Chances?

<p>I posted this in the chances forum, but decided that it was a mistake. I'm a male NYer who will apply Early Action to MIT.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW (not sure, but since my school uses 100 point system where a 95 is an A and my UW is ~96, I think this is about right) and although my school doesn't dish out ranks (or at least they haven't done so for us yet), I am probably ranked 1 out of 140.</p>

<p>SAT I: Math - 800, Writing - 770 (78/9), CR - 700</p>

<p>SAT II: Chemistry (790), Physics (800/didn't take any course for intro physics), Math 2 (800)</p>

<p>Courseload by year:</p>

<p>freshman:
English 9 H
Global I H
Biology H
Spanish 3
Computer Science
Algebra II
Precalculus (distance education)</p>

<p>sophomore:
English 10 H
AP Euro (5)
AP Biology (Distance Ed) (5)
Chemistry H
Spanish 4
AP Computer Science (5)
AP Calculus BC (5)</p>

<p>junior (current):
AP English Language
AP USH
AP Chemistry (self study)
AP Physics (Mech. at school, E & M at local community college)
AP Environmental Science (self study)
AP Spanish
AP Statistics
Multivariable calculus/Linear Algebra/Differential Equations (Distance Ed. from january to august)</p>

<p>senior year projected:
AP English Literature
AP Government (both)
AP Economics (both)
AP Human Geography
Organic Chemistry (local community college)
AP German Language (local community college)
Real/Complex Analysis (Distance Ed.)
Math Excursions (highest level math class at "LCC", deals with USAMO-style problem solving)</p>

<p>ECs:
Sports: XC, Spring track - I'm not so hot at XC, my best time for the 5K was 21:50, best 4K time was 16:59, but I'm better at mid-distance anyway with the 400/800/1600 being my main events. Running is fun, but at 6:30am in NY during winter it takes its toll on the body (although it has been much warmer this winter)</p>

<p>Science Research: 200 hours last summer in the Science Research Training Program - My project involved cloning a membrane protein in a tick-transmitted parasite known as Babesia divergens. After that, I couldn't find anyone willing to take me up on my greater interest (myology) until now, and I should be starting research in a week or so. What is it about you ask? Well, let's just say it has to do with satellite cells, lipids, and homeobox genes for now until I get clearance to begin work on a specific topic. I'll probably do this research until I leave for college, since it's part of what I want to do for my career (i.e., becoming a myologist/stem-cell researcher). Also, I don't know how much research will be involved in this, but I'm doing the IBM Watson Honors program which receives the top 4 math/science students from each school in my county and involves 3 hours of labs and lectures for 8 Saturdays.</p>

<p>Clubs: I'm not the type to overextend myself in clubs, but I will say I do math team(captain since 8th grade/president - our school has a new policy this year that requires each club to elect a President, VP, Secy, and Treasurer), quizbowl/Academic challenge(president but not captain because the advisor likes to divide power even if the choice for captain is horrible), and newspaper (as a sports/science staff writer)</p>

<p>Community Service: So far only in the form of tutoring kids in Spanish and in Math (well, for math it's more of a one-on-one where I am teaching precalculus to a very motivated 8th grader)</p>

<p>Awards/Competitions: My school is located in a hamlet, so the only way we do cool stuff is if someone introduces it from the outside. Last year, I pushed for the introduction of math olympiad in our school, and we finally got it. I was the AMC 12 school winner, but it seems my math team advisor lost my AIME score...so now I'm back (and loaded with the AoPS series) this year and shooting for USAMO.</p>

<p>Our Academic Team is utterly pathetic, since the captain makes bad choices all the time with putting people in and taking them out and has too much pride to admit that she is an incompetent player, so she says "oh I knew that answer" after every question (end rant). The only thing worth noting in this department is that I placed second overall in the last tournament in individual scoring and had the second highest score for an individual game (the same guy took first place in everything else)</p>

<p>I also spoke to my Chemistry Teacher about doing USNCO; right now that's my goal...I want to get to nationals and hopefully even study camp this year (a lot to ask for, so I'll hope for the best when testing time comes). My physics teacher plans on nominating me for the physics screening exam, which I hope to do well enough to become a semi-finalist. </p>

<p>As you can see, a lot of this is future "what-ifs" and not much of what I've attained, so the only other award worthy of mentioning is AP Scholar with Honor. I don't think making the local newspaper for a XC race is that important to me anyway.</p>

<p>I just want to see how well I stack up now, because I remember I posted my stats (on a different account) last summer and I was told I was a "big and bigger reach" for RSI and MIT, respectively.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>It's people like you that make me wonder how the heck I was accepted!</p>

<p>I'd say that you have an incredible application on your hands, if you play it out right. Even someone with your incredible resume can come off sounding "meh" if your essays don't show the passion and ambition and excitement that you seem to have. Aligning yourself with MIT's mission/match is also very important...</p>

<p>But regarding your "reach" status...you seem to feel that it's wrong? MIT is a big reach for everyone, no matter how accomplished (or unaccomplished!) you are. </p>

<p>Anyways, good luck with USAMO and USNCO and all that...and most of all with your MIT app!</p>

<p>No, that's not what I was saying at all. I was saying that in response to some people saying in the chances forum that my thread was pointless because it would be a "given" that I get in. I was merely arguing against them when I stated that MIT is a big reach. </p>

<p>And about the whole passion thing, I have the RSI app as a practice run for that, so I'll see how it goes.</p>

<p>BTW, is it true that something like 95% of RSI attendees who apply to MIT get in as well? Not that the correlation is significant, I was just wondering.</p>

<p>I don't think the RSI numbers are that high. You are well qualified for MIT - but since less than 15% are accepted and most who apply are qualified I wouldn't count on it. You absolutely ought to apply. You can't be accepted if you don't. :)</p>

<p>Hi, I'm just wondering, are you taking ur online math classes thru EPGY?</p>

<p>I think you have a good shot, but you are correct in realizing that there are no givens with MIT. My D applied EA to MIT and was deferred; her numbers are similar to yours; Her class rank is #1 of over 500. You've got the research angle -- she did not. However, her ECs and Community service are stronger than yours, and her essays and recs were really good. As a mom, I started out the process just assuming that she was "in", but it's been a humbling experience, to say the least. When you do your application next fall, keep in mind that MIT will be wondering what YOU can bring to them. Good luck, and don't get too crazy about it. You will be able to consider schools that will be "safeties" for you that are extreme reaches for everyone else. Keep on studying.</p>

<p>wow, MIT should be ur match
I have never seen anyone taking high math classes as u do in my life.</p>