Consolidated EA/RD 2012 results thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
21

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2310 (1580 M + CR, 730 W, 8 E) First time
[</em>]SAT II: 770 Math 2, 740 USH, 730 Bio M
[<em>]ACT: 34 (35 Math, 34 everything else)
[</em>]GPA: 3.63 UW, 4.24 W
[<em>]Rank: N/A I think at least top 10%
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): Euro History (4), US History (5), Biology (5), Calculus AB (5); AIME (3)
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: I thought the main one was awesome (in hindsight, perhaps not?), I wrote the optional one with something I created for Science Fair
[</em>]Teacher Recs: Good, I think, they both love me...
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Decent? She likes me, so...
[</em>]Supplementary Material: I sent in an abstract from my summer research at JPL - I'll send in another rec as part of the deferral "appeal".
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Nothing really...I've moved around a lot in my life...?[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: Sunny Los Angeles, CA
[<em>]High School Type: Public
[</em>]Ethnicity: Indian :(
[<em>]Gender: Male :(
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Chess (10 years) - lots of national/state awards; top 65 in the nation in my age group. Paid Summer Internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Science Fair projects...tutor/teach chess at the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena. Some other stuff...w/e
[</em>]Awards: AP Scholar with Honor, National Merit Commended, couple of other awards and stuff - nothing spectacular...
[li]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Damn...I gotta work on apps now :(</p>[/li]
<p>I think the problems in my app were my GPA and my lack of conspicuous awards. We'll see.[/ul]</p>

22

<p>Decision: Deferred</p>

<p>No tube here.</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] Deferred EA?
[</em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2340 (800 M/800 CR/740 W, 11 essay)
[<em>] ACT: never took
[</em>] SAT II: 800 Bio E, 800 Math 2, 800 Lit, 800 USH
[<em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[</em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/~300
[<em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): four 5s (Euro, Bio, Calc BC, USH), one 4 (English Lang)
[</em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): none
[<em>] Senior Year Course Load: 6 APs (English Lit, French, US Gov, Stats, Physics C, Chem)
[</em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): ARML, AIME, National Merit Semifinalist
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Founding Academic Team Varsity Captain (11-12), Founding Math Team Captain (11-12), Founding Mock Trial Co-captain/Attorney (11-12), Science Olympiad Captain (12), Literary Magazine Assistant Editor (12), Varsity Swimmer (9, 11-12), Research on mammalian taste receptors (summer 2007-present). Will probably be President of French Honor Society. Include regional/state math and science awards. Since we are a new school, I took the responsibility to involve students in clubs and the International Olympiads (Chem, Bio, Physics).
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Research (see above)
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: Major ones total ~300 hrs at library (2005-present), camp counselor (summer 2006). I have a theme of informally teaching students math, physics, etc.
[</em>] Summer Activities: Volunteer, research (see above)
[<em>] Essays: Unique, unifying, very good!
[</em>] Teacher Recommendations: Excellent!
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Excellent!
[</em>] Additional Rec: From research mentor, also excellent!
[<em>] Interview: Went very well! Lasted one and a half hours.
[/ul]Other[ul]
[</em>] State (if domestic applicant): PA
[<em>] School Type: Public, opened 2006
[</em>] Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
[<em>] Gender: M
[</em>] Income Bracket: ~$100,000
[<em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM? Not much of a hook :)
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[</em>] Strengths: Good recs, took major initiative at new school, showed sensible risk-taking?
[<em>] Weaknesses: No very major awards, e.g. USAMO/USAPhO? Then again, I helped start those at school :)
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: No USAMO etc.?
[/ul]General Comments: Good Luck!!</p>

23

<p>I was deferred as well with similar stats (2390/36), rank 1/190, and amazing recs. I am a white male, applied for financial aid as well, if that means anything</p>

