<p>Yes, this seems to be a significant blot on any MIT application. It has been said many times before that academic accomplishment is a necessary but not sufficient qualification for MIT admission, but too many people focus on the grades, rather than the subjects that the grades are earned in. </p>
<p>MIT is looking for candidates who like to stretch themselves academically, and someone who deliberately takes a non-rigourous academic program (or at least one significantly less rigourous than it could be) is demonstrating that they do not match the MIT ethos particularly well, regardless of their other accomplishments. There are of course exceptions to that, depending on why the candidate chose the less rigourous curriculum, but in general, it is the match that gets you in or out, and this candidate doesn’t seem to match.</p>
<p>BC calc is not a requirement. It is not even expected.</p>
<p>There are many MIT freshman with no experience in calculus. AP Calculus AB is a positive, but the lack of calculus will not sink your application. Especially if your school does not have a strong math program.</p>
<p>^I wouldn’t say there are “many” with no calculus experience. It’s probably an extremely small minority (less than 5%, probably a lot less) of students, and those students will have been from very bad school districts or circumstances with no choice in the matter. There are plenty of students that haven’t taken one or more of the other AP classes (physics, chem, bio), but calculus? Typically, people take math all 4 years. If you aren’t in calculus by the end of senior year, where does that mean you started out? Like that would mean you were taking pre-algebra as a freshman in high school. Not common. </p>
<p>BTW, there’s a lot of talk on here about it’s ok to opt out of AP’s in favor of other interests (e.g., orchestra, etc.) if scheduling problems arise, and generally that’s true, but I wouldn’t opt out of calculus.</p>
<p>Well, the admissions philosophy may have shifted, but it has nothing to do with enhancing recruitment from companies. In fact, in each discipline of engineering, the US News has a rating of how the recruiters rank MIT students and MIT has always, ALWAYS, been #1. Wall Street has always been automatic, assuming you can get the grades here. </p>
<p>he was reffering to econ majors/ppl in business not engineers i think but its totally possible things were embellished to try to get me more interested, and specifically to not accept any other offers prior to hearing from MIT. ivys make offers way before march, so MIT loses a lot of potential players.</p>
<p>i can tell MIT has a very unique, personality driven application process. their is probably no way to tell until the decisions come, but thanks a lot everyone for all the input i understand things better now</p>
<p>^It shouldn’t make a difference that someone else got in EA from your school.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with the recruiting process, but if you are not required to accept another school before March, then I would not do it. Certainly don’t do it because they are pressuring you. Remember you are in the driver’s seat, at least with the schools that have already accepted you.</p>
<p>If they ask you why you won’t commit, just remind them that MIT is a far superior school and you are waiting on them.</p>
<p>far superior…great thing to tell a coach ahahah. i like my other school too, number 1/2 LAC is still a great option for college. i am visitng MIT in february though, maybe my opinion will shift more towards the institute.</p>
<p>The truth of it is that nobody knows. Nobody here has read your application, seen your Letters of Recommendation, your interview report, your essays. Basically, nobody on this board has anywhere near enough information to answer that question. Certainly your scores are competitive, you look to be a competitive candidate, but beyond that, nobody outside of building 3 actually knows.</p>