<p>I suppose this message is directed more towards Mr. Ben Jones and current MIT students more than to anyone else. I'm currently a junior and MIT is looking like my first choice as of now.</p>
<p>Although I've had interest in science and math since I was a child, my science GPA doesn't reflect any potential I have to succeed in science. While my science GPA is between 3.6 and 3.7, my math GPA has always been a 4.0. I'm curious if my low science GPA will make me an unfavorable candidate for admission?</p>
<p>Everything is considered in the context of your overall application. For example, if you have a 3.7 science GPA but are doing a lot of other impressive things with your time & talents, you'll be more attractive than someone who has a 4.0 but does absolutely nothing but watch TV and sleep.</p>
<p>Just keep doing the best that you can, make sure that you're taking as many of the most-challenging classes as possible (particularly in math & science), and remember to follow your passions in ways that make <em>you</em> happy too.</p>
<p>benjones: I'd like to thank you first off for your response. Although my science GPA isn't very high, I still do enjoy the classes I'm taking and don't take them just for the sake of "getting into college."</p>
<p>Ben, I have a question for you. Since only a few kids take certain AP classes at my school (I have 5 in my BC class, it was originally only going to be myself and my girlfriend until the teacher talked 3 others into taking the course), many of the courses are only offered once a day. This makes it impossible to take certain combinations of AP courses. Also, we're not allowed to take APs until junior year. Now, my friend is interested in applying next year, and he was wondering if he should make mention of this on the app? I just sent a little blurb about it (I was going to put it in the grading comments section, but it slipped my mind). Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Scheduling conflicts are pretty common in our applicant pool. Just do the best scheduling you can, and make sure to include a note explaining the conflict and why you made the choices you made. I've seen quite a few of our applicants with scheduling conflicts arrange with a teacher for self-study of the class so that they can take the AP exam. (While this is impressive, it's certainly not expected.)</p>
<p>Thanks Ben, I sent my note a little late though (end of Jan.)</p>
<p>Anyways, back to my friend. Very few things are possible for him outside of the curriculum considering that he actually pays the bills and supports his family. MIT would definetly consider that, right?</p>
<p>End of Jan should be more than enough time for something to make it into your folder.</p>
<p>Yes, we definitely consider (very carefully!) the <em>context</em> in every case that we read. This is extremely important in determining any given applicant's potential.</p>
<p>Sometimes students who have a great interest in science and talent for that subject don't always score the highest grades. I'd say that one thing that any good tech school will look for are other indicators of science ability, like a great science project, part time or summer lab work, etc.</p>
<p>Anyone else have new input based on the rest of my application?</p>
<p>Below, I have copied and pasted my statistics from the other thread:</p>
<p>Academics:
* GPA: 3.86 (UW), 4.02 (W)
* SAT: 2300-2400 on new SAT; equivalent of 1520-1600 (predicted)
* SAT II: 750-800 on 3 SAT IIs (predicted)
* AP and Honors: 14 by graduation</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars:
* Speech and Debate (7 hours/40 weeks): Excellence Award, Varsity Debate
* Cycling Team (10 hours/52 weeks): Founder, President of High School Team
* Percussion (3 hours/40 weeks): 7 years experience
* School Newspaper (3 hours/40 weeks): Staff Writer (11), [Section Editor (12)]
* Community Service: 100 hours</p>
<p>dys2k6: I did not really think about calculating my GPA according to each subject, but I was forced to do so when I was applying to 2 science internships (which asked me to report my science GPA separately). That's what I'm curious what impact my low science GPA will have; but as previous posters have pointed out, it's not going to stop an individual from getting admitted to MIT or any other institution.</p>
<p>I also have a question now we are talking about science, GPA, and course loads.</p>
<p>Is it common for MIT (international or domestic) applicants to self study CALC BC while taking CALC AB at school and self study parts of or the entire Physics C course and get 5's on the exams as a junior? Will this make an applicant standout from the sea of strong math and science students?</p>
<p>I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call it "common" but many of our applicants do self-study when they want to go beyond their school's offerings or transcend scheduling limitations. As for whether or not it would make an applicant stand out, it really depends on the entire case - grades/scores/etc are just one part of a big app.</p>
<p>I should also say this: don't self-study to stand out on an application. Only do it if you're genuinely interested in going further with the material. There are plenty of things you can do to stand out - choose some that your heart will really be in. For some, this is self-study of advanced academics. For others, it's building rockets or community service. Regardless, do something that you're truly passionate about. Success will follow.</p>
<p>"For others, it's building rockets or community service."
There was this really nice & smart guy in my school last year, he ACTUALLY created a new rocket fuel combo :eek: brilliant fella, unfortunately he didn't get into MIT :(</p>
<p>I am studying AB/BC this year. Actually, I really got serious around christmas. But it is really easy, since I new how to do like 50% of this stuff before I learned what calc was(I kinda experimented with this stuff in 6-8 grade english...:)). It also helps a lot if you are studying phsyics, as the two were created for each other.</p>
<p>Since I will take linear algebra this summer, and multivariable next year, and then idk what next... does anyone know?</p>