Test scores conundrum

Test Preparation
1

<p>Okay this is a long and difficult dilemma, but I will be very grateful if you read through this and provide some insight.</p>

<p>I'm going into my senior year with the following test scores:
SAT: 2230
- 750 Reading
- 780 Math
- 700 Writing
SAT Subject Tests:
- 760 Biology E
- 730 Math 2
- 690 Chemistry</p>

<p>My top choice school is Dartmouth, and my GPA is 3.65 (3.98 Weighted). Based on graphs my school has provided, I have a slight chance of getting in. I think I will improve my chances a lot if I can get my SAT scores up to the 2300 range. </p>

<p>I would like to apply to Dartmouth ED and MIT EA (MIT is my 2nd or 3rd choice), so that if I get in to either of them my family doesn't have to pay $1000 in application fees.</p>

<p>The dilemma is that I am interested in Engineering, or perhaps Chemistry. I feel that my Chem SAT score of 690 will hurt me. I don't even know if 730 for Math 2 is adequate.</p>

<p>I plan to take the October SAT this fall to get my scores up.</p>

<p>So here are my questions:</p>

<p>1. If I take the November 6 SAT Subject Tests (in Chem and possibly Math), could I still apply ED? Would my scores reach the colleges in time for them to factor into my decisions? How would this work?</p>

<p>2. Is a 730 for Math 2 a decent score for getting into Ivy League schools? Will it hurt?</p>

<p>3. If I am interested in Engineering/Chemistry, would it be OK to send in just my Math and Bio scores? Would they wonder what happened to my Chem SAT score?</p>

<p>4. When I apply, how will they know that I am going for Engineering/Chemistry? I'm guessing I write in possible majors or my interests on the application, but will this affect my freedom to choose courses once I get accepted? In other words, would it hurt if I filled in just Engineering, thus eliminating the awkwardness of having no Chem SAT score?</p>

<p>5. Is it worth it to take the ACT, thus possibly eliminating the need for SAT scores altogether?</p>

<p>I hope you guys can understand my problem, and thanks so much for reading this!</p>

2

<p>Oh yeah, I am taking AP Chemistry this year so I will be more prepared for the Chem SAT if and when I take it again.</p>

3

<p>One clarification: If you apply to Dartmouth ED, you cannot apply to MIT EA (or any other early program). </p>

<ol>
<li><p>You would need to check with the individual college websites for that. Most don’t prefer it, but they won’t mind it either.</p></li>
<li><p>The 730 in Math is rather weak (for Ivy). I say this because an 800 puts you in the 89th percentile. However, it will probably not hurt you (but it won’t help)</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, most colleges don’t mind score choice with Sat II scores. Again, check on the individual websites. I know MIT wants all scores and will choose the higest science and math for consideration.</p></li>
<li><p>They do ask for intended major. Also, your ECs and essays can refelct your interest in these fields. I’m not sure about all schools, but with MIT, the major you put will not affect your admission chances and it will not tie you down (you don’t need to choose right away).</p></li>
<li><p>Again, some schools take the ACT for both the SAT and Subject tests. But many ivies require either the ACT or the SAT AND the SAT IIs. Check on the admissions sites.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I hope this helps!</p>

4

<p>

</p>

<p>What makes you say this? This is not customary for ED programs, and Dartmouth’s Web site does not state this.</p>

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</p>

<p>Incorrect. MIT is fine with Score Choice.</p>

5

<p>I guess not.</p>

<p>I thought it prefered to have all scores (not against score choice - I should have worded that better)… but I could be wrong.</p>

6

<p>If you apply to Dartmouth ED you can’t apply anywhere else EA.</p>

<p>Also, 730 is abysmally low for MIT, considering about half the applicants have 800s (on the math II).</p>

7

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</p>

<p>Where are you guys getting this information?</p>

8

<p>^ [Early</a> Decision - Early Action - apply to colleges, search](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Facts About Applying Early Decision or Early Action – BigFuture)</p>

<p>Check out the chart on that page. It states that you cannot apply EA to any other school if you’ve applied ED. It’s a pretty reliable source, I think.</p>

9

<p>ED is binding, so that means if you get accepted, you have to go (can’t believe I just taught Silverturtle something).</p>

10

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</p>

<p>Yes, I know that. But I am under the impression that one can apply EA to other schools.</p>

11

<p>yes you can apply to EA to other schools while applying ED to one school. However, once admitted to that ED, it is binding.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>No, I don’t think that it is correct. The text itself in your link seems to contradict that chart.</p>

13

<p>Waits so is this possible…</p>

<p>Apply ED to Brown
Apply EA to MIT
Apply EA to CalTech</p>

<p>Also, if you apply EA to a school, is there that much of an admissions boost?</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes, I believe so.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Usually there seems to be no boost.</p>

<p>[Edit: Scratch that first answer. Brown explicate its policy:</p>

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<p>However, we still do not know about MIT. But UPenn’s Web site implies that one can apply EA to other schools.]</p>

15

<p>Thanks tito for your answers! Turns out Dartmouth lets you apply EA to other schools if you apply ED. I got my info from the Discover Dartmouth Facebook group:</p>

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</p>

<p>I looked on the MIT website and they didn’t say you can’t apply to other schools ED:
[MIT</a> Admissions: Early Action Versus Regular Action](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/early_action_versus_regular_action/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/early_action_versus_regular_action/index.shtml)</p>

16

<p>ED and EA and SCEA - it can be confusing. Why not just call the admissions offices for clarification?</p>

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<p>Hi - </p>

<p>w/r/t ED/EA - you can apply to MIT and anyone else from the standpoint of our process, UNLESS you apply to a single-choice or binding school ED, in which case you may not apply to us (you must respect your contract with them).</p>

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<p>^ Thank you for making your way over here, Chris. :slight_smile: </p>

<p><a href=“you%20must%20respect%20your%20contract%20with%20them”>quote</a>

[/quote]
</p>

<p>How is applying to MIT EA a breach of the ED contract?</p>

19

<p>Silverturtle is right, at least for a lot of schools. I made sure of this because I plan on applying ED to Columbia, and EA to backups and perhaps uChicago. I haven’t seen any (I guess Brown is one according to past posts) schools that don’t allow it. </p>

<p>Columbia’s application clearly states: According to National Association for College
Admission Counseling guidelines, students may
apply to other institutions, but may have only one
Early Decision application pending at any time.
While Columbia does not encourage the filing of
Early Decision (binding) application to Columbia
and Early Action (non-binding) applications to
other colleges, we do not prohibit candidates
from doing so. However, candidates should be
aware that Columbia’s Early Decision program is
a binding agreement and a candidate will be
expected to enroll, regardless of any pending
applications (early or otherwise)."</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/sites/admissions/files/webfm/firstyearapp.pdf[/url]”>http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/sites/admissions/files/webfm/firstyearapp.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
it’s on page 4</p>

20

<p>Love the title. “Conundrum.” Coincidence that I learned this word today and now found someone using the word.</p>