Chances for Senior with no research?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>CHANCES for a NERD?!!! </p>

<p>Im applying EA. Im hoping for a good interview :(, essays will be good-excellent?, and my recommendations will be VERY strong. btw, Im white and a male, which obviously changes my chances at admission.</p>

<p>Intended major: mechanical engineering, with a minor in robotics. My stats are below: </p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 4.0 -enrolled in toughest courses available (AP and Honors) except for English (academic, English=BLAH!)
Class rank: 2 of 340
SAT Math: 800
SAT Verbal: 740 </p>

<p>SAT II Writing: 800
SAT II Math IIC: 800
SAT II Chemistry: 800 </p>

<p>Clubs/ECs:
JV Soccer(9)
Varsity Track(9,11,12)
Cross-Country Skiing(11,12)
National Engineering Design Challenge(9,11,12)
Playing Trumpet for 10 years
Section Leader Marching Band(9,10,11,12)
Section Leader Wind Ensemble-Honors Band(9,10,11,12)
Section Leader Jazz Band(10,11,12)
Section Leader Summer Theater Production(9,10,11,12)
Tri-M Music Honor Society(11,12)
National Honor Society(11,12)
Certamen Latin Club(9,10)
Work as dishwasher at Nursing Home(11,12) 20 hours a week
Building and Designing HOVERCRAFT for Senior Project (with two friends)
Bausch and Lomb Science Award
National Merit Semi-Finalist
Fairfield Book Award</p>

<p>My only worry is that I dont have any research. Will MIT take into account the fact that there are few opportunities for research in mechanical engineering, especially for a high school student, when compared to other fields such as biology or chemistry?</p>

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<p>I can somewhat relate to your situation, piman. I am also a white male (from LI actually...they REALLY don't need more of us). My scores/rank were comparable and your EC's are probably better than mine in terms of being more well-rounded. (I had music and FIRST Robotics plus various other honor society/community service things, but no team sports.) My HS didn't really push research and I never got involved with any research projects outside of school. I was deferred Early Action and then admitted to my surprise in the Regular Decision round. </p>

<p>To answer your question more directly, MIT will most likely want to see that you sought out / took advantage of opportunities that were available. However, I don't think doing research in high school is the only way to show a passion for education and technology. You do have stuff on your resume that falls into that category. (That Hovercraft project sounds pretty cool. What size are you talking about?) With good essays and recommendations and a good inteview, you will have as good a shot as most other white males... </p>

<p>EA is tough. MIT accepts (and rejects) a few, but defers the vast majority of EA applicants to the Regular Decision pool. There is no exact formula for who gets accepted and who gets deferred. While research is nice, it's not the only thing that can get you in.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>-Shane</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. Yeah, the hovercraft is going to be real cool when it's finished. Right now, were only in the design stage. It wont be finished by the time i send in my application. Anyway, it'll probably be a one seater capable of about 40 MPH speeds. It will include a splitter (if you know what that is) to reduce weight concerns, so we might be able to make it a two person vehicle. Someone in another thread said that i shouldnt submit an optional essay describing our project, said that admissions officers have enough to do. Do you agree?</p>

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<p>Wow that really does sound like an amazing project. I wasn't sure if you meant a small, remote-control type setup (which is still cool, but not as amazing as a full-size Hovercraft!) I guess I am a poor excuse for a Course 2 (MechE) major, because I had to look up what a splitter is, but it sounds like you've got a solid design in the works. I'd be very interested to see the result.</p>

<p>I haven't seen this year's app., but I know that on last year's there was an optional part that said to use one 8.5 X 11 sheet in any way you see fit. I sent a (somewhat corny) collage of pictures from my FIRST Robotics experiences. If that part of the app. still exists, it might be the perfect place to describe your Hovercraft project and maybe include a design sketch or something.</p>

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<p>no that part of the application doesn't exist anymore, but MIT is very flexible in general, part of what attracted me to the school. On the application they DO, however, have two spots for any extra materials. One is to add something, anything about yourself that would help them get a better picture of who you are. The other is to "tell about or show something you created" DING DING DING DING!!</p>

<p>there you go.</p>