<p>Hi! This is my first post in these forum. I am an international student from Cyprus who is planning to apply to some of the top bioengineering(including biological engineering) schools this year and I wanted to learn if ı stand a chance for getting accepted to MIT. I have not applied early decision to Upenn just because I was wondering if I could get into MIT- the most charismatic school in the world. Before giving some info about myself, I should state the fact that MIT accepts 1-2 students once every two years from my country. I talked with an alumni and he told me that last year they didnt take any Cypriots so I could stand a good chance.
-Rank: 1/122 most competitive school in the region
-GPA: 9,94/10
-SAT I: maths 800 two times repetitively, verbal 520(my weakest point), writing 560
-TOEFL: 653, TWE: 5.0
-SAT II: Maths Ic 770, physics 660(ı have taken physics without any preparation)
-10 GCE O levels- all A(got the highest marks in north cyprus except physics and english)
-Taking Maths A level and Physics AS level this year.
-I have been awarded a special scholarship of $28,500 annualy from Fulbright commision for my academic excellence and leadership qualities.<br>
-ECs:
*Doing scuba diving for the last 3 year.
*Editor of school newspaper(TMK times).
*The chairman of the honorary council of my school for the last 2 years.
*Latin dancing for the last 3 years, represented my school at two competitions.
*Attended mediation programmes for reducing violence in schools.
*Participated in some bicommunal activities, one in Vermont-USA one in Cyprus about conflict resolution.
*Active member of a Cancer Organization
*Became 1st at a national Maths competition with the school team.
*Represented 9th forms in the school exhibition with my research.
*Representing my country in the EU parliament at a conference about the future of science at european union.
-Excellent recommendations expected from maths and english teacher</p>
<p>And /or if you can demonstrate passion, intensity, significance, imagination in school--in other words, that you do much more in school than simply gather in and spit out information so as to get high grades.</p>
<p>I am studying bio-engineering at MIT, unfortunately. I was accepted to Penn and JHU as well but I have chosen MIT (the most charismatic school as u said). But I did wrong.</p>
<p>I want to warn you. Bio-engineering department of MIT is incredibly tough and bad. Here is why: we dont do classes here. Profs are always busy with graduate students, we are taught by TAs. We dont have enough resources to study or research. Everyone in my class hates mit and this year we all decided to transfer anywhere else. I am going to apply to JHU, Penn, DUke and CWU as a transfer student. There is no financial aid for transfer students so I advise you not to get into MIT. Moreover, transferring is a very tough process and affects your performance at school.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I can say that you are qualified enough (crazy enough) to get into MIT. Being the best in the most competitive school of the region is enough for an international student. Dont worry about the Verbal. I have a friend here who has 450. Your ECs are more than enough, I advise you not to write all of them. Maybe, you may exclude the latin dancing and bicommunal activites thing since you dont want to be seen as a social boy, coz you wont have time for such things at MIT. As far as I observed, only social activity of MIT community is doing extra research or writing extra papers for class.</p>
<p>MIT may be the worst thing you had ever lived, not only for bio-engineering but also in other majors. Be ready for every kind of health problems and stress. Have lots of fun in your senior year because you are on the way of a life without any single free time.</p>
<p>Apply to MIT but be careful about it not to attract you like a magnet. Get acceptance and turn them down this would be the greatest victory you have ever achieved.</p>
<p>This does not correspond in the slightest with any experience of any current student I am aware of. I could refute pretty much every point in this post, but it's probably not worthwhile. I suspect this poster is a troll, and encourage you to approach this post accordingly.</p>
<p>You've heard enough from actual MIT students here and through the MITblogs to know whether this post corresponds with reality. You know what you want from and can give back to a school, and you know whether MIT will be the right place for you.</p>
<p>I regret that thebio-engineer is having a rough time at MIT. His bitter claim, however, that his experience generalizes to all of MIT, or to all majors, is IMO quite false. Our son is also a freshman there. It is no surprise that he and most MIT students are working hard and experiencing stress. That is MIT, and that is well advertised beforehand. But our son is learning a lot, has extracurricular activities, a social life, and is blissfully happy.</p>
<p>Another freshman dad here. I echo what both mootmom and ADad have said. My son is happier then I have ever seen him, and he is a very happy kid to begin with. He feels comfortably challenged yet has plenty of time for an active social life. He has made many new friends and is excited about EMT training during the independent activities period that is approaching in January. His life is full and he is getting a great education. I could wish for no more, and feel that for him, MIT was an ideal match. He feels the same way. Good luck with your application. I don't try to guess peoples "chances" .</p>
