<p>To begin, I am an incoming freshman. I'm probably just being overly paranoid at the moment, but after reading a question on a lj community regarding the same topic, I'm starting to become a bit worried. </p>
<p>I read about CAPs (or something?) where MIT would ask you to leave b/c you weren't performing well academically or you had health related issues, bascially asking you to withdraw? I was just wondering how badly you would have to do to be considered for that...if it's a commonplace thing at all? If there's anything like a "if you're in the X bottom percent of this class, you'll be asked to leave." I know it's too late to do anything about switching colleges (I really like MIT b/c of the awesome intellectual community it harbors), but I just want to be prepared for next year. </p>
<p>I guess I'm personally not that confident academically b/c I went to a pretty crappy high school academically. My school was very jocky and emphasized sports, rarely academics.</p>
<p>janeyre,</p>
<p>I <em>went</em> (yay last day was Thursday!) to a high school similar than yours.</p>
<p>I think that students are very rarely often asked to leave, but I am not sure of it. My reasoning is that MIT has a high retention/graduation right. Also, I have a lot of MIT student friends and no one has mentioned it to me. I really think if it were somewhat prevalent, it would have been mentioned.</p>
<p>If you were admitted, I think you'll do just fine :)</p>
<p>Seeya in the fall!</p>
<p>First, honestly, I don't think you should worry about this before you even start your freshman year. Nonetheless, here's some info that I hope will make you feel better.</p>
<p>The CAP is the Committee on Academic Performance. As stated here (<a href="http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/cap/performance/index.html)%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/cap/performance/index.html)</a>, they will review your academic performance if you are below certain minimum standards (completing less than 39 units in a term for freshmen, having less than a C average for upperclassmen). As a result of this review, they will either take no action or will put a student on "acadmic warning" after the first term in which the student does not meet their standards.</p>
<p>I have known a few people, although not many, who were put on academic warning. It's nothing to be ashamed of; it just means the person needs to be aware of his or her academic issues and take necessary steps to do better. I have only known one person who was required to withdraw. In most circumstances, academic warning is connected with medical issues rather than stupidity or laziness.</p>
<p>I should also emphasize that, in the event of medical/mental health circumstances, exemptions are readily available. For instance, my boyfriend had the flu the weekend before finals this term, and nearly went crazy trying to study for his exams while sick. Instead of taking his 16.03/16.04 final after a nervous breakdown, he went to the counseling deans and they granted him an exemption. No harm done. Ask for help and it will be given to you in spades.</p>
<p>I also came to MIT from a not-awesome high school. First term freshman year was pretty rough for me (I hadn't ever taken physics in high school -- 8.01 was not the best class of my life!!). But there are so many sources of support for MIT students, both official and unofficial, that I was able to pass all my classes and have not had trouble since.</p>
<p>Take a deep breath -- there's no reason to be worrying about the CAP before you even start MIT classes.</p>
<p>It certainly isn't an issue of lowest X percent. I haven't heard of people being asked by CAP to leave, but I think you'd have to fail <em>every</em> class before they'll hunt you down. Don't worry - you got in... MIT thought you were capable of doing the work. In any case:</p>
<p>The CAP website: <a href="http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/cap/endofterm/decisions.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/cap/endofterm/decisions.html</a> scroll down to "Required Withdrawal"</p>
<p>Dude, I am pretty sure that if you got into MIT, you are already at the academic level that they ask of you.</p>