<p>All of my significant awards are from photography (by significant, I mean a lot of national and international recognition) and my other activities revolve around community service. On the business side, I do freelance graphic work on the internet and make around five figures. The only thing on my application even remotely related to math is Math Club/Team board (secretary this year, possibly vp/p next year), AIME qualification, and being 1 in 3 students at my school to take Calculus BC as a soph and getting a 5 (though I'd assume many who apply to MIT have done this as well, if not something even more impressive). </p>
<p>How critical is having math/science achievements and extracurriculars?</p>
<p>My intended major would be business/management/economics or something similar. Sloan is renowned, which is why I'm considering MIT.</p>
<p>@HYPhoper: There’s no way I’ll qualify for even USAMO. Math isn’t my strong suit; as I mentioned before, I’m predominantly interested in business. Yes, I’m aware the two are linked, but I don’t think they’re associated as intimately as, say, math and physics.</p>
<p>Making AIME and being vp of math club is pretty good. But there are definitely people here that are just management or economic majors, so that wouldn’t be a problem. So your level of math and science achievements and ECs won’t be a reason for getting rejected. The only thing that really matters is your ability to pass GIRs, since everyone has to pass them to graduate.</p>
<p>EricLee, I got in and I’m ridiculously excited and kind of in disbelief… but anyway:</p>
<p>I have no math or science awards of any kind. Nada! I may have taken the AIME 12 when I was a freshman (l was in precalc, which our school calls “Math 12,” and the math teachers didn’t have it together enough to realize that I should have taken the AIME 10 or whatever). But anyway - I’m sure I scored atrociously. And the next year (sophomore) I took AP Calc AB, got a 5 - just like thousands of other applicants. The next year (junior) I self-studied AP Statistics, got a 4 - just like thousands of other applicants probably. This year? No math at all.</p>
<p>And science… as a freshman, honors Physics; sophomore, AP Bio (5); junior, AP Chem (5). Senior year? no science at all!</p>
<p>it is true that my application claimed no outstanding aptitude or interest in natural sciences and mathematics - I’m actually interested in linguistics. but, as I learned that it IS possible to gain admittance without a major (inter-)national science or math award.</p>
<p>^Did you take the AIME or the AMC? One has to qualify to take the AIME and from what I read here, it’s a pretty big deal where one’s memories would not be so ambiguous.</p>
<p>I got in (EA, which had a higher acceptance rate), and I have done a few minor local math contests. I get about 75 on the AMC. I have almost straight B’s in math. As far as science goes, I am afraid my physics grades will lead to rescindment, but as for what they’ve seen, I didn’t even take science in 11th grade and have participated in only one puny regional Chem contest, where I came in 12th. Your accomplishments are much greater than mine. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I’m not saying he’s bad at math. He says math isn’t his strong suit, and if that’s what he believes, there are better programs out there than MIT.</p>
<p>Math isn’t the only major at MIT… and there are a lot of majors that have a very little dependence on math, including management. All that is needed is the ability to pass multivariable calculus, and after that, you can avoid math all you want.</p>
<p>I don’t think they’re necessary, although they won’t hurt. I got in EA with no major awards (a few regional Science Olympiad things, but that’s all). I didn’t qualify for the AIME until after I got in (never qualified in previous years). It’s more about the essays and whether or not you have any activity that you really care about.</p>
<p>I recall reading somewhere that HASS-oriented applicants may have a harder time proving that they’re willing to get through the GIRs, but I’m sure that wouldn’t have “shot you.” MIT does admit some humanities-not-science people, although not that many, I would think.</p>
<p>At any rate major awards aren’t critical. I should also note that I listed Forensics as my top activity, <em>ahead</em> of Science Olympiad, and got in.</p>
<p>WHat Im saying here is stuff I wish i would have done:</p>
<p>Take more than the minimum SAT IIs. Even if it’s music or history or english.
Take the SAT again. If just ONE of your scores is better, they will take the best ones.
Example: </p>
<p>I got: M:690 R:700 W:710 (2100)</p>
<p>If i took it again and got</p>
<p>M:780 R: 580 W:630</p>
<p>They would combine and get 780, 700, 710 which is awesome =]</p>
<p>Take as many APs as possible.
If your school is a ****** like mine and won’t let you take electives soph, junior year, only Senior year, COMPLAIN! TAKE APS! </p>
<p>MAKE SURE YOUR GRADES ARE GREAT! ESPECIALLY FOR THE HARD CLASSES! </p>
<p>Here’s what I DID do:
Develop a strong personal writing style, cause that will help them see who you really are.
Don’t be a nerd.
Be nerdy.
If you do nice art, send it to them. Eveen if you’re not going for art.
If you write music at all, record some and send it in. Even if youre not goin for music and you don’t play like a concert instrument or something (I sent in some Technical Hardcore Death Metal)
APPLY TO THE MIT SUMMER PROGRAMS!!!11 D:
If you get into MITES and get reccommendations from those professors it’s like GUARANTEED EARLY ADMISSION!!! (I didnt get into MITES btw, but got into the Junior Fly-In)</p>
<p>All this got me waitlisted. So feel free to ignore me.</p>