Hello there,
I am looking for advice about applying Early Action to MIT.
In my current situation, I want to apply Early Action, as MIT is my first-choice school. However I have tremendously low test scores:
SAT — 1430 out of 1600
Physics subject test — 670
Math subject test — 730
I’m confident that I can boost these scores with prep, but I can only retake one if I apply early?
Therefore, of the three options, which would be the wisest for me (in your opinions)?:
Retake the subject tests and apply early action to MIT
Retake the SAT and apply early action to MIT
Retake BOTH and apply REGULAR ACTION to MIT
Your advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated!
@menloparkmom Perhaps an option for you would to stop posting useless condescending comments? MIT admits people with less-than-prefect scores all the time.
Sure he’s in the bottom 25%, but it is well known that scores are not the most important part of the MIT selection process. If OP boosted his subject test scores a little bit, he would be within range.
We don’t know anything about OP’s GPA or ECs, both of which are more important. To say that OP is “guaranteed to be rejected” is complete BS. The post asked what would best better his situation, not what your useless evaluation of his application is.
@decetnoa I would personally go with option 3–There really isn’t any advantage to applying to MIT early. You may as well have the strongest scores possible when you apply.
@menloparkmom
Thank-you for your response. According to MIT’s website, they consider the highest score you have achieved if you take a test (subject test ot SAT) multiple times. Correct me if I am misreading this http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/tests
THIS is the reason I think you should not apply EA to MIT.
Look at the Math and Science subject test scores of admitted students-
“Middle 50% score range of admitted students (25th and 75th percentiles):
SAT Reasoning Test - Math [760, 800]
SAT Reasoning Test - Critical Reading [710, 800]
SAT Reasoning Test - Writing [700, 790]
ACT Math [34, 36]
ACT English [33, 35]
ACT Composite [33, 35]
SAT Subject Test - Math [780, 800]
SAT Subject Test - Science [740, 800]”
There are many applicants to MIT that achieve top SUBJECT Math and Science scores without having to take the tests twice.
In general, at a college that accepts fewer than 10% of applicants, for you to apply EA when your test scores are NOT above the 75% of enrolled students is not in your best interests, unless you have achieved extraordinary outside scientific or athletic accomplishments.
You would be wiser to apply EA to a college where your test scores ARE above the 75% of enrolled students.
When I posted in chance me thread that my DC will be applying to Caltech and MIT with 750 on math section of SAT1, I was told that we should look at more realistic schools. My DC was admitted to both schools and will be attending MIT in September.
MIT routinely rejects applicants with SAT scores of 800’s in everything. So great SAT scores will not guarantee admissions just as less than perfect scores are cause for rejection. I would apply knowing that the admit rate is extremely low and definitely have a plan B.
Also, I would think that GPA is a better predictor of one’s ability to learn and understand. The SAT test is a one or two day affair while GPA is how one is doing in the long haul. Also, it appears that schools like MIT use the SAT scores as something like a gate. Be above a certain score and on to the next gate.
MIT tries to evaluate the student as a whole and not just SAT or GPA numbers. The OP is only presenting his SAT scores and we know nothing about the rest of the “package”.
@nw2this Yes, according the Common Data Set, the only “Very Important” part of the application is “Character/Personal Qualities”, which are expressed through essays and the interview.
MIT is also very transparent about the process on their blogs.
my daughters subject test scores weren’t great either ( I think she had a 730 in Physics, because she had to self study the content of Physics C within a month) she applied to MIT EA and was admitted. So telling people that they are not good enough and shouldn’t apply is just reckless. Just concentrate on your essays. make sure they show your personality and give it a shot. Everybody knows you only have about a 8% chance of getting accepted, but if you don’t apply your chance will be 0 %.
I think it’s wrong to tell anyone “don’t apply; you have no chance.”
I think it’s a lot more helpful to encourage them to make thoughtful choices with all the schools they apply to, whether it’s a lottery, reach, match, or safety.
Especially since this particular kid wasn’t asking whether he should apply at all, but what technique would better serve him with regards to his application.
(and my advice would be to apply RD and try and improve the scores).
It makes me nuts when people start answering questions that were never asked. I don’t think it’s our job to be dream crushers.
Ummm you already posted this question? The good advice you got on your original thread is the best anyone can give you, so why insult those extremely knowledgeable people and start over as though it was irrelevant to your question. The advice here is exactly the same, perhaps harsher and less constructive. You can post chance me threads from now until December if you want, but you’ll still get the same responses because the data remains the same, as do your small chances of admission. Your scores are currently so low that they will potentially preclude you from a further qualitative review of essays and recs. Accept that. Do something about it. This sort of motivation needs to come from within, not from people on college confidential.
If you want to have any chance at all, especially EA, get off college confidential and study for the tests I’ve recommended and follow the excellent and sincere advice people gave you on your first thread. Your current practice of surveying people over and over will get you nowhere.
I applied EA to MIT with a slightly higher SAT score; on the math section I had only a 710. My physics subject test score was even lower than yours, my math subject test a little higher. At the time of my application I did not have any “extraordinary scientific or athletic accomplishments” I did however work my butt off on my essays. The best advice I got was to make sure that if someone who knew me picked up one of my essays without my name on it they would automatically recognize that it was me. I made sure my quirky almost always in a good mood personality showed through.
I did not get accepted. I also did not get rejected. I was deferred. I tried the chemistry subject test instead and got a 700. I sent in another essay for February’s update and got accepted on Pi day!
If MIT is your dream school, you have to be crazy to not even apply. @menloparkmom If I had listened to your advice I wouldn’t be a rising senior at MIT today.
I had many people tell me to reconsider applying EA. They told me to apply ED where it would give me a big boost to my admission chances. If I had gotten into any school ED that would have ended my dreams of any chance to get into MIT. I was not ready to crush my dreams without even trying at only 17 years old. I decided that if I didn’t get into MIT and if I didn’t get into any other prestigious school because of eschewing ED I would make the best of things and would make sure that I’d be happy anywhere I ended up.
however if you are considering other schools I would apply EA there… the main reason being the acceptance rate EA to MIT is almost the same as RD…so there is really no advantage to applying EA to MIT…(and statistically they don’t play games with EA to boost yield) whereas with most ivies there is a distinct advantage to applying EA with admission rates 2-5x higher than RD.
you can always apply to MIT RD and use EA somewhere else as a backup. this is a game theory approach to EA. something to consider.