24

<p>I usually just lurk, but I'm so excited, so I'm posting:</p>

<p>Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2240 (760M, 760CR, 720W)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math II, 770 Bio E
[<em>]ACT:
[</em>]GPA: 4.02/4.33 UW
[<em>]Rank: N/A
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Bio, US History, and Language and Composition: 5, Calc BC: 4 (5 on AB subscore)
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: All very strong except for the short one asking about what dept I was interested in
[</em>]Teacher Recs: Didn't read, but probably very good
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Don't know her that well but she loves me
[</em>]Supplementary Material: Optional essays describing some of my personal quirks
[<em>]Hook: None [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: New Jersey
[<em>]High School Type: Large Public
[</em>]Ethnicity: White
[<em>]Gender: Female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: N[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Jazz band, Environmental Club, Envirothon, Hebrew High School, Chinese Honor Society
[</em>]Awards: Best jazz band in the state (2006, 2007), best saxophone section in the state (2005), 3rd place at NJ Envirothon and best in 3 other categories, National Merit Semifinalist, Smith Book Award, NJ Governor's School on the Environment
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I think my essays were what pulled me through.[/ul]</p>

25

<p>Accepted!</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: Math -780, Verbal - 800, Writing - 800
[</em>]SAT II: Biology - 730, Chemistry 790, Chinese - 800, Math IIC - 800
[<em>]ACT: n/a
[</em>]GPA: 4.63 weighted
[<em>]Rank: top 5% (school doesn't rank)
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Calculus - 5, AP Physics B - 5, AP Language and Composition - 5, AP Psychology - 5, AP US History - 5
[/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: I personally really liked them; I thought they reflected all different sides of me well. My English teacher loved them, so I hope they helped in the decisions.
[</em>]Teacher Recs: one from junior year physics teacher, one from sophomore year history teacher. I'm close to both of them, so I think they must have written great recommendations.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Same as teacher recs. I go to a small school, so I really got to know my counselor well.
[</em>]Supplementary Material: art portfolio of my best work, extra recommendation from a professor of the lab in which I worked for the past three summers
[li]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): none[/ul] </p>[/li]
<p>Personal[ul]
[<em>]Location: Central Jersey
[</em>]High School Type: small public
[<em>]Ethnicity: Chinese
[</em>]Gender: Female
[li]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars:
- Volunteer at Local Library for four to twelve hours every week ever since summer before freshman year all the way to summer of junior year before taking on a job at the same library and working until present time
- Volunteer at soup kitchen first Friday of every month
- Volunteer/Internship at Rutgers University Cell Biology and Neuroscience Lab every summer since freshman year - 9 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday
- Editor-in-chief of school newspaper since junior year
- Student Congress: Freshman - representative, Sophomore - Treasurer, Junior - Vice President
- Captain of Science Bowl (senior year)
- 4 Model UN and 3 Model Congress conferences
- Physics Captain of school NJ Science-letes team
- Art since freshman year
- Achieved ABRSM certification in Level 8 piano at the age of 13
[</em>]Awards: a bunch of art awards - 1 international winning piece, 2 international second place, 1 national winning piece, 1 state winning piece, multiple local and state honorable mentions, Model UN distinguished delegate award and best journalist award. Science-letes: Bio 7th in state, Physics 11th in state, AP Scholar.
[li]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:[/ul] </p>[/li]
<p>I'm unbelievably excited right now, and this is the best Christmas present I could have hoped for. I'm glad the admissions committee recognized how much I really want to go to MIT, and how much I would be willing to take advantage of every resource they have as well as give back to the MIT community. That's probably all it came down to - the fact that I expressed my passions well and that I showed I'm a normal person who has weird quirks like an obsession with cultural Chinese movies. I also have to thank all the people who wrote me recommendations and my interviewer, and basically everyone that made a difference. </p>

<p>Good luck to everyone who got deferred, and those who are applying regular decision! Don't lose hope yet! I thought getting into MIT was impossible, but here I am... still slightly in shock. My thoughts are with all of you! Hang in there!</p>

