<p>I'm an Indian student and have completed 12th class.</p>
<p>Scores:
SAT 1:
Critical Reading-600, Math-790, Writing-610
SAT 2:
Math-800, Chem-800, Physics-770</p>
<p>My grades were in the top 5% of my class.</p>
<p>I've received many academic awards-6th in state Math olympiad, 1st in state cyber olympiad, 7th in state science olympiad...</p>
<p>I play chess well and have won many prizes (at school and outside).</p>
<p>I got rejected when from the colleges of my choice (MIT, Caltech...) and have taken a gap year, during which I started learning guitar and swimming.</p>
<p>What can I do to improve my chances when I reapply? (Should I retake the SAT?,...)</p>
<p>usually, i do stress that SATs arent important...but thats only when applicants get over 2200...since ur in a VERY competitive pool a 2000 is probably a very big liability.</p>
<p>Also, for accurate chances, you need to post more details...refer to other threads for a good format. But if this is all you have, then I am sorry to say that it doesn't look too good.</p>
<p>if you improve your SATs by perhaps 200 points then you will be stronger, yes. Fin Aid wouldnt matter much, since MIT is need-blind...but caltech isnt, so it would help for Caltech.</p>
<p>There is much more to admissions though, you have to understand that SATs play a very little role once you get over 2200 or 2300...because there are tonnes of students with those scores</p>
<p>mate...you are going to need a more detailed list of extracurriculars and awards for more responses</p>
<p>and everyone is going to tell you to up the SAT scores...thats the first thing that admissions panels look at...its not important, but its generally used for separating the good, the bad, and the ordinary.</p>
<p>What you need to do first as many have suggested is bring up your SAT scores a lot. Especially at places like Caltech and MIT, it's no coincidence that the 25% mark at Caltech is a 2150 and the average is about 2250. Similar with MIT though perhaps to a lesser extent but still important.</p>
<p>Also what you do on your gap year for activities is going to be important too. Swimming and guitar are good but I'd recommend possibly getting a job, volunteering, etc.</p>
<p>^yes i agree. having been unsuccessful already, you will need to bring somethin special on the table to get an acceptance. And the only difference you can make now, is within this year. So what you do in your gap year is crucial(its gonna be the only NEW feature on your application). In fact, I would go as far as to say that it will be the MOST important factor, maybe even the sole factor, in your application. MIT will want to see what you have done with this extra year, how you have grown, and how/if you have become better suited for the institute.
correct me if i m wrong, anyone.</p>
<p>not really...i mean MIT specifically asks for a humanities teacher's and science teacher's recommendation....I would only suggest additional recommendations if you are waitlisted.</p>
<p>Perhaps you could add it as the 3rd recommendation, but a lot of schools hate additional recommendations/essays/list of activities...they MAY be frowned upon. But certainly a valid question, I am interested in others' opinions on this one.</p>
<p>Take an SAT 2 in English or history to prove that you are good at maths/sciences AND humanities/arts. Retake the SAT and try really hard to improve on the writing and cr sections. You did not post very many ec's. Try to show your passions. Start a volunteer program, if you are into helping out. A chess program at a local high school.
At this point MIT, Caltech, UPenn, Duke are all high reaches.</p>