Chances for MIT, BC, and UChicago (All EA)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am applying Early Action to all three of these schools. My assumption is that I will get into BC, have a good shot at UChicago, and be competitive at MIT (though I don't expect to get in.)</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think.
**
Pakistani-Born Male**. Permanent Resident of United States (Moved here at age 4) - English 2nd language.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9 (UW)</p>

<p>Top 5% of class of 35 kids - small private school.</p>

<p>ACT + Writing: 34
E: 34
M: 33
R: 34
S: 36</p>

<p>SAT IIs: 690 Chemistry, 710 Math 1 (Not sending to BC or UChicago)</p>

<p>AP Scores: AP Calculus AB (5), AP Chemistry (4), AP Computer Science A (4)</p>

<p>Courses - Most rigorous:</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Biology 9 Honors A-
Geometry 10 Honors A-
English 9 Honors A-
World History 9 Honors A-
French II B</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Chemistry 10 Honors A-
Math 11 Honors A-
English 10 Honors A
American History 10 Honors A-
French III A-
**
Junior Year**:
AP Chemistry A-
AP Calculus AB A-
AP Computer Science A A
Psychological Profiles in Literature A
Theater History A+
French IV B+</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP Biology
Fantasy and Realism in Literature
American Cultural History
French V</p>

<p>Principal Extra-Curriculars:
Orchestra (Guitar) - 7 Years
String Ensemble (Guitar) - 7 Years
Theatrical Productions - 6 Years
A Capella Singing Group - 4 Years
Varsity Golf - 5 Years, 2 Years Captain
Newspaper - 4 Years, 1 Year Editor, 3 Years Editor-in-Chief
Model United Nations - 4 Years, 1 Year Secretary-General
Yearbook - 1 Year, Staff
Student Body Representative - 1 Year
Choir - 1 Year
200+ Hours of volunteering at local Hospital
Published poet and aspiring writer
Biomedical Engineering Course at GWU - Freshman year Summer
National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine - Sophomore year Summer
Biology Course at Brown U - Junior year Summer
Service trip to New Orleans (60+ hrs) - Junior year Summer
Fruit Fly research at Yale - Junior year Summer</p>

<p>Awards:
Golf tournaments and other related achievements
Model United Nations - Outstanding Delegate
National Poetry competition finalist - Published works
Service awards
Merit Scholarship holder for 8 years
Excellence in the Sciences and Technologies
Other miscellaneous awards...</p>

<p>Recommendations:
Guidance Counselor - Great
Teacher 1 - Fantastic
Teacher 2 - Fantastic
Golf Coach - Great
**
Essays**:
Very nice.</p>

2

<p>good chance for chicago, in at bu, but MIT - hard to say…</p>

3

<p>Thanks. More opinions?</p>

4

<p>What are you interested in studying? SAT for Math and Bio are low for MIT, U Chicago.</p>

5

<p>The only way you can be in the top 5% of a class of 35 is if you’re number 1. Wouldn’t it be easier to say #1 or #2?</p>

<p>Your SAT II’s are really really low for MIT. Decent shot at U of C, especially if you don’t send them your SAT IIs. Your extracurriculars look great at first glance, but the list is so long that one begins to suspect that none of them required all that much time and effort to gain leadership roles – the list is too long and there are only so many hours in a day.</p>

6

<p>The only standardized testing that UChicago is receiving is my 34 ACT. This shouldn’t be a problem. </p>

<p>I am interested in studying Biology in college. </p>

<p>Yes, I am #2 in my class. </p>

<p>MIT has said that their “cutoff” for scores is 700+. I am essentially in that range. Hopefully my 36 on ACT science, AP scores, grades, and other achievements in mathematics and science will make up for my low Chem and Math SAT II scores.</p>

<p>Regarding my EC’s: my essays make clear my intense devotion to my activities.</p>

7

<p>More opinions?</p>

8

<p>You are definitely in for BC and very likely for UChicago.</p>

<p>I would say no for MIT because of one thing: fit. They generally look for people with exceptional math/science stats. You might ask what they are, so here it is:</p>