26

<p>Accepted!!!!!</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2250 (800 M 720 CR 730 W)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 MathIIC; 740 BioE
[<em>]ACT: n/a
[</em>]GPA: 3.9 UW 4.2 W
[<em>]Rank: 7/442
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Biology - 5; AP Calculus - 5; APUSH -5; AP Language - 4; AMC 12 - 105; AIME - 5
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: I thought they were pretty good. My lit teacher said they were "excellent."
[</em>]Teacher Recs: One amazing rec and one pretty good rec.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Didn't really know her but she talked to my teachers and I think it turned out fine.
[</em>]Supplementary Material: I turned in a pretty flawless French Horn recording and also the abstract of a research project I worked on last summer at my internship.
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): URM [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: California
[<em>]High School Type: Public
[</em>]Ethnicity: Caucasian/Hispanic
[<em>]Gender: M
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y [/ul]
Other[ul]
[li]Extracurriculars: Young Peoples Symphony Orchestra; Brass Quintet ; Private lessons (6 years); Classical Piano (12 years); Wind Ensemble - Section Leader; Marching Band - Section Leader ; Musical Pit Orchestra - Lead Horn ; Interlochen Arts Camp ; Scuba diving for 8 years; Active in Project AWARE (underwater conservation program); Founder and Vice-president of the Science Club; Marine research with a professor; Biotechnology Research at School; Chess Club; Volunteer at a rock wall; Environmental Consulting Internship </p>[/li]
<p>[<em>]Awards: AP scholar with honor, two time AIME qualifier, three time principals honor roll, most outstanding musician award, two time California all-state wind symphony, two time All Northern California honor band - principal horn, two time All Solano Country honor band - principal horn, all Northern California honor band scholarship
[</em>]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I'm so happy! I cannot believe this! [/ul]</p>

27

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 800W 760CR 700M
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Chemistry, 740 Math IIc
[<em>]ACT: 34 (but not submitted)
[</em>]GPA: 5.038/5.3
[<em>]Rank: 2/330ish
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 Chem, 5 APUSH, 5 Envi Sci
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: I thought it was creative... my teacher loved it, too. It might not have been literal enough, though.
[</em>]Teacher Recs: One amazing, the other I'm not too sure about... I wasn' t that close to him, but he gave me an award, so...
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Very good
[</em>]Supplementary Material: N/A
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Nope [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: NE
[<em>]High School Type: Public
[</em>]Ethnicity: White
[<em>]Gender: Female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: No[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: 1st clarinet for all 4 yrs, clarinet choir, pep band, select wind ensemble, tutor, NHS VP, town council workshop coordinator, French Club secretary, Habitat for Humanity, Model UN, varsity XC/track, etc. etc. etc.
[</em>]Awards: USNCO Semi-Finalist, Harvard Book Award, Scholastic Art and & Writing Awards RAL Gold Key, science fair grand prize winner, National Merit Commended, AP Scholarish-thing, other silly school departmental awards (Outstanding Student of AP Chemistry, etc.)
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I'm obviously not too happy, but I'm getting over it. My test scores in Math did me in...[/ul]</p>

28

<p>I just came back from volleyball. I checked on my cell, my friend and my parents confirmed it. And....</p>

<p>Accepted!!!</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT: 2340 (R740, M800, W800)
* SAT II: World His-800, Math II-800, Physics-800, Chinese-800.
* ACT: 35
* GPA: 4.0/4.8
* Rank: 2/329
* Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB):
5s on Calc BC, Stat, Chem, Phys B, Phys C M, Phys C EM, Euro His, US His;
AMC 12: 126.5, AIME: 9, USAMO Qualifier.
</code></pre>

<p>Subjective</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: Katrina essay: how Katrina helped me
* Teacher Recs: Math teacher commented on personal qualities while Econ/Euro teacher concentrated on academics
* Counselor Rec: something good, i forgot.
* Supplementary Material: I emailed them saying that I won Siemens AP for Louisiana
* Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): none (mini-hooks: came to US in 8th grade; going through Katrina; USAMO qualifier)
</code></pre>

<p>Personal</p>

<pre><code>* Location: New Orleans, LA
* High School Type: Public
* Ethnicity: Chinese
* Gender: Male
* Applied for Financial Aid: YES
</code></pre>

