MIT’s statistics for the class entering in the fall was updated. The average ACT score has gone from 33-35 to 34-35. I got a 33 (M35 E35 R31 S31) on my ACT and decided to apply for EA, but now the average has gone up…Should I retake the ACT and go for regular action? I’m not sure if I can improve on my test score since 33 is better than all the other 20 practice test scores I have. I got 800s on math II and physics, 110 on TOEFL, and I’m an international student from Taiwan.
It’s hard to know with data so hard to come by. There are several probabilistic events that you would need to estimate the probability for in order to assess which direction to go.
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If you apply EA, what’s your estimate of the probability of A) admissions, B) deferral, or C) denial with a 33 ACT
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If you take the ACT again, what’s your estimate of W) 33 or lower, X) 34 Y)35 and Z)36
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What’s your probability of admission RD given a best ACT of 33, 34, 35, 36.
If you have numbers for these 3 events, you can calculate whether EA or RD gives you a better chance of being admitted.
If you apply EA and you get rejected chances are likely it wasn’t because of your 33. If your ACT score is the only thing that admissions is hesitant about they are more likely to defer you and not reject you. You have time to decide if you would like to take it again, but I wouldn’t be afraid to submit it for the EA deadline.
By the way, a 35 in English and math are great scores. And MIT super scores, so if you go down in math but go up in science or reading your composite can still go up.