Chance a CC transfer to MIT, and give advice.

Transfer Students
1

<p>High School GPA: 75% which translates to a...2.0? (Went to an outrageously bad high school and didn't know any better)</p>

<p>3 Semesters at Community College GPA (33 credits): 4.0</p>

<p>1st Generation College Student
Hispanic</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests
Math II: 800
Physics: 800</p>

<p>SAT II
Total: 2340
CR: 780
W: 760
M: 800</p>

<p>When I took my SAT in high school, I only scored a 1700. When I departed from the high school I was ravished by a strong urge to do the best that I possibly could; specifically with the SAT. I figured that the best chance I had to possibly vindicate me from my foregoing blemish (my 2.0 GPA in high school) was performing outstandingly on that test.</p>

<p>EC:
Art classes taken from all sorts of schools, predominantly Parsons School of Art & Design (High School)
Scholarship Program at Parsons School of Design (High School)
Gallery of Art work shown at the National Arts Club of New York (High School)
Gallery of Art work shown at several Law Firms (High School)
Volunteered for Afterschool program for 6 months, probably about 75 Hours (High School)</p>

<p>Volunteer at hospital for 130 hours
Math tutor for middle school kids 30 hours
Robotics Lab for 1 semester (wasn't too fond)
2 science programs (one math, one biology) as Research Assistant w/paid stipend for 2 semesters
Summer Intensive NSF Bioengineering Research Program @ Princeton </p>

<p>I can get good recommendations, and my essays will be captivating for sure (I've been through some extremely unorthodox experiences).</p>

<p>Chance me for: </p>

<p>MIT
Boston University
John Hopkins</p>

<p>So, does my Community College GPA hold any weight in the decision? I have posted this in the "What are my chances" board and they paid no mind to it...</p>

<p>Also, suggest any colleges that offer biological sciences (preferably bioengineering) that are gratuitous with need based aid...or if someone may point me in the direction to find what schools are generous with aid, I would appreciate that.</p>

2

<p>Did you take the Math II subject test near when High School ended or out of High School?</p>

3

<p>I had received all of the SAT scores noted above while I was in Community College.</p>

4

<p>If you have taken rigorous courses at your community college to get the 4.0, then I would say that you’re in for BU definately (BU isn’t too hard to get in, even out of HS), Johns Hopkins will be a reach, but I would say you’re in also, MIT I’m not too sure because their transfer rate does not even exceed 6%.</p>

<p>Btw, how many times did you take the SAT to get a 1700?
What’d you do to get 2300 after you got out?
Do you think it’s realistic for someone who got 1650-1720 in HS after taking it 3x to end up with 2000+ during College years?</p>

5

<p>The classes I was taking for the 3 Semesters at Community College are the following:</p>

<p>First Semester
Algebra and Trigonometry (I tested out of Pre-Calc after taking this)
Sociology
English
Speech</p>

<p>Second Semester
Calculus I
Physics I(Calc Based)
Biology I</p>

<p>Third Semester
Calculus II
Physics II
Biology II
Chemistry I</p>

<p>When I took the SAT in high school, I only took it once. </p>

<p>As for the 2300, it was just pure diligence and efficiency. My first plan of action after I left high school was to take the SAT again and perform well. I started studying for it right out of high school, and took it the subsequent summer, while in Community College. I used a few books from my local libraries, but I mostly stuck to Princeton Reviews “Cracking the SAT” and the Collegeboard SAT book. Prior to the SAT, I honestly just made the SAT my life. I would think about it in my commutes, before I slept, I would try and create my own SAT questions, I kept a journal; just everything and anything you could think of. I knew the SAT inside and out. I was like that for six months. I wanted to score a 2400 no matter what.</p>

<p>I think it is very realistic for many people to score over 2000. If one has a genuine desire that takes hold of them and does not let you score anything but the best, it is definitely plausible. I attest to having that kind of fervor. You have to be willing to make sacrifices though.</p>

6

<p>Use a more relaxed writing style when writing your essays. The stats and story are impressive but the vocabulary sounds pretentious. Your stats and story will speak for themselves.</p>

<p>I think I am in the same boat as you, but I think I’m only going to retake the subject tests as I got poor scores on those. If you are dead-set on transferring, USE MIT OPEN COURSEWARE. It is an amazing study tool and the level of teaching is far and beyond what I found at my CC. A guy that transferred from SMC to MIT gave me that piece of advice. If you take the online OCW course alongside your enrolled courses, they basically become a joke. I have an average grade of 99% in my chemistry classes because of Professor Vogel-Taylor and Professor Drennan. You also get an idea of what it’s like inside an MIT class; I was impressed thoroughly.</p>

<p>If you want to do bioengineering, UCSD is also an amazing choice but they are a UC and not likely to give you much aid. Are you going to apply for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship? It’s the best transfer scholarship available. What are your post-undergrad plans? </p>

<p>I would also be wary of using those highschool ECs unless you have shown a continued passion in those subjects while in college. MIT loves uniqueness. A guy from my CC who was accepted there was a physics (or math, don’t remember) and music major who wrote about how music helped him through scientific concepts. He also got into Cal Tech, so he was definitely doing something right. </p>

<p>I know Harvard has also started accepting transfers and the deadline is in March so you might as well apply there too. I don’t think anyone has a “good” chance to get in but it never hurts! Pomona and Stanford are also generous with aid. If you parent(s) are like mine and make less than $60,000/year (actually my mom makes less than half of that), Stanford/Amherst (LACs tend to be weak in the sciences though)/ Brown/ Caltech/ Columbia/ Duke/ Emory/ Vanderbilt and a cadre of others basically give a full ride.</p>