<p>Other</p>

<pre><code>* Extracurriculars: Mu Alpha Theta: President, VP/re-founder; Engineering Club, VP*2; Student Council: VP, Treasurer*2; Quiz Bowl: Captain; Varsity Soccer, district champions
* Awards: USAMO Qual., AP National Scholar, Siemens AP (Louisiana), National Merit Semifinalist.
* Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: OMG IM CALLING EVERYONE IN CHINA.
</code></pre>

29

<p>Accepted!!</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2370 (800M 770R 800W)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math IIC, 780 Bio M, 760 US History
[<em>]GPA: 4.76W, 4.00UW
[</em>]Rank: 1/311
[<em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5's on Calc AB, US History, Bio, 109.5 AMC 12, 3 AIME
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[</em>]Essays: main one about how science research has shaped my goals and dreams, excellent... optional one about a dream house i designed, liked that one ^^
[<em>]Teacher Recs: one amazing (i'm guessing that's what got me in, didn't actually read it but she was determined to get me in lol), one great (really good writer)
[</em>]Counselor Rec: no idea, probably good
[<em>]Supplementary Material: research abstract
[</em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): [/ul]
Personal **[ul]
[<em>]Location: OH
[</em>]High School Type: Public, 1-3 grads to HYPSM per year
[<em>]Ethnicity: Chinese
[</em>]Gender: Female
[<em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
**Other[ul]
[</em>]Extracurriculars: science research!! antibiotic research/lymphoma research (big part of my life), orchestra (concertmistress/president), science olympiad, speech & debate, interact volunteer organization (200+ hours from tutoring/gift-wrapping for charity)
[<em>]Awards: Siemens Semifinalist, National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar
[</em>]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:[/ul] i still can't believe i got in early!!!! eeeeeeeeeeeee</p>

30

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT (superscore): CR 680, 800 M, 660 W
[</em>]SAT II: Math Lvl. 2 800, Physics 800, Chem. 790
[<em>]ACT: Composite 34, E 31, M 36, R 35, S 34
[</em>]GPA: UW 3.77/4.00, W 4.36/5.00
[<em>]Rank: 25/640
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AMC 12 99, Physics C Mechanics 5, Physics C E&M 5, BC Calculus 5, Chemistry 5, AB Computer Science 4, APUSH 3
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: ?
[</em>]Teacher Recs: ? Probalby good, but not amazing.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: ? She has hundreds of kids, and does not really know me, so probably sucked.
[</em>]Supplementary Material: Extra rec.
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Upper (300 and 400) level math courses?
[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: Ohio
[<em>]High School Type: Semi-competitve large public
[</em>]Ethnicity: Caucasian
[<em>]Gender: Male
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Three research projects, one of which I have written a paper for. Two were just started recenetly (including the one I wrote the paper for) so mit did not know about them. Independnet studies. Tutoring. Blah blah blah.
[</em>]Awards: Some state, some regional, some school. All either math, science, or latin awards with fiew excpetions. Nothign spectacular, yet not horrible.
[/ul]</p>

31

<p>Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 780M + 690W + 670C =2140
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math2, 710 Physics, 710 US History, Chem & Bio sucked
[<em>]ACT: 29 - not submitted
[</em>]GPA: 4.52/4
[<em>]Rank: none, top 10%
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): pathetic - AMC 100.5, AIME 1, AP US History 4, AP Statistics 5
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: Alright I suppose. End of the world - swimming accident last year that made me change my perspective on swimming and school, what do you do for fun - exploring NYC, department - architecture, what have you created - oboe reeds (probably the most unglamorous things I make)
[</em>]Teacher Recs: I guess they were okay- honors/AP physics teacher, AP calc teacher, honors english 2/3 teacher.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: I would have no idea, my counselor thought Syracuse was a reach for me...
[</em>]Supplementary Material: sent to architecutre department - additional rec from Sryacuse School of Architecture (which is the most awesome rec ever) and portfolio [url=<a href="http://hs.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004441&l=15158&id=1333170423%5Dlink%5B/url"&gt;http://hs.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004441&l=15158&id=1333170423]link[/url&lt;/a&gt;]
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): I guess I had something that hooked them.[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: NJ
[<em>]High School Type: public, very competitive
[</em>]Ethnicity: white & asian
[<em>]Gender: female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: 2 swim teams (current captain), vounteer- swim coach/assisted living center, oboe (school librarian when I was in band, 3 outside groups), classical guitar, flute, NHS, Italian Honor Society treasurer, some other stuff
[</em>]Awards: Design Prize from Syracuse School of Architecture (described in my rec from the school)
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Good luck to RD and Congrats![/ul]</p>

