Chances at MIT?

<p>GPA: 93.9 (UW)
SAT I: 2160 - 780 M, 620 CR, 760 W
SAT II: 780 Math II, 800 Chem, 750 Bio
APs: World History (4), Music Theory (5), Chemistry (probably 5), Biology (probably 5), Calculus (probably 5), Language and Composition (probably 5), Microeconomics (Probably 4, maybe 3), US History (Probably 4, maybe 3)
Rank: 4-6 out of 216
Prospective Major: Chemical Engineering with a minor in music composition</p>

<p>I'll be retaking the SAT on June 2 and critical reading will probably go up to around a 720ish...hopefully. I took 6 of the APs in junior year alone (calc, chem, bio, english, US, microeconomics) and assuming I get 4 or higher on all of them, I'll be a National AP Scholar after this year. Also, the reason my GPA is only a 94ish is because freshman year I slacked off and got an 86 in english and an 80 in social studies (yikes) and ended with a 91.7 UW GPA so hopefully that won't completely kill my chances :/ My sophomore year UW GPA was a 96 though. I also took a precalculus course at Stony Brook University to go into AB calc a year early and got a 4.0 in the class. I'll end this year with all As except for a POSSIBLE 89 in english. But that will most likely be a 90 or 91. I took the hardest possible course load every year of high school</p>

<p>ECs: I've played the viola since I was in 4th grade and I've gone to all-county and LISFA (all-county but just for strings) every year since 7th grade. I got first chair this year at LISFA as an 11th grader (grades 10, 11, and 12 are in the orchestra). I take private lessons with a teacher that lives an hour and a half away from me so I have to commute every Saturday morning. I also play the guitar and I played in the jazz band in 10th and 11th grade. I taught myself some cello this year and I plan on continuing that over the summer (it's so fun). I'll run for president of the Tri-M music honor society and I'm confident that I'll win. I also play in my school's chamber orchestra. I can honestly say that music is the most important thing in my life. Aside from music, I volunteer at a hospital every saturday for 3 hours. I've been doing that since september and I plan on continuing with that through all of senior year. I volunteered at a music camp last summer for two weeks as well. I am in history club and model UN (only in junior year though). I am an A-Team member on the national ocean sciences bowl team. Out of about 30 kids, I was one of the 5 with the highest test scores and I got to compete in a regional competition. We came in 2nd in the state and won a decent amount of money. </p>

<p>So that's pretty much it. If I do get any 3s on my APs, how much will it matter? I read that colleges only really use AP scores for credit/placement and not really for admissions...
alright well thanks if you actually read all of that!</p>

<p>The only blemish I see is the SAT CR (not really a bad score; it just looks bad because the other scores are awesome! :P), but you say that you’ve got it handled.</p>

<p>If I were you, I’d just apply and let it be. You’ve got a pretty impressive application here, and I see you definitely getting into some great schools.</p>

<p>I don’t see you getting into MIT. sAT needs work - MIT has one of the highest average CR scores. And you ECs are about average- no impressive achievements in math or science (talking about national or even state competitions).</p>

<p>Sorry, but I have to agree with Cortana here. SAT CR is just simply not up to MIT level. And even the rest of it, though excellent, may just not be up to standards of average MIT admits. And, even if it were, most of the admits are not just good at or interested in science, they are already EXTREMELY accomplished in science, doing advanced science research, regional comps, Intel, Siemens… The SAT might be less problematic if there were evidence of outstanding accomplishment in science to offset the score. Based on what you have provided, there isn’t that accomplishment. In fact, based on your profile, music is more a passion than science!!! So ask yourself this: why MIT??? Based on your passion, MIT seems not to be a great fit for you!</p>

<p>Suggestion. Go to the MIT Forum and look at the stats and accomplishments of the 2016 admits and get a sense from seeing the profiles of these admitted students where you stand in relation to them. If you see your stats and accomplishments reflected in that group, well…OK, then. If not, start to re-think your plans with schools that are in your range as matches, and as safeties. </p>

<p>And really, where does MUSIC fit in to all of this??? If that is really your passion, you need to go back to square one and figure out what schools will nuture that passion and allow you to absolutely SOAR with it!</p>

<p>I want to go into chemical engineering so that’s why I want to go to MIT. Winning 2nd place at the state oceanographic science buzzer competition is pretty significant. I specialized in chemistry for my team in that AND I had to learn all of that material on my own as I never took any marine science class. I got an 800 on the SAT II in chem so that’s pretty significant. Also, assuming I got 4s on micro and APUSH I’ll get the national ap scholar award which is only given to about 800 juniors nationwide each year so that looks pretty good. As far as the SAT goes, I’m taking it again and I will definitely break 700 at least so that’ll be fine. I don’t want to go into music because I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on something I love. I looked at the forum and there is a large portion of people who don’t have any science awards. Also, I have a higher SAT score than all of the people previously accepted to MIT from my school according to naviance.</p>

<p>Thank you for your responses!</p>

<p>OK! Well, you are clearly doing the research you need to do. So…go with that. “Chancing” is pointless. Research is not. And, good luck. Hope you still pursue your music, though.</p>

<p>Thank you and I absolutely will! You can count on that!</p>