Choosing Highschool Courses

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

Hey guys,

I am currently a highschool sophomore. I’m from Russia, but go to boarding school in Colorado. I am interested in applying to MIT when I graduate, so I need to plan out my courses for the next 2 years in order to maximize my chances. I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice

Here’s some background:
Taken AP Calculus AB (Score: 5), AP Macroeconomics (Score: 3 oops)
Currently enrolled in (only listing important classes): AP Calc BC, Multivariable Calculus, AP Studio Art (Photography focus), AP Physics C: Mechanics
Have knowledge of Java, JavaScript, Python. Worked on web development using NodeJS and Express, currently finishing up a project for my school.
GPA: 3.7 (Unweighted)

Extracurriculars:
Varsity Cross-Country
Theatre
Math Team

My question is about what courses I should choose for next year. As of now, I’m in between 2 paths (Independent Studies do go on my transcript, but are Pass/Fail):

Option 1:
Take 5 courses both semesters (AP English Comp., AP US History and Linear Algebra) (not including independent studies)
Independent Study: Physics: Advanced Mechanics (stuff like fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, waves, etc.) (all calculus based) (1st semester)
Independent Study: Physics: E&M (our school doesn’t offer the actual AP course, so I wanted to do it independently and then take the AP exam) (2nd semester)
Independent Study: Mathematics: Set Theory (1st semester)
Independent Study: Mathematics: Intro to Topology (2nd semester)
Independent Project: Computer Science: will be doing it with 2 other people, haven’t decided what we’ll be writing yet (both semesters)

Option 2:
Take 7 courses both semesters, only do the computer science independent project.
Add AP Bio and AP Chem to my current list of courses.

I would much rather enjoy doing Option 1, but I’m not sure if it will be good for MIT. I really love mathematics and physics and want to excel at them. However, I have not taken a highschool level Biology or Chemistry. That’s where I was hoping you guys could help.

Also, if you have any other suggestions or recommendations for me, I will be very happy to hear them.

Thanks in advance

2

From what I’ve seen of MIT, they greatly appreciate when students exceed what’s offered to them. Not to mention, that option 1 course load looks soo awesome! :smiley:

I do think you’ll want to have at least high-school biology and chemistry before senior year; that’s recommended by MIT, although they mention it’s certainly not required. However, credits in those classes are required by many fine institutions which are much less of a moonshot than MIT! You can do everything right and still get rejected, so for the sake of more options you’ll maybe want to sacrifice one of those independent studies for a high school science. :stuck_out_tongue:

If you have a place in mind other than MIT, you should just keep doing what you like doing! I still feel you should branch out, experiment with the other sciences at least a little, but I feel tempted to say just go with option 1. Maybe you can take biology over the summer?

3

Thanks for your insight! Yeah, I read this recommendation on their website, which made me doubt option 1, which was originally my plan. Well, before I came to study in the United States, my school back home required us to take Bio starting in 7th grade and chemistry starting in 8th (we had a set schedule). Although perhaps they were not as in-depth as a highschool level course, I did get a sense of the sciences. I enjoyed both of them, but I just like mathematics and physics way more. As of now, I think I want to major in Theoretical Mathematics.

Yeah, the idea of taking Biology over the summer sounds great! Especially if I could get credit for it. Can you recommend a summer program?

4

MIT requires every student to take one biology class and one chemistry class. If you don’t study these subjects at least at the high school level before MIT, you will be at a great disadvantage,

5

From what they say on their page, it’s recommended, but not required. I might be wrong though

6

You’re right OP, although @rothstem is correct; it might be a big disadvantage not to take it.

Depending on whether or not you’re a US Citizen, many states offer online education options. edX, Brigham-Young University and CTY are all excellent options for online courses in the sciences (although the latter two may be better received on a transcript). Your boarding school may also offer a summer program (which would be the best option).

If you feel interested in pursuing summer courses/credit, please speak with your academic advisor about it. They’ll be able to tell you whether your school even accepts it for HS credit- not to mention what the best options available are, if they know 'em.

