Hey I was wondering what my chances at the top engineering programs would be such as MIT Stanford, Duke… I dont know about Cornell though is that a good program for engineering??
I was thinking about early action but I could not get my essays done in time
Anyways:
Ethnicity: Peruvian
Gender- Male
Hook- Minority
GPA: 3.7 UW
Rank- 55/693 at a competitive public school
ACT-23 Composite 25 M 22 E 22 S 21 R (I know its low but I explained why in my essays)
SAT 2- 590 Chemistry 570 Math 1 … Retake? How important are SAT 2s for admission? I’m shooting for 700s
I had my interview already, he said I did very well
MIT Essays: Very well written according to my mom, shes a teacher
Courseload:
11th:
English Honors B
Pre-calculus A-
US History A-
AP Chemistry B+
AP Biology B- (I know its low but I was doubling on sciences therefore I was doing more work than my classmates)
Band
English Honors
12th
Calculus AB
AP Environmental Science
AP Econ/Government
Band
Was thinking about adding Physics C but I did not want to have my other grades suffer as a result
ECs:
Worked at restaurant (20 hours per week) for 10th and 11th grade
I participated in my school’s Concept Vehicle Racing team, we went to the Shell Eco Marathon World Championships in London for 2016. I am one of the captains for one of the cars this year.
JV Tennis 9th and 10th grade… did not do it 11th grade because of too much schoolwork
Percussion 9th-12th
I participated in the MIT MOSTEC program last summer and wrote about this in my essay
Honors:
Recommendations:
11th grade math teacher-8/10
AP US History teacher-7/10
MOSTEC instructor- very well written 9.5/10
Counselor- I visit her often so I am expecting a great letter!
Overall- I think I may a shot at MIT, should I retake my tests? How much are they factored into admission compared to ECs and passion, which are my stronger suits?
Right now, I’ll be honest with you, your chances aren’t great. You have (for MIT) very low test scores and a low GPA. Even with your URM hook, you’re going to probably get dinged for your test scores alone. Definitely retake the tests and do everything you can to bring those scores up. Way up.
I would definitely add in many other non-Ivy engineering schools to your list.
Your GPA (3.7) and Class Rank (top 10%) are both good. However, your test scores (ACT and SAT subject tests) are a red flag as they don’t line up with your GPA or rank (they are too low for MIT, in my opinion).
Have you taken the SAT basic test yet? Is that score any better? Given you are a senior, your options for retaking these are getting low (take them in November to have them ready for RD deadlines).
I also think your Senior year class load seems low. 3 core classes and band seems like you are not stretching yourself as much as your competition.
frankly, your test scores suck. 25% of MIT students get a perfect score on the SAT, and 50% get higher than a 33 on the ACT. your scores are incredibly low. there’s no harm in applying but unless you pull your ACT up to a 33+ and your SATs up to 750+ i wouldn’t have high hopes. the only thing going for you is maybe your ECs and your class rank.
sources for score stats: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/massachusetts-institute-of-technology
Are standardized test scores that important to MIT? Because I’ve been told that my essay is well written and I think personality is valued more at these schools
Grades and test scores come first. You almost definitely won’t make it past the first cut at MIT, Stanford, Cornell, or Duke. Essays are important, but think about it, essays can be faked (i.e. ghostwritten) but grades and test scores can’t. Why then would a college place more emphasis on essays over academics? Top schools need to know you can handle the extreme rigors of their coursework, your grades and test scores indicate that you are underprepared to do so. Please work with your GC to find schools that are more in line with your academics. Good luck!
I’m sorry, but even if that is true, your standardized test scores need to come way up. They like seeing passion and unique things like you have, but only after they’re certain that you can handle the rigor at MIT.
So, for all those top science schools, you need to have passion/research/experience/etc in STEM plus VERY high standardized scores.
You do have some experience, with the Shell Eco Marathon World Championships, which does sound very prestigious, so play that angle. MIT MOSTEC is good too. so long as these are legit, you actually are pretty good for the first credential. Although, tbh, MIT people all have that. They all have basically cured cancer or done research at Stanford. It makes sense, MIT grads are very successful in their fields. They’re unreal.
However, you don’t meet the second mark, which is scores. Try the SAT. maybe the ACT isn’t your exam. Raise those SAT 2’s, b/c they do matter at STEM schools. Also, check out Georgia Tech, RPI, Stevens Institute of Tech.