<p>Hikkifan,
Your 217 PSAT was an incredible achievement for anyone. Remember, it's the top 1% of all students who took the PSAT. That is an enormous achievement for anyone.</p>
<p>In your case, frankly, to me it indicates that you probably have a genius level IQ because it is so very difficult to score that high if one comes from a weak school system. Right now, you have only a glimmer of an idea of how much you've been disadvantaged because of your school system. (The math teacher's recc doesn't surprise me. I have seen recommendations that bad from AP English teachers in weak schools!). Wait until you are at MIT and hear the differences between the level of instruction that you received in h.s. and what most other MIT students got. </p>
<p>When you hear about these things, do not get intimidated! Realize that you probably have more natural intellectual gifts than do students who arrived at MIT from excellent schools.</p>
<p>I am very surprised that MITE2S turned you down. Seems that MITE2S is supposed to be designed for students like you: URM, weak school system, clear academic talent and interest in the sciences. I am glad that they rectified their mistake by accepting you EA.</p>
<p>Are you applying to NASA SHARP? It is a summer program that pays students for doing science research. It has residential and nonresidential components. It is mainly for URMs. The application is due next week, so you still have time to apply. If you apply, make sure you let them know you've been admitted to MIT.</p>
<p>If you need encouragement as you go off to college, feel free to PM me or place a post for me on the Parents' Forum. I try to keep URMs under my wing. I don't hang out on this forum much, so aren't likely to see other posts here. I was just checking out the forum because my S just applied to MITE2S.</p>