<p>I got a 720 on my chem subject test. Would that be considered a low score, even if combined with an 800 in Math II? I might take the physics subject test after completing the mechanics part of AP Physics C in December or January.</p>
<p>No, 720 is actually pretty high.</p>
<p>It’s not a great score (70th percentile); it will hurt your chances a bit, but not significantly. MIT seems to be one of the most lenient schools with respect to scores (they say that anything 750+ is golden).</p>
<p>Well it looks like your applying to top schools, so yes it is too low and you should take another subject test.</p>
<p>I remember one of the adcoms who did an info session said that anything above a 700 shows we can handle the work, and he also said that test scores simply show that we can handle the work at MIT.</p>
<p>With respect to the posters above, I’ve also heard that anything above 750 is golden. Unless you’re an international applicant like me. Then that’s a whole different story…</p>
<p>However, I can’t help but wonder… Wouldn’t anything under 800 somewhat hurt your chances since you are being compared in respect to other applicants?</p>
<p>^ Nope, because (as MIT Admissions officers have said time and time again), the difference in performance isn’t at the upper-700s line. Once you’re academically qualified, they look at everything else to see if you really belong at MIT.</p>
<p>^ Does that go for international applicants as well? (Genuinely curious, since I don’t see much posts about international applications 
)</p>
<p>^ Chris did not qualify it as being restricted to domestic admissions, so it appears so.</p>
<p>what do u mean by ‘unless ur an international student’? I’m also international and I’m really curious if they use a different criteria on international applicants…</p>
<p>^ From what I’ve seen, they do not use different standards for international applicants. It’s just much harder for internationals to get in because there are more applicants per slot.</p>
<p>^^ Well judging from this post it seems that international applicants do need to win awards and be outstanding compared to US applicants. But there has never been a different criteria posted for international students. I’m sure the Match Between You and MIT goes for every student nonetheless. Just I’m not sure how much weight is put on that for international students compared to test scores/awards/GPAs/whatnot.</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/international_applicants_helpful_tips/international_men_women_of_mys.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/international_applicants_helpful_tips/international_men_women_of_mys.shtml]MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: “International Men & Women of Mystery”<a href=“Look%20at%20the%20very%20bottom%20paragraph”>/url</a></p>
<p>We do not hold international students to different SAT score standards, because the predictive models hold for both international and domestic students. Piper is correct - the difference is that there are just more int’l applicants for fewer spots, so they have to be truly outstanding applicants.</p>
<p>But it’s not like not having awards or distinctions will keep an international applicant out, will it?</p>
<p>^ Yes and no. You aren’t automatically excluded because you might lack awards but instead the applicant with famous awards will tend to be preferred over a student with no awards UNLESS you have some other extracurriculars that are as cool as awards.</p>
<p>E.g. maybe not IPhO or IMO but perhaps you’ve invented something really cool or built ten robots that perform all of your housework.</p>
<p>^ Also, context context context.</p>
<p>Thanks Chris … makes me happy :)</p>
<p>Hey Piper, what if I only have common EC awards … music … am I doomed?</p>
<p>EDIT: and only regional-level … nothing extreme? :(</p>
<p>Nope, not doomed :)</p>
<p>Haha I have no awards Due to the fact that I don’t know the language of the country I’m residing in at the moment ><</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply Piper & Chris!</p>
<p>lol what in the world are you doing there then?</p>