7

@CrookedIntegral I am sorry, I wasn’t clear. I meant that MIT has GIRs. Those are the requirements that you need to take while you are a student at MIT. Besides for 2 math classes, and 2 physics classes, you must take 1 chemistry and 1 biology class. So what I meant was, without taking a high school level chemistry and biology class, you will probably find the GIRs at MIT much more difficult than the students that arrive with a background in these subjects.

8

@rothstem Oh, that makes sense. I’ll start looking into options about the Biology and Chemistry.
But would it put me in a disadvantage during the admissions process? If so, how much do you think it will hurt me in that sense?

@OMPursuit Thanks for the advice! Sadly, I’m not a US citizen, so I guess those online options won’t work for me. Do you have any other suggestions? If not, I’ll look into it on my own. My school does not offer a summer program, but I’ll be sure to speak with my advisor about HS credit from other summer programs. Although I could easily study the material on my own if necessary. Once again, the question is whether or not it’ll put me at a great disadvantage in the admission process.

9

It a good idea to get biology and chemistry background in high school to explore what you might like. MIT considers biology so key to being an educated person, given the advances in biology in the last 30 years, that it was added later as an institute requirement. Its nice to explore things in high school so you can find your academic interest. Bionformatics , for instance, is the study of mathematics of genes! It may become your passion, if you start to broaden your course of study in high school and not focus exclusively on mathematics, CS and physics (although yes, option 1 looks very impressive from the standpoint of depth in your math/physics interest).

10

Admissions process at MIT is holistic, so its hard to judge the best path, only you can determine your own best path, and there are lots of ways to learn biology and chemistry such as MIT Open Course over the summers. There was one student, written about in the MIT Technology Review, who was home schooled exclusively with MIT Open Course, with his parents overseeing this, and he got into MIT. Its really a crap shoot, MIT admissions, no set formula can get you in. Good luck.

11

Crooked, you’re not excluded from all online programs! Merely those reserved for residents of a state (Indiana and Florida have them, for example). The other options I mentioned (particularly the excellent MIT OCW @Coloradomama mentioned) would all suffice, although OCW doesn’t have a certification process and would need to be negotiated with your school to count for credit.

I do recommend trying to find a for-credit option, as MIT admission is always unlikely; other institutions may be choosier with what counts for credit, and it’s not like you can’t study with OCW lectures and materials while pursuing academic credit from a certified program.

I also strongly agree with @Coloradomama on getting exposed to new stuff. I actually recall one of the professors teaching intro chem on OCW mentioning they /hated/ chemistry when first exposed! Branching out can only help you, especially while so young.

Whatever you end up doing, you’ve clearly got some strong academic purpose- something many of students are lacking! Good luck, and may it serve you well! :slight_smile:

12

Thanks @OMPursuit @Coloradomama ! I guess you’re right about the exploring part. Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions too early. I’ll look into some for-credit solutions regarding Biology and Chemistry, but I think I’ll stick with option 1 for next school year. Maybe I’ll take AP Bio or AP Chem my senior year.

While you’re here though, are there any other recommendations you can give me? I’m pretty satisfied with my ECs and am dedicated to all of them so far, but I’m not sure if I should sign up for more (within my fields of interest of course). I understand that too many ECs can hurt you rather than help, but still, just wondering if it would be beneficial to do more. I know that I have to choose what is right for me and in the end, that is what I’ll choose to do. I was just wondering if you have any suggestions for me.

Thanks again for all your input! I really appreciate it

13

Your ECs look fine and sound fun. Do what you like doing, possibly enter some competitions (perhaps AMC for you, since you like math- or mebbe the USAMTS)! Look into F=MA, too, since you’re a physics person. Aside from that, I can’t really say what’s available to you- or even what you’re interested in. You’ve got a fine roster already, though! :smiley:

MIT has its own list of competitions, iirc

14

I interview candidates for MIT in Colorado became aware of a local math club Called Colorado Math Circles.

http://www.coloradomath.org
If you can get to Boulder on Sunday afternoons, you will meet other students applying to MIT.