OT: Sorry, shameless bragging post (you've been warned!)

[HuskyNan]

Long time Boneyarders will remember that I posted my son's SAT scores from the time he took the test as an 8th grader. He got 480 writing, 520 reading and 590 math which made me very proud. Well, he just retook the SAT as a high school junior and got scores of 580 writing (77th percentile), 690 reading (94%) and 760 math (98%). His brother called him a "smarticle". I'm not exactly sure if that's 100% a compliment but it sounds about right. He's happy because that's the range of scores MIT is looking for. Well, except the writing, which we already knew was a weak point. We hired a lady who was a former college admissions officer to proofread his application essay and she's impressed with him, thinks he should be able to apply just about anywhere.

Sorry for the bragging but I'm so proud!

 

[speedoo]

Watch out Cambridge!

 

[kibblesnbits]

Congratulations. Those are outstanding scores. Two points: (1) If he retakes the test MIT (and most other top schools) will use a composite score consisting of his best sub-test scores (e.g. if he does better in writing and worse on CR and M they will combine the new higher writing score with his already strong CR and M scores); and (2) He should try the ACT as well. Some kids do better on one over the other and you only need to report the one that puts him in the best light. Good luck.

 

[doggydaddy]

Hopefully, he can get into Tennessee......lol.

Seriously, congrats!!!!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Congratulations. Those are outstanding scores. Two points: (1) If he retakes the test MIT (and most other top schools) will use a composite score consisting of his best sub-test scores (e.g. if he does better in writing and worse on CR and M they will combine the new higher writing score with his already strong CR and M scores); and (2) He should try the ACT as well. Some kids do better on one over the other and you only need to report the one that puts him in the best light. Good luck.

Absolutely--even if there are random changes, he gets the highest possible score out of this. Then the university reports that score, which makes them look good. If possible, he should take the test 3 times.

 

[vtcwbuff]

It ain't braggin' if it's fact.

Here's hoping he gets in and that mom and dad don't have to sell their souls to pay the tuition.

 

[kibblesnbits]

Absolutely--even if there are random changes, he gets the highest possible score out of this. Then the university reports that score, which makes them look good. If possible, he should take the test 3 times.

I have no data to back it up, but I'll bet that writing scores are more variable test to test because, while there are some common techniques to use, how well a student does is partly dependent on whether they find an essay prompt that they like. There is also some subjectivity to the grading.

With his strong test scores and touching admissions essay:

I was searching for myself in school but I knew that I'd made it when my mother said my art project was "prettier than a Sue Bird bounce pass" and my science presentation was "smoother than a Maya Moore jumper." The tears began to flow - those were the highest compliments in Mama's world...........​

​

he'll do fine in the admissions process. Best wishes

 

[FairView]

Congratulations to you for the nature and nurture you provided.
Congrats to your son for applying himself and leveraging the wonderful gifts he's received.
Brag all you want...our future depends on kids like him.

 

[Icebear]

Congrats to the whole family, Nan.

 

[Phil]

Congrats Nan, and here's hoping that MIT does the right thing. (My father attended MIT, so I've always had a special feeling for the place.)

 

[trb123]

AMC 10 score? AMC 12 score?

MIT wants these also.

 

[kibblesnbits]

MIT asks for AMC if you have them, but they are not required. I've spoken to MIT admissions officers and their expectation is that an applicant will have challenged himself/herself to the maximum extent possible given the opportunities available to them (i.e. taking the most challenging courses the school offers and appropriate extra- given what was available). Many schools don't offer things like AMC/AIME, Calc BC, etc. so it would be unfair to expect it.

 

[HuskyNan]

AMC 10 score? AMC 12 score?

MIT wants these also.

Dan took the AMC 10A as a freshman and scored a 93.

 

[trb123]

Dan took the AMC 10A as a freshman and scored a 93.

Congratulations. He is near the top 10 percntile. Could be in the single digits.

MIT asks for AMC if you have them, but they are not required. I've spoken to MIT admissions officers and their expectation is that an applicant will have challenged himself/herself to the maximum extent possible given the opportunities available to them (i.e. taking the most challenging courses the school offers and appropriate extra- given what was available). Many schools don't offer things like AMC/AIME, Calc BC, etc. so it would be unfair to expect it.

I strongly doubt that many students from schools that do not offer AMC would apply to MIT.

AIME is not offered by schools. It is by invitation only. About top 1-5% of AMC 10 and AMC 12 students are invited to participate in AIME. This where tough gets going - sort of. Beyond AIME, going gets tough.

If a school does not offer AP calculus courses, MIT applicants should not study there.
Some schools offer college math courses directly. Then there is no need to waste time on AP courses.

 

[kibblesnbits]

As a parent of a current MIT student and former AIME qualifier I'm quite familiar with how the tests are run. However, there are over 20,000 secondary schools in the U.S. and fewer than 20% offer the AMC tests. While you are undoubtedly right that the overwhelming majority of MIT domestic applicants come from better schools that offer AMC, I also know that they don't want to preclude outstanding candidates that were not given such opportunities.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Fine scores Nan.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

As a parent of a current MIT student and former AIME qualifier I'm quite familiar with how the tests are run. However, there are over 20,000 secondary schools in the U.S. and fewer than 20% offer the AMC tests. While you are undoubtedly right that the overwhelming majority of MIT domestic applicants come from better schools that offer AMC, I also know that they don't want to preclude outstanding candidates that were not given such opportunities.

Congrats K-Bits!!! Getting into MIT is incredibly difficult.