32

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2350 (800 M, 770 CR, 780 W)
[</em>]SAT II: Math 2 800, Physics 800, Chem 790, Bio 750, USH 770
[<em>]ACT: not reported
[</em>]GPA: 99.3 Weighted (highest in class, only average the school reports)
[<em>]Rank: see above (school doesnt rank though so they put me as top 5%)
[</em>]AMC/AIME:100.5/4
[<em>]AP: Biology (self) 5, CS A 5, Calc BC 5, Euro 5, Physics C (I and II) 5, Statistics 5, English Lang 4, APES (self) 4 (not that it matters, but that score is BS), CS AB 4 (self), US History 5, Chemistry 5 (self)
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[</em>]Essays: did the optional and thought both were good but I've gone back and edited my experience essay since November (it was about how a choke at the state geography bee championship round led to a change in my perspective on life)...optional essay is about my business (PM for details, should be launched within the next 10 days).
[<em>]Teacher Recs:Great. According to my GC my humanities teacher rec was one of the best in the school's history, and
[</em>]Counselor Rec: Probably good, she had me answer a few character-revealing questions over the summer as a guideline and I've known her for 5 years (it's a middle/high school)
[<em>]Supplementary Material: None sent for EA
[</em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None... [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[<em>]Location: NY
[</em>]High School Type: public
[<em>]Ethnicity: not reported
[</em>]Gender: M
[<em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Yes[/ul]
Other[ul]
[</em>]Extracurriculars: Track/XC (400/800), Math and academic team, science research on scoliosis, tutoring
[<em>]Awards: USNCO national exam, 1st place in the county, AP National Scholar, AIME for 2 years, NYSML for 2 years, Harvard Book Award, National Merit Semifinalist
[</em>]Comments: Completely expected, I submitted the rest of my apps today anyway, but a defer-accept (with me sending some supp. materials in) into MIT would be great.[/ul]</p>

33

<p>HOLY MOTHERS I JUST GOT INTO MIT.</p>

<p>Thanks for keeping everyone updated, Judith. ;)</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2360 (800 M, 800 W, 760 CR)
[</em>]SAT II: 770 Math II, 800 Bio
[<em>]ACT: 35
[</em>]GPA: 4.588 W, 3.99 UW
[<em>]Rank: 1/183
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 2 4s and 3 5s
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: Awesome. Also, I submitted a supplemental one about how much I wanted to go to MIT.
[</em>]Teacher Recs: One super-amazing-fantastic, the other just awesome
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Super-amazing-fantastic
[</em>]Supplementary Material: Research Abstract, a boggle scorecard (the only words I won on- actin, ides, and uber. Is it any wonder I want to double major in courses 7 and 21L?)
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Sailing Recruit- the coach already called me today about visiting with the team.[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: Michigan
[<em>]High School Type: Catholic
[</em>]Ethnicity: Irish
[<em>]Gender: Female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: N[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Debate, Lacrosse (Captain, All-State), Quiz Bowl (All-State), and Cross Country (Captain)
[</em>]Awards: Just check my stats profile if you're honestly that curious.
[li]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: OH MY GOD I JUST GOT INTO MIT.[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>I'm seriously on cloud nine. In order to completely appreciate this, though, you just need to understand how it is I got my decision:</p>

<p>I worked at PetSmart today from 11-7, right? So, it's 11:23 (I know this because I like times like that), and I'm just wandering around putting stuffed dog-santa-like creatures away when a woman I work with comes up to me.</p>

