<p>I retook a 2290, but I probably wouldn’t have if I didn’t think I could score higher. And it was my first take too, so I thought what the heck.</p>
<p>You should retake depending on how your GPA/extracurricular activities fall into play… If you have a good GPA, solid extracurriculars, and can write a bomb essay – retaking the SAT isnt so important. However, if your GPA is lacking, you can make up for it with a higher SAT score.</p>
<p>I don’t think I can write a bomb essay is my big worry. I applied to several summer programs and I thought my essays were pretty good but they didn’t turn out so well acceptance wise. So I’m a little worried about how effective my writing is. Also, EC wise I’m junior class representative, and will be senior class vice president. I am key club president junior and senior years. Passion wise, I went to ISWEEEP (international science fair) for an energy related engineering independent project. I’m also in Science Olympiad and I’m in ROV, our team is going to nationals this year. And I do math league and am starting a Mu Alpha Theta chapter at our school (though the lsat two aren’t really engineering related)</p>
<p>Also, my gpa isn’t perfect. I have all high a’s but a b in geometry freshman year. And a C in AP Bio sophomore year. (I know that’s not good…). I’m ranked 4th in my class, but our gpas aren’t on a 4.0 scale so I don’t know exactly.</p>
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<p>No, I probably should have been more specific. When I said “quite a few of us”, I meant people in the 2300+ range. Although I know there’s at least two other CCers in our class who scored a 2400.</p>
<p>Writergrl, your username certainly implies you ought to be fine with essays 
As for your ECs, it appears as though you’re the type of candidate an Ivy would be looking for. However, most applicants will be students just like you, which is why I stress the more personal aspects of the application like essays and interviews.</p>
<p>Have you visited all of the colleges in question?</p>
<p>I have visited Princeton, Duke, UVA… none of the rest. Lol too far unfortunately :(</p>
<p>Also, don’t be fooled by the username haha I joined when I was a freshman, back when I thought I was going to write the next great American Novel. Also, would including awards not really related to my major (writing contests, HOBY, poetry award?) take away from seeming like I have a focus/passion?</p>
<p>Writing is important and relevant to EVERY major, so any kind of writing awards are good.</p>
<p>If you haven’t visited the schools, have you at least researched them thoroughly? The reason I ask is that while these schools may seem alluring due to their stellar reputations, you may find that some do not quite suit your preferences. I live near Houston, for example, and I can tell you that Rice, although prestigious and situated on an aesthetically pleasing campus, is rather close to some less-than-reputable neighborhoods in Houston, which itself isn’t the nicest city to live in. And if you’re applying to MIT early action, I would certainly suggest visiting the campus.</p>
<p>Are you a rising junior or senior?</p>
<p>at this point, the retake is up to you because the score is respectable for any college. </p>
<p>personally, i scored a 2240 the first time and ended up retaking it twice-- scoring 2230 and 2260 respectively. i only did this because: one, i had an isolated problem with my reading section (i’d doze off in the middle of a reading section); two, i knew i could do better; three, college board is good at making money with its deadlines. </p>
<p>anyhow, i ended up superscoring a 2370, but then again, i’m not sure how much that helped in the overall college process in comparison to my first 2240. i’d like to think the schools that accepted me valued the rest of my application more than those 130 points.</p>
<p>Hmm… the only problem is that MIT is awful far. Eight hours… And I went to visit rice sort of, I didn’t do a whole tour and all that. However, I have researched both schools quite a lot. I have visited as many schools that are close by but it’s difficult to get out of school to go see these places… Also, I have noticed that from the schools I have visited, it has not made a difference and none of the visits are really unique. If anything it makes the schools all seem the same.
Also, I am a rising senior.</p>
<p>I think what PioneerJones is trying to say is that you don’t want to make a commitment to a school you’ve never visited. Applying to MIT may be a given because of the prestige its name carries, but you may find upon visiting the campus that it isn’t as enchanting as you believe (I’ve personally never been to MIT, but I’ve heard several anecdotes from peers who weren’t quite as impressed with it as they thought they’d be). Then again, the decision is yours entirely.</p>
<p>I thought early action wasn’t binding?</p>
<p>Also, I wasn’t so much applying because of prestige but because it has my major and i’ve been trying to like research the atmosphere with various books and it seems nice. I don’t think it’s possible to visit every place you apply. I amm not committing to go there… I will visit if I get in, even that is slim anyways.</p>
<p>I personally recommend that you visit every campus you intend to apply to, but that isn’t necessarily a requirement. It just helps narrow down your focus. However, if you aren’t completely committed to going to MIT, I suppose you don’t really NEED to visit.</p>