another chances thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Yes, yes, I know...</p>

<p>Personal Data:
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian (American-born Chinese); Can speak Shanghainese (Mandarin dialect) fluently
Location: MI
High School: Public, ~1800 students/450 in my grade, semi-competitive
currently a senior (graduate 2009)</p>

<p>Academic Info:
GPA: >4.0 out of 4.333 (school doesn't weight)
~5-10% class rank
SAT I: 2280 (CR 720, M 780, W 780); plan to retake w/ a goal of >=2300
SAT Subjects: Math Lvl2 800, Bio-E 800, Chem 780
ACT: 36 (English 36, Math 36, Reading 36, Science 36)
AP Tests to date: Biology (5), Chemistry (5), English Language (5),
Psychology (5), Statistics (5), US History (5)
Senior year classes: AP English Literature, AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, chamber orchestra, microbiology, US Gov
currently a lab assistant for my AP Chem teacher</p>

<p>ECs (kinda weak, I know, but reasonable given opportunities @ school):
Quiz Bowl (Gr 9/10/11/12); went to state finals for 2008
Public forum debate team (Gr 9/10)
Science Olympiad (Gr 9/10/11/12)
Piano (8+ years, successfully auditioned for a selective program at the U of Michigan;plan to submit on Arts supplement)
Violin (4 years); school orchestra for Gr 9/10/11/12
Interact Volunteer Club (Gr 9/10/11/12); will be Director of Technology this year (tasked w/ designing website)
Student Senate (Gr 10)
Student Council (Gr 12); tasked w/ designing website</p>

<p>Volunteering:
only a little, ~15 hrs; not planning to make anything of it on my apps</p>

<p>Sports:
none in school. occasionally do tennis/basketball (nothing fancy)</p>

<p>Summer Programs
took a genetics class, AP Computer Sci, and AP Statistics at Northwestern U (2007, 2008)
bioresearch lab program @ U of Chicago (2008); wrote a 10-page research paper that could be attached w/ app</p>

<p>Application and Recomendations:
Essays: should be solid/decent, somewhat creative
Teacher Rec 1 (Social Sciences): should be excellent
Teacher Rec 2 (Natural Sciences): very good</p>

<p>Interests: I'm a computer nut and do programming for fun on the side. Also a big fan of classical music.</p>

<p>I'm looking for a school with a distinct culture, and MIT is probably my 1st-choice dream school.</p>

<p>Please be honest, candid, and frank about my chances - thanks a bunch!</p>

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<p>I thnk u stand a great chance at getting in. Your ECs arent as bad as you might think..you're bilingual and play instruments which is great. Plus you've got summer programs to die for. Write a great essay and impress your interviewer and I think you'll be fine.</p>

<p>I'm an international student, have no opportunities for AP classes or summer programs in my country-Nigeria. Boohoo. Could someone tell me how big of a problem this is.</p>

3

<p>Ud be surprised livy N there are lots of nigerians in Harvard lol... ur race= affirmative action... so dont really worry... as long as ur scoring well, and seizing ur opportunities...</p>

<p>OO and Kz26, rather than 2300 on SAT 1, which is useless, get some volunteer hours done... and they want you to send in an abstract not a full 10 page research paper :P... thats a good thing though that uve done research... get a rec from ur research mentor/supervisor... 36 on ACT beats SAT 1 2300 any day... and most universities these days love ACT over SAT... so thats good... Check out Carnegie Mellon, their comp sci department is beast... very close to MITs...</p>

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<p>Hey to OP: I m curious to know what u have in mind for a major...</p>

5

<p>probably something bio-related. might do comp sci as a minor.</p>

6

<p>Thought so...
Prbly bio-engineering ?</p>