<p>HER: Hey, I think you have a hold on park 21.
ME: Seriously?
HER: Yeah, the other Shannon isn't in today.
ME (thoroughly confused): OK. How do I get a call off park?
(she explains it to me, and I pick up the phone)
ME: Hi, thank you for calling PetSmart, this is Shannon speaking, how may I help you?
MYSTERIOUS MAN ON THE OTHER LINE: Hi, this is Ben Jones from MIT Admissions. How are you?
ME (thinking: OH MY GOD): Oh, um, I'm doing good. How are you?
BEN JONES: I'm doing pretty well. Well, I know you're working right now, but it didn't really seem fair for you to have to wait until 7 to get your decision. (I'm just thinking: sht, he is not seriously **calling me at work* to defer me, is he? This sucks*). We just aren't going to let you go to Chicago next year.
ME: (almost awkward moment of silence) Wait... oh my god, I got in? Oh my god! Oh my god! (repeat through entire conversation)
BEN JONES: (I kind of forget what he said here. Sorry, Ben. It was something along the lines of-) I assume we'll be seeing you at CPW?
ME: Heck yes! (I'm not allowed to swear at work) I've only been wanting to go for years.
(5 seconds of filler conversation)
ME: Wait, how did you find me?
BEN JONES: Well, I saw you were working from 11-7, and I read your application, so it was pretty easy to find the number.
ME: Ah.
BEN JONES: Well, go freak out and scare some puppies or whatever it is you do there. Congratulations.
ME: Wow, thank you so, so much!</p>

<p>And with that, I got into MIT. How's that for a story? (And Ben, if you're reading this, I apologize for completely slaughtering this conversation. You're awesome.)</p>

<p>You can read everything on my [url=<a href="http://www.xanga.com/shmor%5Dblog%5B/url"&gt;http://www.xanga.com/shmor]blog[/url&lt;/a&gt;] in a few minutes, I just need to get the chance to update it. Oh my god!!</p>

34

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: Math - 780, Verbal - 650, Writing - 590
[</em>]SAT II: Chemistry - 740, Math IIC - 800
[<em>]ACT: n/a
[</em>]GPA: 3.96 UW, 5.59 W (This is based on the school's system anyways)
[<em>]Rank: 8/1272
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Government - 3, AP Literature and Composition - 3, AP Psychology - 4, IB Math SL - 7, IB Chemistry SL - 5
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: I thought it was good. I wrote about how being an extremely low income family has made me who I am today. However, I didn't write about creating anything or any additional information because I didn't think anything I had stood out, now I regret that.
[</em>]Teacher Recs: My Spanish teacher one was awesome, but I never saw my Math teacher's. I've known both these teachers for two years though.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Really good. I know my counselor really well and she strongly admires me.
[</em>]Supplementary Material: None unfortunately.
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None.[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: Miami, FL
[<em>]High School Type: Huge public school, not competitive at all.
[</em>]Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
[<em>]Gender: Male
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Member of Mu Alpha Theta, Phi Beta Chi, NHS, EHS, Asian Culture Club, and Anime Club. I was also in orchestra and played viola from 9th-10th grade. I volunteered all summer of junior and senior year at a retirement home.
[</em>]Awards: Math Award for every math class since 6th grade, Questbridge Finalist, AP Scholar Award, and most recently I got 2nd place at some regional math competition.
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I'm just your stereotypical Asian :(. My SAT's are pretty low because I never really cared about Reading and Writing. I didn't study at all and the only thing I ever cared about my entire high school life was getting an 800 in Math. I might just do it again in January and study this time. [/ul]</p>

35

<p>Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2400
[</em>]SAT II: Math - 800, Physics - 800, U.S. History - 780
[<em>]ACT: N/A
[</em>]GPA: 4.00
[<em>]Rank: 1/358
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): European Hist., Calc. BC, Physics Both Cs, Language, Statistics - 5s
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: Honestly, I thought they were average.
[</em>]Teacher Recs: Great! Didn't see one written by my math teacher, but I think it should be excellent.
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Great (I think... didn't see this one either.)
[</em>]Supplementary Material: Research Abstract.
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): I wish...[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: PA
[<em>]High School Type: Public
[</em>]Ethnicity: Asian
[<em>]Gender: M
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Math Club Captain (10-12), NHS President, Academic Team Captain, Newspaper Editor-in-Chief, Tennis Varsity (10-12), ARML Team; could add more, but not anything substantial.
[</em>]Awards: AMC 10 (150), AMC 12 (141), AIME: 11, USAMO 3 years, MOP 9th.
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: This is really a weight off my shoulders. I just had a nice dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. [/ul]</p>

