stand out.</p>
<p>If you are satisfied with your math score, why would you retake it? I don’t think you would be neurotic to retake it, though. Your math score lies in the middle 50% of first-year students at Chicago, but not at Yale or MIT. I’m not sure how many times you’ve taken it, but I will say that my math score improved 60 points over my original math score when I took it a second time. (My retake still wasn’t as high as yours, but it was good enough for my purposes – I didn’t have Ivy aspirations.)</p>
<p>Also, take the Math II like everyone said. That will be much more beneficial to you.</p>
<p>670 is pretty damn low for somebody who’s looking to go to MIT. Its importance depends on your major. If you tell them you’re passionate about quantitative subjects and hand them a 670, it’s not going to look good.</p>
1st: I would strongly advise Math2 over Math1, it just looks THAT much better
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<p>Not only does Math II look better, but I would assert that it is ultimately easier than Math I. Math II covers one more year of material than does Math I, but that means that its questions can’t be as picky as the ones on Math I are. Because Math I is perceived as easier than Math II, it has no curve, whereas you can get something like 6 questions wrong on Math II and still get an 800.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!
I’m going to take the math II. After taking practice tests I’m finding it is easier than Math I, and it has a hefty curve.
I know 670 is not the norm for an MIT applicant, but I have other things that make me think I would be a good fit for MIT. I think perhaps I’ll retake SAT Is for a second time in the fall, and I’ll just take the Chem/Math IIc subject tests now. :)</p>