<p>36/800 Math, 800 SAT II in Math II/Chem/Physics/Bio, AIME/USAMO/MOP, USABO/USAPhO/USACO/etc, 5+ AP’s (with all 5’s), BC Calc before senior year, independent research (with rec from mentor), tons of Math/Science awards, 4.0 UW GPA, etc etc etc.</p>

<p>Even with those qualifications, there are still thousands of people with ALL of the above stats. So it is very unlikely that MIT will pick someone who are lacking in some of those areas.</p>

<p>That being said, I don’t think you really want to go to MIT anyways. You have a lot of focus on the humanities, since you said yourself that you want to be an “aspiring writer”. You want to find a school that fits you best. Good luck.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for your input. The overwhelming majority of MIT students are math/science oriented 100% of the way. I am hoping that my dual-nature of math/science and humanities interests may help my cause. </p>

<p>More opinions please.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>You are delusional.
There are not “thousands” of people with “all of the above” - at least not in one application cycle. And even if we DID assume that to be true, MIT doesn’t accept all of these students. If there are “thousands” of kids with 800s on both a math and science SAT II, then why is MIT’s mid-50% for these tests 750-800 and 730-800 respectively?</p>

<p>To OP: don’t let posters like this scare you. I think we all know that MIT - and other elite schools - don’t only accept students who meet “all of the above” criteria. I’m sure many MIT students would tell you that :slight_smile: good luck!</p>

11

<p>If the lower 25% for SAT Math and Science is 750/730, what percentile is a 710/690?</p>

<p>True, MIT does accept students who don’t have the aforementioned criteria. But those students usually fall into one of the following categories: URM, athletes, and women (to a certain extent). </p>

<p>However, your “dual-nature of math/science and humanities” will be a good boost to some of the other schools. You have a much better shot at places like… UPenn, Dartmouth, Duke, etc.</p>

<p>with<em>one</em>voice… I am not trying to scare the OP. I am offering my genuine advice. What’s the point of offering “chance threads” if people’s responses are all “you have great chances. Good luck!!!”</p>

12

<p>I’m not implying that replies to Chances threads should convey a false sense of optimism, but I also don’t think all (or most, for that matter) of students at MIT have all of the qualities you listed above. It’s not good to give misleading information, and you have no source to bolster your assertions (as I noted in the other thread as well). Also, most URMs and athletes account for the scores below that 25% range, so you still haven’t accounted for the middle 50%. Many of them are non-athlete whites/ORMs.</p>

13

<p>BC - In
UChicago - Match
MIT - Reach (as it is for almost anyone)</p>

<p>You have reasonable chances at MIT, your math score might be a little weak, but don’t let people scare you into thinking that everyone at MIT had 2400/36, perfect AP tests, and oodles of independent research etc. The admissions staff wants to create a diverse and balanced freshman class; a class of perfect test takers is not what they are looking for. Be yourself and good luck!</p>

14

<p>

This is very comforting to hear. Thanks for your input. Same goes for with<em>one</em>voice. </p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

15

<p>I cannot imagine two more different top-ranked schools than MIT (where pranks rule) and U. of Chicago (where fun goes to die). Are you at all considering how good a “fit” you are for these schools, or just looking for the best “name” school that will let you in?</p>

16

<p>Yes, I am considering which school is best for me. My essays do a great job of conveying how MIT and UChicago, in their own respect, are good fits for me.</p>

17

<p>So you wrote a general essay where you mentioned how two specific schools with very different student bodies were each a perfect fit, and you sent that essay to both of them? I hope you have some backup schools picked out!</p>

18

<p>LoremIpsum:</p>

<p>Chicago and MIT are actually pretty similar schools with similar spirit. The only real difference is focus: for MIT, that would be the applied sciences; for Chicago, that would be liberal arts.</p>

19

<p>^agreed. </p>

<p>MIT- low reach
BU- match
UChicago- high reach</p>

<p>btw: i recently talked to the dean of admissions at MIT, and he was saying how the bottom line is that “we truly only care about an emphasis on math and science <em>chuckles</em>”
yeah sooo… express that along with your passion and you will be fine…</p>

<p>but go where you WANT to go … don’t go for the brand name college…</p>

20

<p>Thanks for the input.</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>