<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>I know there's already a general thread about applying early, but I'm really on the fence about this and I wanted to see if anybody could give me some advice for my specific case. (Hopefully a new thread will attract more attention.)</p>
<p>I attend a pretty nice high school with a good curriculum focused on science and math - fields that I definitely want to major in. However, I will have exhausted all of their math and science courses by the end of junior year. In addition, this school only offers 6 AP courses (Calc AB, Calc BC, Physics C, Chem, Bio, and Stat), and 4 of these are offered only to seniors. I took AP Calc BC this past school year as a sophomore, and self-studied AP Physics C (both Mech and E/M) and AP Microeconomics. During this coming school year I will be taking my school's course in Multivariable Calculus, the most advanced math course they offer. To provide myself with an extra challenge, I will also be doing a self-directed study of Differential Equations, having independently studied Linear Algebra this summer in preparation for that course. The local community college offers a course in Diff. Equations for students in my high school as well, but that's about it. During my junior year, I will be taking AP Chem and self-studying AP Bio and Stat because they are subjects I have encountered a lot in my science research. So basically, those are all the possible math and science courses that my school offers, other than a senior elective in EnviSci (a supplementary class, not an AP course).</p>
<p>As for the humanities, there is no music department at my school and I will have finished all the offered History classes by the end of junior year. There is also a senior English class that doubles as a college elective that the seniors at my school take. (That is the only course I will not have finished before the end of my junior year.)</p>
<p>If MIT does not require applicants to have a high school diploma, would it be a good idea for me to apply early one year? I would really enjoy the opportunity to challenge myself and take more advanced math/science classes. Moreover, I know that my academics are pretty decent and I have won some state awards in Biology as well as some national awards for science research. In fact, I have become really passionate about my research and hope to continue it in the future with better education.</p>
<p>Sorry about the long post guys! I'd really appreciate any advice you have. (:</p>
<p>I think you should apply! The fact that you’ve exhausted your high school resources (or will have by the end of junior year) is a pretty compelling reason to try a year early. Worst case, they reject you, and you apply again the next year. (People have done this and gotten in later as seniors. You will not be hurting your chances as a senior if you apply as a junior, so might as well!)</p>
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<p>You don’t need prior knowledge of Lin Alg for Diff eq…?</p>
<p>WongTongTong: In the course description it said Linear Algebra was a prerequisite for Diff. Eqs, so I self-studied it. I probably would have done it either way because I find it very interesting.</p>
<p>PiperXP: Thank you! I certainly do hope that if I’m rejected, my chances won’t be decreased for senior year.</p>
<p>Also, has anybody else done this before and succeeded? I’m finding this to be a pretty difficult decision.</p>
<p>^ Gotten in as a junior? Yes, I know a handful of people who have done this (including Yan, the blogger).</p>
<p>WongTongTong,</p>
<p>You don’t always need Lin Alg for Diff eq.</p>
<p>My son, a homeschooler, exhausted all the math and physics courses at the local community college half way during his sophomore year in high school. He had taken linear alg. and dif equ. as well as the three calculus-based physics classes.</p>
<p>We did not want him graduating early and he wasn’t in a rush, either. What he did was audit (for free) some upper division physics classes at the local state univ. for a year and a half. He was also offered a chance to do research with his prof, so he’s been doing that since last summer.</p>
<p>As far as math, he works one on one with an online tutor (who’s giving us a very great deal!). He studied a year of upper division dif equ/dynamical systems and now he’s slowly working through real analysis.</p>
<p>The caveat is that we do live in a large city and we have scoured this place to find opportunities including math competitions, university symphonies, and work opportunities (he’s a math tutor and a violinist/violin teacher).</p>
<p>He’s been able to have a blast these past two years doing lots of things he loves and it gave him plenty of free time to pursue his many interests and give him time to mature.</p>
<p>OTOH, his friend, also a homeschooler, who is also going to MIT (a young lady) decided she’d had enough and will be going to MIT a year early. She is more focused on what she wants to do and on fewer activities, so it made sense for her to move forward to full time college.</p>
<p>Two different kids with two different decisions.</p>
<p>Oops. I just saw that this was an old post. I wonder what the OP decided…</p>
<p>@sbjdorlo Even though this is an old post, thanks for your thoughtful reply! I appreciate it.</p>
<p>I ended up deciding to wait. I found other ways to challenge myself (including taking college-level math courses with the Stanford University Online High School and doing some more science research), and it’s been really fulfilling! MIT is lovely, but so is taking the time to really mature before rushing off to college. (Besides, I wouldn’t necessarily have been admitted! MIT is super selective.)</p>
<p>I’m a 2nd semester senior now, waiting on college results. I recently received likely letters from Yale and Columbia Engineering (where I was named an Egleston Scholar), and am still waiting for a decision from MIT, as well as other colleges. Even though I still love MIT, I attended Yale’s Engineering and Science Weekend (YES-W, a special weekend for likely letter admits who are potential STEM majors) and really loved it! I was blown away by how much Yale caters to STEM majors and takes care of its students. I had no idea I would love Yale so much and am really glad I didn’t rush the college application process. I’m betting that my opinions will change yet again before the college app season is over, but I’m quite satisfied with my decision.</p>