<p>I already have sent MIT my SAT scores which are above 700 in all 3 sections. For another college, though, I might try to retake the SATs in October to get a scholarship.</p>
<p>I realize that MIT says that "a 700 is the same as an 800," so does that mean that if I turn my 700 CR into an 800, I shouldn't bother sending it to MIT? Could it hurt (seriously, maybe they'll think I'm too worried about scores, which I'm not)? I wouldn't want to miss admission because I didn't bother sending in my best score. My GPA is very high.</p>
<p>Also, would I have to list MIT as one of the 4 free places to send scores in Oct (for EA) or would they get there in time if I choose to send them after receiving my scores? Thanks.</p>
<p>I don't think by "700 is the same as 800," MIT admission looks down on an 800. Admission counselors will only see one score in each section and it will be your highest. As far as I know, they don't care about how worried you have been about your "low scores." They're looking at your analytical skills from an SAT score, not your mental strength and paranoia-- we are all weak and paranoid in the admission cycle, after all.
So if you improve, send in the score. Whatever the result, spend more time perfecting your essays and short responses-- personally I think they matter more than a 2400.
Best of luck.</p>
<p>The point about a "700=800" is that the Adcoms know you can do the work at MIT if you score 700+ on a test; however an 800 is certainly more impressive. There are plenty of kids who get rejected from elite schools with perfect scores, however (my son, who will be at MIT starting next week, scored 800/800 but was rejected at 4/10 schools he applied to), so whether or not you're accepted at MIT seems to depend more on everything besides the standardized testing. That said, don't kid yourself; they will look at all the SAT scores submitted; how could they not? IMO, I wouldn't take the SAT again if your scores are 750+ as you'll seem obsessive.</p>
<p>You ought to be able to send updated October scores for EA after seeing them -- MIT accepts scores from the November administration for EA as well, and my understanding is that ETS sends scores in batches electronically once or twice a month. So as long as your score is sent by at least the time ETS delivers the November batch of tests to MIT, that will be fine. What is the date by which ETS promises the October test results?</p>
<p>You might consider adding a note in your application (in the "anything else you'd like to tell us" section, perhaps) that you'll be updating your scores from the October test administration, so your readers know to look out for them. Then you could either send the scores or not, but at least MIT would be aware they might be coming.</p>
<p>I've pontificated about this on other threads, but I am firmly in the "don't stress out about retaking SAT I's" camp. Retaking the SATs for a scholarship, though (Presidential, hm? :D), is a worthy goal.</p>
<p>Expanding upon what Mollie said, perhaps you could take a few sentences to talk about your feelings on the SATs, and why you are retaking them, in the "anything else you'd like to tell us" section? Just a thought.</p>