University considerationsAnswered
Hi guys. Do colleges in the U.S. (like MIT, Stanford etc.) look consider your major before granting you an admission? For example, does an SAT score determine which school within that university is or is not in your reach? (I have a 1510 SAT and a 96 GPA out 100).
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2 answers
Answer 1. Yes, colleges like MIT and Stanford do review your intended major prior to granting admission. Since many East Asians that apply to MIT/Stanford choose a CS or a pre-med STEM track, picking these majors are extremely competitive with lower admission rates. Although you didn't ask this question, often admit rates for Int'l applicants is lower as well. At MIT the Int'l admit rate is about 1.3% versus 4.1%.
Answer 2. Your SAT score doesn't determine which school you get into because admissions at top college in the US is not a meritocracy. Test scores are rather used as threshold markers to determine if you are qualified to be considered in the pool. A 1510 is on the low side for both MIT and Stanford closer to the 25% percentile of admits . You need to aim for 1550-1580+ at MIT/Stanford as an int'l student if you are intending to apply as a CS major. Both schools have 96% reject rate.
Good luck.
Certain majors can change your chances as some are more competitive than others. And a SAT score can put you within a reach of a university but it doesn't guarantee admission at all. Other factors such as gpa, ec's, essays, and class rigor matter as well.
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Hi. Thank you for your reply. My intended major is Computer science and I want to get into one of the above-mentioned colleges. I have an SAT score of 1510. Do you think I should retake? My GPA is 96 (on a scale of 100).