Hey people! I'm in my junior year and thinking seriously about MIT. I was just wondering what kind of ACT scores do they typically look for? Do I have any chance if my scores are decent but not top 1 percentile?
While MIT is competitive and generally the successful applicants have high test scores, they review applications holistically. This means that they'll consider your ACT score within the context of your entire application—including your extracurricular involvement, academic achievements, essays, and letters of recommendation.
MIT's middle 50% ACT range for accepted students is 34-36. This means that 25% of MIT’s class scored below a 34 and another 25% scored a perfect 36. If you're within this range, you're in a strong position.
That being said, if your ACT score falls below that range, that doesn't necessarily mean your application is off the table. If you are strong in other aspects like extracurricular accomplishments (especially in STEM), have a rigorous course load, and have strong essays and letters of recommendation, a below-average ACT score isn't always a dealbreaker.
Keep in mind that MIT is a reach for everyone due to its low acceptance rate and high caliber of applicants. You should not bank on being accepted to MIT (or any single highly selective school) and should apply to a range of colleges where you would be happy to attend.
Lastly, remember that standardized test scores are not the main determiner of admission. Colleges like MIT are looking for students who will contribute to their campus in unique and meaningful ways, not just students who can score well on a test. So, focus on building a strong application overall, not just achieving a high ACT score.
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