<p>Hey guys and MIT staff, I'm pretty new here and I have some questions.
I have recently received my SAT score and it is nor so good as I expected.
I want to register to SAT in January 25, will it possible to send January scores?
I was told that if I want to take January SAT, I have to choose option " send scores university straightly", is it true?</p>
<p>Yeaaaaaah its right!</p>
<p>Yes, you can send the January scores, but it’s true that you will need to select MIT as a recipient at the time you take the test for the scores to arrive at MIT on time.</p>
<p>Hey @Molliebatmt, could you help me out a little?
I am an international applicant. I took 3 subject tests on Nov. I plan to take a new subject and re-take one of the subjects from Nov test on January SAT date. Like you said, for the scores to reach to MIT in time, I need to list MIT as one of the initial four recipients of my scores. Could you tell me how many days (after the test results are out) does it take normally for scores sent in this way to reach MIT? (I’m from Nepal, if that’ll be any help.)
If this method takes around a week or so, I was thinking of using the Rush-reporting method. I really don’t want to take any chances with MIT even if it means I’ll have to pay exorbitant Rush Reporting prices. Do you suggest using the Rush Report method?</p>
<p>Last year the November SAT was postponed in my area because of a huge hurricane. I was worried that my scores would not arrive on time. I called MIT and they said that I should not worry and that under no circumstances should I rush my scores, that it would be a waste of money. They say that they will wait for scores from exams taken in the same month that the application is due and they mean it. Just to be safe, let them know that the scores are on their way.</p>
<p>I agree with rothstem – don’t send the rush report. It’s not necessary. </p>
<p>The scores don’t take a certain amount of time to be delivered, but rather they are delivered electronically a certain number of times per month from ETS to MIT. So MIT knows that scores for January tests, if requested at the time of testing, will be delivered to them on a date that is compatible with their review process.</p>
<p>Molliebat, I have been hearing a lot that retaking subject tests for a small increase creates a bad impression on the adcom. On Nov SAT, I received 800 in Math 2 and 780 on Physics. I’ll be taking Chem and and re-taking Physics in Jan date. If you were to read my application, would the re-taking of Physics for a meager 20 point increase create a bad impression on you? I have my reasons for taking the test. I’m an international applicant with a very high financial need, so I’ll be applying to many int’l-fin-aid-friendly colleges. Most of those colleges base their decisions on academics and I’m afraid anything less than 2400 on three subject tests would probably put me out of competition since there will be many applicants with (almost) perfect SAT and subject test scores. Will MIT understand this while reviewing my application, or will it just call me a pretentious prat?</p>
<p>No, MIT only considers your highest score for a particular category. They won’t consider how many times you took the test or what your score distribution was.</p>
<p>That said, getting a 780 vs. an 800 on a subject test is not going to make or break your application to MIT, and almost certainly not to anywhere else, either.</p>
<p>@OrwellLarsson: You won’t be disadvantaged for taking Physics again, but It won’t help, even by the slightest amount. MIT has said that once you’re past the 700 mark, SAT’s stop mattering. Really, there is NO difference between the ability of the person who scored 780 and 800. What if you accidentally marked the wrong answer? See, they DON’T matter. Not at MIT, nor anywhere else. Do you think the international admits were admitted based on results of some Stupid standardized test? No they were not. They were admitted due to the qualities, passions they had.
If I were( remember, emphasis on ‘I’) an adcom, I would see it as purely waste of both time AND money.
-Big Red Machine-Kane.</p>
<p>@Mollie & Kane: I understand that retaking Physics (and even increasing the score by 20 points) isn’t really going make any difference on my MIT application; I understand that MIT is really liberal with test scores and doesn’t decide the applicant’s candidacy relying solely on test scores. I wish every other institute was that liberal with scores. Maybe they are for domestic applicants. But as I am not American, I will have to compete with four-five hundred applicants, many of whom have perfect subject test scores, from my country. Besides, I’ll be applying as a science major; so to me it only seems logical to think that a perfect subject test score will probably demonstrate my competency in science to other colleges. </p>
<p>As for other colleges, rumors abound in internet of a certain science-oriented college not considering any applicant below 800 on Math2 a competitive candidate. Also, many colleges have emphasized in their websites that international students can make up for their (relatively) low SATs with high subject test scores. So, if MIT isn’t going to stigmatize me as a score-obsessed freak for expecting a 20 point increase, why not re-take Physics as it will only help my application to other colleges? (I have to take Chem on January test date anyway.)</p>
<p>I only wanted to know whether re-taking Physics would harm my application to MIT, not if it would add to it. I know MIT’s applicant-evaluating process is as holistic as could be (and that’s one of the reasons why I so much want MIT), but I don’t want to take chances with other colleges, because even though MIT is my favorite (and first choice), I would be a fool if I don’t keep in mind the fact that my (or anyone’s) chances to MIT are absolutely slim and unpredictable (especially considering the fact that MIT has been accepting only one or two applicant(s) per year from around 500 applicants from my country).
