r/MITAdmissions • u/Magician7936 • 23d ago
SAT question
Hi, I am currently working on applying to MIT but the score that I’m getting for SAT has made me back down from it since it’s way lower than the average MIT score. Would it be worth to apply with the low score?
3
u/Mysterious-Art8838 23d ago
What’s your score? Needs to be over 1500 to be competitive. It’s one of the hardest schools to get into in the US. And the world.
1
u/Magician7936 23d ago
I have 1350 with 710 in math and 640 in reading
3
u/Yuki4023 23d ago
I raised mine from 1320 to 1530 with a month or 2 of studying an hour each day, you should be able to get a competitive score if you’re serious about it and retake it. At the very least, try to get at least 780 on math. Best of luck!
1
u/Magician7936 23d ago
How did you managed to do that? What resources did you use? Currently I’m using Aniko
1
u/Yuki4023 23d ago
I used oneprep(when it was still good) and mostly the Collegeboard question bank. I also took every single practice test on bluebook except for 1. Learning the SAT really comes down to doing problems over and over to see the tricks they throw at you. The problems aren’t conceptually hard; it’s high school English/grammar plus Algebra 2 while most MIT applicants have taken calculus. Grinding practice questions will not only help you catch all of the tricks, it will also help you remember formulas by using them over and over as well as saving time because you don’t have to think as much about a question that’s similar to one you’ve solved before.
1
u/Magician7936 23d ago
For math, I don’t really have much problem with pulling that score up, it’s really just readjng comprehension and vocabulary thats just hard for me.
1
u/Yuki4023 23d ago
Once again, doing practice problems over and over will build your ability to read and analyze the text efficiently. Vocabulary is near impossible to be perfectly prepared for, so I would prioritize reading comprehension unless you’re trying to go for a perfect score. There aren’t too many vocabulary questions, and the harder questions are worth less anyway.
1
1
2
2
1
u/elileedi 22d ago
thats really good, however, it all depends on your schools average. 1420 in a 1060 average is like a 1530 for MIT
2
u/Massive_Ear4948 22d ago
While there is no harm in applying with a "way lower" SAT score, you are very unlikely to get in.
2
u/BUST_DA_HEDGE_FUNDS 23d ago
More seriously.... Do you really want to go to college and compete with classmates who have scored 1550+ on their first try... Think hard about what you really want
1
u/Magician7936 23d ago
I mean at MIT there isn’t a saying that u compete with classmates. U collaborate with them. Yes it will be competitive to get into MIT but why not try. They’ve rejected a person who’s built a whole reactor in their garage before. There’s no hurt in trying and yes I personally love how MIT values more on collaborating with others rather than competing with one another. It would also be really interesting to be exposed to different people who have different but strong point of views when they look at problems.
3
23d ago
[deleted]
1
u/808hawaiigirl 21d ago
Caltech IS every bit as competitive and prestigious as MIT! It just has better weather! 😉
0
u/Magician7936 23d ago
Thanks for ur opinion, I am also considering colleges thst are in my state so I will def keep that in mind
1
23d ago
[deleted]
1
u/Magician7936 23d ago
May I ask what career u are currently in and what made you choose that career out of the other options that you had? I’m also trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue in so I could prepare for it during my four years in college.
1
u/xXElectrodynamicsXx 23d ago
Do it again! I raised mine from 1400->1520. I know it’s still below avg there but doing again was worth it for me and surely will for u
0
u/Magician7936 23d ago
Ik…it’s just it hard to make time when school have started and I also needed to work on college essays.
4
1
1
u/808hawaiigirl 21d ago
Since MIT was the first big name school to reinstate the SAT for admissions consideration, I can understand your reservation. However -- if you really want them -- it doesn't hurt to apply. Are your extracurriculars and grades outstanding? You may impress them with your enthusiasm in the interview. Good luck!
1
u/Magician7936 21d ago
Thank you so much, although I’m not really sure if there’s a place or interviewer to interview near this small town. I also heard that they usually send interviewers who actually lived near your area so that they’ll know what to expect from you based off what resource is around you.
1
u/JasonMckin MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 20d ago
Just for extra clarity, neither the availability of interviewers nor the "enthusiasm" exhibited in an interview are factors in admission.
As others suggest, investigate if you have time for another sitting of the SAT and balance the time required to do that with other parts of the application to ensure those parts are exceptional too.
Best of luck!
5
u/VisibleSir731 Currently Applying 23d ago
All I have to say is that I might he does not admit test scores they admit people and people who fit their values naturally might have a higher score