<p>I'm currently a high school Junior. I took an ACT Test in December (with the notion of getting it in early so I can always retake it later if I need to), and plan on taking the SAT as well as the two Subject Tests sometime during the second semester (most likely the second-to-last test date, for the same reason as above).</p>
<p>I got a 31 on the ACT, which I thought wasn't too bad. Today I was looking on MIT's admission statistics through their website (Admissions</a> Statistics | MIT Admissions) and managed to freak myself out when I saw that the 25th percentile had a composite score of 32 on the ACT. If the 25th percentile had a 32, I would be completely ignored with my 31, right?</p>
<p>So I suppose my question is really "At what point does a test score not matter?" Should I shoot for a 34 to shoot the gap and get in the 50th percentile? I'm not looking for what my chance at getting in is (a quick look around shows that's not really allowed any more), but just advice on how much these scores really, and if a 1- or 2-point difference turns an acceptance letter into going to a different school.</p>
<p>They barely care about your grades/test scores.
In fact, they look at them just to find the following informations :
-Would you be able to understand the lectures ?
-Can you handle the courseload ?</p>
<p>So no, a 31 on the ACT is not a rejection (if you have a strong application otherwise). And remember, 25th percentile : some still got lower then this score and now attend MIT (as you long as you’re close to the percentile it’s OK I guess, but on the lower range the stats are biased by international applicants who usually score lower on the tests, because of their english level).</p>
<p>If you have the time/money to retake it, then do it. But don’t focus on it : you should work at getting good grades and being evolved in ECs - growing up as a normal person.</p>
<p>25%ile means roughly 1 in every 4 MIT students has an ACT score <=32. My ACT score is a 32. In fact my SAT critical reading is well below the 25%ile mark but no one really cares after admission.</p>
<p>Basically, just like hennebou said, they look for other factors as well, including grades, EC’s, volunteer, how well you fit, how ready you are, etc. A 31 is not the end of the world. Plus you have one more year.</p>
<p>@hheim : You should read some admissions blogs, they can be really interesting.
As a blogger said there : “We are admitting people, not numbers.”
You still have hope !</p>
<p>So really, scores are so high because that’s the type of people who apply and are accepted? They’re not accepted <em>because</em> they have high test scores, but it’s a natural byproduct from the type of people MIT attracts?</p>
<p>I suppose the high scores are the byproduct. For UChicago, where SAT scores are merely ‘considered’ in admission, the 75% percentile SAT is as high as other peer schools (HYPSM), if not higher.</p>