I’m going to apply to MIT, and I feel like I have a pretty good go at getting in. Not everyone around me is of the same opinion however. I thought I would come onto the forums to ask for some unbiased opinion (I hope its unbiased :P). So I go to a school in Asia, which uses IGCSE for the first two years of high school, and IB for the last two years. Since I am using the British system, there are no GPAs, though I can sort of convert them using CIE’s own GPA conversion chart. Will the college admissions officers even bother to attempt to convert my IGCSE and IB scores to a GPA? Or are they going to just simply look at my IB scores (as it does take less time)? Or are they going to try to painstakingly convert each and every year’s report cards to get a GPA? Also considering to go to community college for two years using the Washington state community Running start system at the age of 16 then transferring into MIT (which makes my odds extremely slim). My mother is of the opinion that by going to community college, I’ll already be “in the system” and they are more likely to accept me. At the moment I am in a bit of an interesting situation, being an American citizen and thus being considered as a domestic applicant by MIT, yet I live outside the US and don’t follow the US education system. Will I be at a disadvantage?
You would be a domestic applicant (generally advantageous over international applicants for admission and financial aid purposes), but with international academic records and no state residency anywhere. Many universities have seen applicants with similar situations.
If (through WA Running Start) you take college courses before high school graduation, that typically does not require you to become a transfer applicant, although you should check each school to be sure. MIT says if you are still in high school, college courses do not make you a transfer applicant: http://mitadmissions.org/apply/transfer/faqs . If you move to WA, read its residency rules before assuming that you will be a resident for tuition purposes at state universities in WA: https://registrar.washington.edu/students/residency/
American universities are well accustomed to dealing w applicants in your situation.
As an American citizen residing overseas, you’ll be regarded as a domestic applicant who can add cultural diversity.
I think I ought to clarify, sorry, I’m not sure it’s the Running start program, but its a program that allows me to get a Washington high school completion diploma by literally going to a community college, so I guess that makes me a transfer applicant
Not normally. You are a transfer applicant if you have enrolled on a degree-granting course. If you are attending a college or university for a high-school qualification then I do not think you are a transfer. I also don’t think that having an official Washington HS qualification is necessary.
If you attend community college after high school graduation you’ll be a transfer and lose your chances at merit scholarships.
If you attend a high school or community college before high school graduation you’ll keep your freshman status.
Getting the IB diploma is the same as graduating high school except you get credits once you’ve registered.
IGCSE+IB are actually very well-known in the US. Apply directly to the colleges that interest you.
Work on your act/sat.
As this is on the MIT board, I think it is important to point out that all financial-aid at MIT is merit-blind (just as all admissions are need-blind).