You guys have my word that I will work extremely hard on my application and not let test scores bother me once I sort out this mess with Physics. Hopefully will get to meet you guys personally at MIT and thank for your insights and suggestions.</p>
<p>Love from Nepal,
OrwellLarsson of CC.</p>
<p>That’s why I said what I did as an aside – if you want to re-take, it’s totally your decision, and it won’t hurt your application, full stop. </p>
<p>But I also genuinely don’t think getting a 780 vs. an 800 is going to be seriously problematic for applications to other schools, for any applicant. I understand the power of the rumor mill, and I understand that test scores are one of very few things in this process that applicants feel that they can control. </p>
<p>I have no interest in stopping you from re-taking the SAT IIs. I just don’t want you to feel that all hope is lost for your applications if you happen to get back a 780 again this time.</p>
<p>
You can take my word for the fact that if adcoms are faced with two candidates- one with a 780 and other with 800- the decision will be made on OTHER factors such as the essays, LOR etc. However, they won’t be of any harm whatsoever and they won’t help that much at any other college too.
And this statement is true for every college irrespective of whether you’re domestic or not. Whether you are Chinese or Czech. And yes please don’t be disappointed if you( god forbid) again get a 780. Good luck! 
Hope you get into MIT! I’d love meeting with you if I get into MIT( god willing!)</p>
<p>I would also point out that MIT tends to go into committee on the Domestic applicant pool prior to the international pool, and so, while there is a lot of parallelism, as a rule the domestic applications are read first. There is even less reason to rush scores. Even for domestic applicants, when MIT says that they will wait for the scores, that is because they will. They have a huge number of applications to read. They start reading as soon as the file is complete. Having scores arrive in Mid January just means that your file will not be one of the first ones read. It will still be read by exactly the same number of people, and the admissions office will spend exactly as much time on it as on everyone else’s. Really, this is not something to worry about at all. </p>
<p>PS: I also echo everyone else’s comment regarding the lack of differential between a 780 and an 800. It just doesn’t matter. Academic skill is a necessary but not sufficient criteria for MIT admission. The extra 20 points cannot get you in.</p>
<p>Thanks for your suggestion Mikalye. Now that I think about it, retaking Physics does seem petty. Heeding you guys’ suggestions, I have decided against retaking Physics.</p>
<p>@Mollie: thanks once again. whatever you said is indeed helpful in reducing the anxieties and insecurities that an international applicant is bound to be feeling about college admission. It’s just that there are so many other outstanding A-level applicants from Nepal that it seems really hard to stand out with mediocre test scores. But as you, someone with deep understanding of college admission, don’t think the 780 will be detrimental to my application, I have decided against re-taking Physics. Instead I will take Literature, Chem, and Chinese.</p>
<p>OrwellLarsson, I am also from Nepal, and I too got 780 in Physics (from Nov test date as well), but I won’t be retaking it. And I also think it’s good that you have decided not to retake it.
By the way, did you say you are from A-levels? Many of my friends are doing A-levels as well (though I am not)…mind telling which school you’re from?</p>
<p>Molliebat, I need to send my Chemistry test report from Jan test. Hence, I am curious about what Mikalye said. Will MIT defer the evaluation of an application upon the applicant’s request? I mean, until the Jan SAT scores are available. (I too am international.) I have already taken Math I, Math II, and Physics.
Assuming MIT does grant the request, do you suggest I request for the deferment until my Chem scores are available? Or should I not say anything and directly send my Chem scores without notifying MIT that I’m appearing on Jan test?</p>
<p>@raseekrocks, you should let the admissions office know that you will be sitting for the January exam.</p>
<p>The deadline is quite clear. [Deadlines</a> & Requirements | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/dates]Deadlines”>Deadlines & requirements | MIT Admissions)
The January test date is quite acceptable.</p>