36

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT: 2360
SAT II: 790 world hist, 770 chem, 770 IIC
ACT: n/a
GPA: 4.00 UW/4.76 W
Rank: 1/300ish
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): lots of APs...too lazy to list them all
Essays: evidently not good enough
Teacher Recs: should've been okay?
Counselor Rec: lols
Supplementary Material: CD w. pretty pictures
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): no</p>

<p>Personal
Location: MD
High School Type: suburban, public
Ethnicity: Asian (Chinese)
Gender: Female
Applied for Financial Aid: Y</p>

<p>Other
Extracurriculars: politics, photography, mock trial, model UN
Awards: natl merit semifin, ap scholar, etc
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: well, i guess that 2360 wasn't enough to compensate for my suckage at math. XD oopths.</p>

37

<p>Deferred</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 640CR 780M 650W (ewww)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math Level 2, 800 Physics
[<em>]ACT: 33
[</em>]GPA: 3.76UW/3.96W
[<em>]Rank: N/A
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP History, Physics B, and Calculus AB 555
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: I really liked it, ended up using it for everywhere else
[</em>]Teacher Recs: One super amazing, one great
[<em>]Counselor Rec: I'm scared to know? But I think really good
[</em>]Supplementary Material: Maybe I should have...
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): talked to lacrosse coach, taking college calc class[/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: MD
[<em>]High School Type: Independant
[</em>]Ethnicity: White
[<em>]Gender: Male
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Lacrosse, Soccer, Boy Scouts, some other random ones....I play a lot of sports....before applying to MIT I had never heard of what USAMO or science olympiads were
[</em>]Awards: Mostly School Awards, National Merit Commended
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Congrats everyone that got in!!! MIT was my first choice so this stinks! But we'll see what life brings in the coming months.[/ul]</p>

38

<p>I found my stats post that I typed earlier and then had a crash .. luckily I was editing in an external editor (to change the "[ "s to "["s faster) and I recovered the temporary file</p>

<p>Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2340 ( 750M, 790CR, 800W)
[</em>]SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Physics
[<em>]GPA: 4.5241/4.0 (W/UW)
[</em>]Rank: 1/531
[<em>]AP Tests: 5s-CS AB, Calc BC, Physics B, English Comp, US History, Chemistry. 4s-Euro, Spanish Lang
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[</em>]Essays: Pretty good .. spent a lot of time on. 3a: playing DDR is relaxing. 3b: Very specific response about Course VI and possible UROPs at CSAIL or Media Lab. 4: Three tiered values - learning (taking hardest classes, learning on own, etc), living (friends, theater, chorus, fun), and loving (community service, caring about others, Boy Scouts, reading Philosophy and studying many different religions in a search for higher truth)
[<em>]Teacher Recs: Both forms topped out, Math letter complimentary but not too specific .. called me one of her best students ever and she's been teaching for 30->40 years. Humanities teacher (Spanish) worked on it very hard and it was very good
[</em>]Counselor Rec: Amazing. Very MIT-specific and complimentary.
[<em>]Supplementary Material: Essay about a schedule matching, facebook impersonating website I repeatedly created (lost code) that got used by over a quarter of my school (of 2400 people). Letter from my Research Mentor at NASA LaRC from last summer
[</em>]Interview: went amazing.. met with EC twice at a coffee shop, talked for a total of more than 4 hours about MIT, Life, Politics, Religious truth, Theater, Copyright Law, and many more things than I can remeber [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[<em>]Location: Hampton Roads/Tidewater area of Virginia
[</em>]High School Type: Public. Math and Science School-within-a-school academy program.
[<em>]Ethnicity: Caucasian
[</em>]Gender: Male
[<em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[</em>]Extracurriculars: Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout, Philmont, National Jamboree), Theater, Chorus, Scholastic Bowl (several time champions), Mu Alpha Theta (VP, tutoring, local math competition)
[li]Awards: Brickell Scholar (local), Rensselaer Medal, National Merit, Summer Governor's School[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>I am so happy! sorry to all you who didn't get it this time. Best of luck in the regular round.</p>

