<p>Hey guys, from looking at the patterns of acceptees and deferees I get the impression that some things really take priority when MIT is considering an appicant: Namely the essay, some demonstration of leadership and personal strength (such as starting your own business at a young age), and an unusual background, but NOT special programs attended, international awards gained, test scores as a whole, or school of origin.</p>
<p>This is kind of reassuring in some ways; with my public school background, I for one have never even heard about any local science fair, much less participated in any international contest, and this may have been different had I had the resources of a private school at my disposal. It's still kind of intimidating to see that there are LOTS of people here who have been recognized internationally, though; personally, the biggest award I have to show off is that I'm awaiting Eagle Rank, and that's nothing special. Just out of curiousity, who here has won awards at extremely major events, or been recognized at them at least? What is your crowning achievement? I want to know what I'm up against ;)</p>
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Starting with the admissions season for the Class of 2008, application readers were told to look out for, and give a slight bonus to, applicants who just have that certain something that screams MIT, she wrote.
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Last year we added something we call a passion index, for lack of a better term, Jones wrote. While the index is not a number that is archived, this step represents a slight change in the MIT admissions process.</p>
<p>Now, application readers are encouraged to look for a natural affinity for the place, an intensity, a techiness, hard to describe but you know it when you read it, she wrote.
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<p>edit: which prevents, according to the article, being "blinded by awards and distinctions."</p>
<p>oh. my friend also won ISEF in engineering, but she applied to princeton and she got in! wahoo!
i wrote about an essay on my passion in life to be a better person and not disappoint myself (through studying and random stuff). i also wrote an extra essay talking about why i liked mit. i also tutor a bunch, idk if that counts.</p>
<p>It sure is. I'm glad you all could confirm my suspicions about how the process worked, so how about the question? What am I up against as far as your biggest awards gained?</p>
<p>I haven't gotten any awards except for a trip to Illinois Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering state finals... where we placed maybe 7th out of 8th? But of course I didn't tell them that! I also won the Physics Bowl tournament at my school, and I won a Daughters of the American Revolution "Outstanding History Student" award (school level). Erm. That's about it. Nothing fancy or special AT ALL. </p>
<p>So you're not up against much as far as my awards go...</p>
<p>You're not up against much award wise with me either. All I had was a few "Outstanding student" awards in my math classes(meant I had the highest grade that term), some band awards, a German award for a vocab test from OBU, superintendents honor roll, and Oklahoma Honors Society(which I think just meant that I was above a certain GPA).</p>
<p>I think good recommendations and a good essay can help you overcome lack of "big" awards(although those awards can always help).</p>
<p>What about bronze and silver medals from international competitons in Informatics.
Are they valued highly. Because I hope my 6 international medals will compensate my lack of extracurricular activities except my Informatics one. I do not have ECs cuz I spend a lot of time practising for these competitions. And i have to say this to MIT somehow.</p>
<p>Not having ECs would probably hurt you more than not having major awards. I believe my friend who won international ISEF was deferred b/c he basically didn't do anything else beyond that. But that kind of thing is also very very time consuming, so if you have a lot of show for it, it would definitely help make up for lack of ECs. You would need to emphasize that in your application - essay?</p>
<p>In terms of awards, I had a bunch for athletics and such. Placed in states in some sports... 10 varsity letters in all... badminton won state championships ;) Oh, and other things like book awards and medals/scholarships (to RPI, I didn't even apply to that school), hmmm some school/state awards for community service/academics and the such. Really, nothing major =/</p>
<p>I have very few awards except for AP/PSAT type stuff and a few school awards. I think they are looking for things you have done outside of school, like an interesting job or ecs that really occupy and interest you. Frankly, MIT wants their graduates to be people who will earn respect for MIT.</p>
<p>Hello...you are right!!! Hello...you appear to be my alter ego ;)</p>
<p>It is not sarcastic....</p>
<p>and i tried hard but couldnt find a place thathas similar admissions process, and environment like MIT, it will be good if i am able to find sth similar....cos..knowing all what i know...my bad (mid years like- the worst of my lifetime.. :( ) grades will make the adcom scream..before my app does!</p>
<p>well i had basically no awards besides french and national honor society. i did have, however, 25-30 hrs/wk at my job since sophomore year (probably looked nice with my 15 AP classes). ECs were nothing special besides that. i started physics club at my school, did community service club, art club, stuff like that. Did some research on my own last summer and spent the one before that volunteering at a library. MIT truly looks holistically at the applications. I had a very strong essay and im sure i had incredible recs. just show your passion for science and math, thats what they want.</p>
<p>All I have for awards are AP Scholar, Nat'l Merit Semifin, and a bunch of county MVPs for scholar's bowl plus 5 All-States (3 first chair) on bassoon for band and orchestra. Don't let that impress you too much though, I live in Alabama. ;)</p>
<p>So far my awards are AP Scholar, 2004 Kentucky Governor's Scholar summer program, Nat. Merit. Semifinalist, one all-district band second chair (8th grade, quit the next year, go figure), some varsity letters, and I'm awaiting Eagle Scout Rank.</p>
<p>Mine are: some piano competition/exam awards (i only ended up including one of them because it was national), varsity letter and regional/state winners, national merit commended, california governor's scholarship award.. and then i have some more that I didn't get to include (international poetry contest semifinalist, going to get published, and ap scholar w/ distinction).</p>