Apply as a Junior?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I currently a sophomore (15yrs old) at a public high school. Unfortunately, I will have exhausted the math curriculum there after this year, and since I will not have a BC credit (self-study), the school district will not give me any money for college classes at a local college. My parents are not willing to pay the bill for a class which credits will not transfer and I do not want to rack up $xx,000 in debt before even starting college. After discussing this with my gifted teacher and guidance counselor, I have decided to finish the BC and diff equations material this year and next year do a self-study on linear algebra and, maybe, topology with the OCW as a guide. I am also planning on doing a self-study of AP physics over the summer. I have asked if I could count my self-studies as credits, but the school will not allow it, so the only way for me to graduate would be to retake a math class that I did on my own and take accounting (this seems like a waste of time to me, so if I stay, I will likely not graduate anyway).</p>

<p>My high school has a very limited academic EC budget, hence, only 1 science/math club. In the one we do have (science olympiad) we are not even completive in as we start in jan-feb with the competition in march, so we are expected to lose. </p>

<p>The other problem: on the average school day( 6.5hrs), I have found that I waste over 4hrs in my classes staring aimlessly at the ceiling/walls/playing calculator games, which is very frustrating as my teachers will not let me do other work, and working ahead is pointless since they always change the assignments. Everyday is "just another day" without excitement or challenge. There are very few people at school who can relate to me so my social experiences are limited at best. It just seems as though there is no reason to continue with it.</p>

<p>So, my question: Based on this situation, would you advise applying a year early or sticking it out through the four years? (I am most concerned about the social scene/maturity level)</p>

<p>Other Stats:
SAT I: 800m, 620v, 700w retaking, expecting at least a 700 in v
SATIIs: need to take
4.0gpa #1/550</p>

<p>Classes (the most rigorous in school history as far as anyone knows)</p>

<p>Freshman: Pre-calc 100
AP gov (the only person to take an AP in 9th grade) 100
US hist 100
Hon Eng 95
Hon Bio 100
Latin II 100
self-study art</p>

<p>Sophomore: AP calc ab(school would not let me skip or drop it), hon Eng, physics, chem, Latin III, engineering, AP world history; projected gpa: 4.0
self-study BC calc, diff equations</p>

<p>Planned junior: hon Eng, AP Latin IV, AP chem, AP euro, AB bio, engineering II, organic chem
self-study AP Physics, linear-algebra, topology</p>

<p>Planned senior: AP latin V, AP eng lit, AP us history, AP psychology, 5 study halls(I ran out of classes)
Self-study something interesting and time consuming</p>

<p>ECs a weak point, but they are time consuming
eagle scout, NHS, art lessons, quiz bowl, John Gold Math competition, volleyball, tennis team, ski team, science Olympiad, Latin competitions</p>

<p>Thanks for your insight.</p>

2

<p>Couldn't you just bore yourself through the BC class for the sake of the credit? I don't know how much harder it is for juniors to get in than seniors, so can't advise you there. Sorry, :-/</p>

3

<p>Technically, I don't think MIT requires a high school diploma for admission once you've been accepted, but I could be wrong about this.</p>

<p>Self-studies, especially with the magnitude you've done of them, definitely look very good on your application, because they show a desire and will to learn beyond existing limitations.It seems like your high school administrators, like most high school administrators, are totally unconcerned with actually promoting education. </p>

<p>I think the best commentary you're going to get on your situation is (obviously) from an admissions person, but from my perspective as a current EA applicant who spends a lot of time reading this board and the admissions blogs, I don't think applying as a junior would hurt you very much.</p>

4

<p>You might want to read [url=<a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/homeschooled_applicants_helpful_tips/doogie_howser_et_al.shtml%5Dthis%5B/url"&gt;http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/homeschooled_applicants_helpful_tips/doogie_howser_et_al.shtml]this[/url&lt;/a&gt;] blog entry by Matt McGann (who was himself an early entrant to MIT :)).</p>

<p>It's not common for people to enter early, but it's not particularly unusual either.</p>

5

<p>If you're worried about being younger than the other freshmen, you could take a gap year. If money is a concern, which it certainly seems to be in your case, you could find some kind of job or internship to hold for a year. You could save up some money before you even start getting yourself into debt. ;-)</p>

6

<p>Financially, I am not in a good position. My dad makes too much for me to get a lot of financial aid, but my parents have not saved much money for me and my two brothers education. (not much $/3=even less$). I may try to find a company to sponsor my education, but I do not really want to sign several years of my live away, but then again, getting myself into $xxx,000 of debt is not desirable either.</p>

<p>I am not too worried about being younger as for the past several years I have been in classes with people 1-2yrs older than me. </p>

<p>If I were to stay, would there be any benefit to sitting through the 2 math credits just to get a diploma? </p>

<p>thanks for the advice</p>

7

<p>It does look like getting a job might be a really good use of your time. Does your state have a channel by which you could be a dual-enrollment high school student taking community college courses for your last year of high school?</p>

8

<p>It seems like I would have to exhaust the curriculum at the high school in order to take classes at a local community college during my senior year. Unfortunately, since I have done the self-studies, they say that I still have not "officially" completed all of the classes they offer, so I would have to pay for the classes. At least that is how the guidance counselor presented it.</p>

9

<p>Hm, did you ask about taking a placement exam to show that college you know the material?</p>