<p>Peace,
~Donald Guy</p>

39

<p>Accepted!!!!!!!</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 2110
[</em>]SAT II: 720 Math II ; 690 Physics
[<em>]ACT: N/A
[</em>]GPA: 3.9 Unweighted
[<em>]Rank: 15/522
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): Muchos AP: US History, Stat, English Lit, Government US, Calc BC, Physics C
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: Really good, I love writing essays and I've won a couple essay contests in the past; I just made sure that they knew two things about me: 1) I'm the kid who loves to get involved, to make things happen instead of watch stuff happen or wonder what happened 2) I've wanted to be an engineer since the 5th grade, and still LOVE engineering!
[</em>]Teacher Recs: Again, really good; My Band Director and AP Stat teacher both know me very well to be crazy motivated, entirely self-motivated, and just generally the kind of kid who loves to dive in head first and get stuff done; My band director describes me as one of the best leaders he's ever had (I feel like I'm bragging now, sorry!)
[<em>]Counselor Rec: Grrrrrrrrrrreat
[</em>]Supplementary Material: None
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): I can articulate my interest and passions for engineering really well; Accordingly, I think my essay and interview are what pushed me over the edge, despite some test scores that aren't as high as others. I love engineering, always have, and I made sure that came through throughout my app process. I'm also really self-motivated, and it seemed like I articulated that well too. [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: Ohio
[<em>]High School Type: Public
[</em>]Ethnicity: Asian/Native Hawaiian
[<em>]Gender: M
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: Oodles; everything you can think of; editor of YB; President/Founder of Foreign Films; Numerous officer like Pres, Vice Pres, and MB Section Leader
[</em>]Awards: One or two local leadership awards
[li]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I'm just so stunned that I got in! I'm really really thankful for this opportunity, and I wish BEST OF LUCK to all deferred! I guess I also just want to be proof to kids out there who don't have perfect SAT scores that you CAN get in, as long as you're honestly passionate and willing to go that extra mile to articulate what your passions are.</p>[/li]
<p>As an aside, I will totaly be making delicious baked goods for all my teachers and my school's counseling office in thanks.[/ul]</p>

40

<p>Accepted :-D:-D:-D</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT: 800M, 800CR, 770W
[</em>]SAT II: 800M, 760Physics
[<em>]ACT:
[</em>]GPA:
[<em>]Rank: 2
[</em>]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AMC- 84 (highest score at my school; I organized it at my school); AP: 5s- calc BC, stats, apush, french; 4s- physics C mechanics (learned independently), comp sci AB (learned B topics myself)
[/ul]
Subjective[ul]
[<em>]Essays: not crazily creative, just honest and well-written. I thought they really showed who I am
[</em>]Teacher Recs: really great
[<em>]Counselor Rec: realllllllly great
[</em>]Supplementary Material: music supplements for piano and composition, did the creation essay
[<em>]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): none [/ul]
Personal[ul]
[</em>]Location: forty minutes south of MIT lol
[<em>]High School Type: large, public with no money
[</em>]Ethnicity: American
[<em>]Gender: female
[</em>]Applied for Financial Aid: Y (will apply for fin aid)[/ul]
Other[ul]
[<em>]Extracurriculars: piano, math research, math team
[</em>]Awards: don't feel like listing them...
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: congratulations to everyone who got in!! and for those of you who were deferred, figure out what was missing or what can help show you fit for MIT, and SEND IT! I tried to make sure my essays showed all of the qualities I am most proud of, paying particular attention to those that MIT looks for too. So, if you think you match, show it! and GOOD LUCK to everybody!!! I can't believe I got innnn :-D [/ul]</p>