A Worried Applicant

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Yes, I have stellar test scores (2370) and below-average grades (~3.9 UW), while also being in a few clubs which I hope to get a position in (Math Club, Chess Club, Quiz Bowl, etc.). I'm also doing research at a lab at a local university, and I hope to continue my research throughout the school year; hopefully, a research paper will come along. </p>

<p>I also play varsity badminton, but that's a completely trite extracurricular of absolutely no significance, holding no value nor whatsoever in the glaring and undermining retinas of MIT Admission officers. </p>

<p>I'm also set to start a Biology Club (or something along those lines..) to get my fellow comrades involved in science fairs and the USABO. But that probably won't be too big..right? </p>

<p>Well, what don't I have?
Awards, a long list of them.
After taking a gander at the gloomy and distressed thread of MIT admission decisions, I was dead on scared.</p>

<p>USABO Finalist, USAMO Qualifier x15, Intel ISEF, Siemens Finalist, RSI, MOSP, NMSF, and all the other unofficial awards noone cares about. </p>

<p>As a rising junior, I have none of those. Sure, I'm going to do USABO, Intel ISEF/other science fairs, and apply for RSI, but what are the chances I'll get distantly far in any of those avocations? Very low, considering the amount of people RSI admits per year...</p>

<p>I also don't have leadership awards/activities (Student council, etc.), because I've never like committing to those kind of things, I'm mostly a science/math kind of guy. </p>

<p>So, what is there to be done?</p>

2

<p>^ I am not an expert regarding admissions.</p>

<p>You actually sound like Lenin. :p</p>

3

<p>Stop reading MIT threads, if it stresses you out. Those threads can be very intimidating. You are a strong candidate for MIT. You are NOT a long shot. You have as good a chance as “almost” anybody. Not all the students at MIT have the awards that you listed. Keep your GPA at the level it is at or higher and start definitely that Biology club. No EC is “trite” if you are passionate about it- even Badminton. If anything, it gives you some distinction… Write some awesome essays that really show who you are and show them you would be a great fit. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>I can’t believe you call 3.9 below average. X___X</p>

<p>But you sound like you’re really involved! Don’t do stuff you don’t want to do. Just keep doing what you enjoy doing. Try for things even if you think “you have no chance” and you’ll do just fine. Have some confidence in yourself! MIT isn’t the end all be all.</p>

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<p>Why do you think a 3.9 UW is below average?</p>

<p>Why do you think badminton doesn’t contribute to your application?</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>Luciferlied, if you mean this question for real - think about it. Let’s say you put all you can into qualifying for certain camps, competitions, etc. </p>

<p>Chances are, like you said, you won’t get as far in them as you want. Likely, there are people who have spent a lot more time and effort on prepping for them. But, like any such thing, those camps and competitions are not the end-all of preparing to be successful at a technically rigorous school.</p>

<p>What you can do is develop yourself academically as much as you can, and do some things like competitions to see how you like them. The chances of anyone just deciding to achieve a status worthy of really catching an MIT admissions officer’s eye in terms of competitions alone are low. You’re better off developing yourself and reflecting on what you bring to the table, and writing about that in your personal statements to the school.</p>

<p>There’s a long way from getting into college to being able to do hardcore work, and always focus on that, because it’ll keep you doing something instead of worrying unnecessarily - chances are, you won’t get into MIT anyway, and certainly not through a bunch of camps and competitions, unless they click for you like they do for one among very many contestants.</p>

7

<p>[YouTube</a> - MIKA - Relax, Take It Easy](<a href=“MIKA - Relax, Take It Easy (New Version) (Official Music Video) - YouTube”>MIKA - Relax, Take It Easy (New Version) (Official Music Video) - YouTube)</p>

8

<p>^I LOL’ed :smiley:
How’s a 3.9 below average?
I’d kill for your scores dude. Well no not really, but still, 3.9 [considering you maintain it] and a 2370 = get a good list of ECs and take your time on your essays and get good recs = good chance of admission. Or at least as good as anyone else, seeing as the admissions process is totally subjective at a point. If you don’t get in, it’s not because of your grades. And I second the above poster.</p>

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<p>You are definitely in. ~~~</p>

10

<p>You are definitely in. ~~~</p>

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<p>Because I’m going to work in a lab during the fall, I’ll only be able to reach a total weighted GPA of 4.4, not 4.5 (not enough time, I’m not a God)… Will MIT be understanding? Does anyone else have any other suggestions on what I should do during my junior year to improve my chances in admission?</p>

12

<p>asian detected</p>

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<p>Your life does not hinge on acceptance to MIT. Have you ever heard of Caltech or Harvey Mudd? They are equally good schools in engineering, so you might want to apply to those schools as well (they are still quite selective).</p>

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<p>My wretched life doesn’t “hinge” solely on acceptance in MIT. It also “hinges” on acceptance to Caltech, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and Berkley (actually this is my safety). Do you honestly think that these top universities are out there looking for underachievers? If I keep up with my imperfect grades and SAT scores, I’ll end up being one of those hobos out on the street, begging for food and etc.</p>

15

<p>You know, I’m starting to think that colleges will reject you for being too serious. Or such a pessimist. And none of the colleges you described are “safeties.”
Dude, chill. I don’t mean to sound mean (I do mean to sound blunt) but “imperfect grades” won’t get you rejected from ANY school. A 3.8 and above is probably golden at most schools. The higher the better, but it won’t keep you out - ignoring the rest of your application and not taking the time to do anything aside from studying will, however. And the fact that you think a 2370 might lower your chances is laughable, but more importantly, dead wrong.

Wow. I’ve never heard anyone who wasn’t a dad say that, til now.</p>

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<p>lol you don’t have to go into a top undergraduate university to succeed. That belief is just plain ridiculous. I know tons of ppl from state schools who got full ride fellowships to top notch graduate schools (HYPSM), while others got into top schools in undergraduate and ended up in inferior graduate schools. Don’t hinge your acceptance on top colleges for undergraduate, since a bachelor degree won’t get you much. Do apply to top schools to see your chances, but it’s not everything. It’s not where you go to, but what you can do in life. A good degree matters for grad school (Phd, Master), but negligible for undergraduate. My advice for you is this.
Chill, do your best, apply, see what happens, and move on.</p>

<p>P.S. @messiah “asian detected” :D</p>