<p>What great mileage you are getting out of every conceivable false stereotype ever said about MIT, here and on the other threads. All opinions about MIT are welcome of course, but I'm guessing that you've never actually set foot on campus - and people who falsely claim to be primary sources while spewing a bunch of bile aren't helping anyone.</p>
<p>If you are indeed a student here, have the integrity to give us your name so the community can verify that you are who you say you are.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I encourage the rest of the CC community to see this troll for what he is.</p>
<p>To be honest, I'm not sure I believe that thebio-engineer is in fact an MIT student. </p>
<p>First, as I've pointed out before, BE isn't yet a major -- members of the class of 2008 who are interested in pursuing it will enter a lottery to be considered for the major, but it won't happen until the end of this term. Thebio-engineer's age, 18, suggests that he's a freshman, and therefore would not yet have declared a major, and therefore would not yet be a member of the BE department.</p>
<p>Furthermore, it's patently untrue that professors don't have time for undergraduates and classes are taught by graduate students. All science classes I've ever taken here have been taught by professors or lecturers; graduate students teach smaller recitation sections (where homework problems are reviewed and there's more of a chance to ask questions), but never classes as a whole. Professors are always very gracious about meeting with students -- they publicize their office hours and are generally very happy to meet with undergraduates.</p>
<p>Research jobs are abundant; over 80% of MIT students participate in at least one undergraduate research project.</p>
<p>Very few people transfer out of MIT; I would be very surprised if "an entire class" of one major decided to transfer, as it would be quite unusual. </p>
<p>MIT students, though obviously dedicated to their studies, have plenty of time for other activities if they desire to participate in such activities. Many of you are aware that I'm a cheerleader and that my boyfriend is a competitive freestyle skiier. We have friends who play sports for MIT, participate in MIT student government, sing in some of MIT's many choirs and a capella groups, and so on. I urge you to check out the</a> ASA student group list and the varsity</a> sports pages. </p>
<p>I have discussed social life at MIT both here and in a recent</a> blog entry.</p>
<p>MIT is not a school for everyone. But it's dishonest to represent oneself as a student of the school while at the same time spouting unresearched falsehoods.</p>
<p>"Maybe, you may exclude the latin dancing and bicommunal activites thing since you dont want to be seen as a social boy, coz you wont have time for such things at MIT. As far as I observed, only social activity of MIT community is doing extra research or writing extra papers for class."</p>
<p>Well, let's see. About half of the EC's I had involved singing and/or theater. As for social activities, you're just plain wrong. There is plenty of socializing to go around. I, for one, am in Resonance, an a cappella group here. I am also a brother of Zeta Beta Tau, and thus have a well-established social network at the fraternity, and I have plenty of people to socialize with and plenty of time to do it.</p>
<p>I usually pick one part of a troll's post and point it out, then ignore the rest.</p>
<p>Just wanted to give my student's take on MIT. My sophomore is going to NYC today with dorm friends. He's playing an IM sport, running a few times a week along the Charles, and is getting started with one other activity that will take several hours a week. He also spends time building stuff in his dorm. He's starting research during IAP.</p>
<p>He has one class that is taking him 20-40 hours a week. Sounds like punishment to me, but his comment is that it's the greatest class he's ever taken. He loves it. In 3 semesters he's had full professors teaching every class. He's been very impressed with the quality of teaching and the TA's in recitations. He was having trouble with a math class and 2 floormates offered to tutor him for several weeks. He happily got a B on his first test. </p>
<p>He says of all his HS friends, he's the happiest. He has, several times, thanked us (family) for making MIT possible for him. He thinks it would be a perfect fit for his younger sibling. (Ben, are you there?)</p>
<p>Hey Ben, just curious, but, why haven't other colleges had the idea of having an adcom on these boards. This is better advertising than a month's worth of junkmail. I assume it's too technical, but I just want to say that this is very effective.</p>
<p>That's a great question - I've been encouraging my friends at other schools to start posting here, but it is certainly a time commitment. I am extremely fortunate in that my title at MIT is "communications manager" and part of my job is to correct any bad info that's floating around on the web. I think a lot of other schools haven't prioritized admissions communications in the form of a position, which is why you don't see a lot of other schools posting here.</p>
<p>To add to my last post, I also want to shout out a big thanks to the MIT students who post here (especially Mollie who seems to monitor this board around the clock!). You guys are awesome and provide an amazing perspective on MIT.</p>