<p>Currently at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, declared physics major, math minor, here are stats for first semester and what is known of second...:</p>
<p>First semester: GPA 3.91
Physics 211 Mechanics: A-
Physics 199HM Honors Mechanics: A
Math 241 Calc III: A
Math 347 Fundamental Math: A
Comparative World Lit 241 Western Lit I: A</p>
<p>Second semester, with current grades:
Phys 212 E&M: A-
Phys 199HO Honors E&M: A
Math 286 DiffEq Plus: A
Math 415 Linear Algebra: A
East Asian Language and Culture 250 Intro to Japanese Society: A
Art 199TA Intro to Drawing: A</p>
<p>And High School Stats:
Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, in Acton, Massachusetts
GPA out of 4.0: 3.35
GPA out of 5.0, weighted: 3.89
SAT: 2170 (800 Math, 680/690 on english sections)
SAT II:
Bio E: 680
Chem: 770
Math IIC: 780
APs:
Physics B 5
Chemistry 5
Compsci AB 5
Calculus BC 5
English Lit 5
Statistics 5
US Govt/History 3.</p>
<p>Awards: Siemens-Westinghouse Competition semifinalist
James Scholar nominee at UIUC (That's the honors program here, I get accepted into it officially after this semester provided I get a 3.5 or higher, which I will.) Dean's List at UIUC. That's all the major ones that might count for something, I think...</p>
<p>Other stuff: classical fencing, piano for thirteen years...that's about it. Also, I speak fluent Russian, dunno if that'll help me with app at all, though.</p>
<p>Any suggestions chances or general comments greatly appreciated! This includes possible other schools (already applying to Stanford). I'm only looking at schools with better physics programs than this place, though. </p>
<p>I'm not much for chances, but I feel I should let you know up front that it's much more difficult to get into MIT via transfer than as a Freshmen student. In past years, the number of admitted transfer students has been between zero and fifteen. Also, the freshmen admission team doesn't handle transfer admissions, so I don't know that anyone on this board could give you relevant advice.</p>
<p>Great student! But MIT transfer admissions is tough unless you have an almost-perfect record. The thing I notice that will bring you down the most is your high school GPA (3.89 out of 5). Grades are probably the most important factor. My GPA wasn't much higher when I applied (maybe 4.05 out of 4.8) but I was waitlisted then rejected. Transfer admissions looks at all the same high school qualifications plus college so there are more aspects of your academic career that have the added pressure of looking impressive. Therefore I say your chances are low but the thing is: I wouldn't worry about it because MIT is a college much like many other great ones. You can get a great education at MIT for tuition alone of like $35,000 a year, or a great education where you are for a tuition of probably $13,000 a year...and guess what: you want have the added pressure of keeping your grades perfect so MIT can see. That type of pressure brings me down, Idk about you. Currently I go to RPI in NY for the same price as MIT but I'm transferring to UConn in my home state because I can save so many thousands of dollars and still get a great education. I have other reasons too but those aren't important. I hope this was helpful and not too discouraging but I used to want to transfer to MIT too and have since decided not to.</p>
<p>I'll say this: all of the transfer admits I know are incredibly awesome people (incredibly bright, too). Whatever the folks at transfer are doing, they're doing it right. Though it also probably stems from the fact that since so many people apply and they have so few slots they can be superselective and only take the people who are beaming with awesome.</p>
<p>Considering that the class of 2011 was larger than expected because of the high yield, it is very unlikely that MIT will admit any students as sophomore transfers into the next year.</p>