Could I get into MIT? Chance me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hey guys
This is what I should have by the time I'm a senior (rising junior now):</p>

<p>Asian Female, PA, not-so-great public school :/</p>

<p>UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.95
Rank: 2/571</p>

<p>SAT: 760 CR, 800 M, 780 W (2340 Composite)</p>

<p>SAT2: 800 Math 2, 770 Chemistry, 780 USH</p>

<p>Freshman year:
-Honors Biology: A
-Honors English 9: A+
-Honors Alg. 2: A+
-Honors Precalc: A+
-Honors Western Civilization (History): A+
-Intro to Computer Programming: A+
-Spanish 2: A+
-Health/Gym: A+/A+</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
-Honors Geometry: A+
-AP Calc BC: A+
-Honors U.S. History: A+
-Honors Chemistry: A+
-Honors English 10: A
-Spanish 3: A+
-Health/Gym: A+/A+</p>

<p>Junior Year:
-AP Chemistry: A
-Honors Physics: A+
-AP Statistics: A+
-AP U.S. History: A+
-AP English 11: A+
-Spanish 4: A+
-College to take Calc 3: A+</p>

<p>Senior Year Classes:
-AP English 12: A+
-AP Physics: A
-AP Spanish: A+
-AP Psychology: A+
-AP Microeconomics: A+
-Honors Human Anatomy: A+
-College to take Linear Alg: A+</p>

<p>ECs:
-varsity swimmer, (co-capt.) 4 years
-summer swimming, 6 years
-science olympiad (capt.), 4 years
-ARML (american regions math league) (Section leader), 4 years
-piano, 12 years
-student council rep, 4 years
-debate team, 3 years
-math team, (capt.) 3 years
-newspaper (Editor) 4 years
-art club, 2 years</p>

<p>Awards:
-Science Olympiad - 1st in Anatomy, 2nd in Ecology regional level
3rd in Ecology, 5th in Anatomy state level
-ARML - highest achieving female, team won the national championships 2 years in a row
-Swimming - most diligent swimmer award, i hold 4 team records for my summer team
-Piano - lots of national and state awards and recognition
-NMSF
-$3,000 Scholarship Winner to Cedar Crest College for Outstanding Mathematics
-Lehigh University Math Contest Fifth Place Individual
-Art displayed in Bethlehem’s Cultural Arts and Education Center</p>

<p>Community Service:
-300+ hours at Hospital
-50 hours choir piano acccompaniment
-100+ hours teacher's aide for chinese school
-100+ hours summer swim team timer</p>

<p>Work:
-MATHCOUNTS teacher at community college
-Private swim coach</p>

<p>Essays should be unique, Interview should go well, but no hooks </p>

<p>Give me an honest opinion, guys!</p>

2

<p>You have the grades and SAT’s so that they won’t be a hindrance. You look committed to your EC’s, which is good. Otherwise, you have to show that you want to get into MIT and you are a fit for the school. Read this thread, it’s worth it and will tell you what you need to know.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/939227-reminder-no-one-not-even-me-can-give-you-accurate-chance-mit.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/939227-reminder-no-one-not-even-me-can-give-you-accurate-chance-mit.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>LOL.</p>

<p>My honest opinion is that it is patently ridiculous for a “rising junior” to predict straight A+ grades for the next two years and also to expect to be editor of the school newspaper for 4 years in a row and captain of the math team for 3.</p>

<p>Even if you could do this, why would you choose to monopolize these leadership positions for 3 plus years in a row? Aren’t there other deserving students at the school who might want a shot at leadership in these areas? Do you ever collaborate, or mentor younger students with the idea of grooming them to take over a leadership position the following year? </p>

<p>Just a thought.</p>

4

<p>"This is what I should have by the time I’m a senior "</p>

<p>So, are those real or projected SAT and SAT II scores? Real or projected rank? Etc.</p>

5

<p>*
My honest opinion is that it is patently ridiculous for a “rising junior” to predict straight A+ grades for the next two years and also to expect to be editor of the school newspaper for 4 years in a row and captain of the math team for 3.*</p>

<p>Well I say LOL for a slightly different reason. Depending on the school and how grades are awarded, it may be possible. But if it’s that easy to predict, the grades should mean less anyway - most tough schools challenge the brightest students so it’s not that easy to get A+'s across the board. Apparently this is a not so great school, self-reported, so why would reporting a million A+'s help predict one’s chances?</p>

6

<p>Everything is real except for the SAT, SAT II, swim team co-captaincy, and junior/senior grades. I have been averaging those SAT scores in the blue book, and am taking the real thing in November. Also, it is relatively easy to get A+'s at my school; the AP classes are jokes.
To people who think I am “monopolizing” leadership positions: I have NOT been editor/captain for all four years. The number of years is the number that I have been involved with the activities, not captain. For newspaper, I’m going to be an editor (not editor-in-chief!) for 2 years; for math team, co-captain 2 years. Sorry I didn’t make this clear.
I have merely been reporting my grades as most people do on their chance threads; I didn’t consider the not-so-greatness of the school.</p>

7

<p>Not to be a psychologist or anything…but you are lying to yourself making this post…what is the point, honestly? Just to be told how perfect you expect yourself to be? MIT doesn’t need perfect. And honestly, there has never been a chances post that has shed any uniqueness on anyone…the posts are mostly just numbers and a list of ECs…</p>

8

<p>Sheesh, people. Be jerks, why don’t you. I just wanted to know if I would have a chance at going to MIT when it’s time to apply.</p>

9

<p>Yes, you will. Focus on school for now and what you love to do. Don’t worry until the time comes :D</p>

10

<p>Thanks tmanneopen :)</p>

11

<p>Sheesh, people. Be jerks, why don’t you. </p>

<p>I do not share your sentiment that someone is a jerk for letting you know that posting hypotheticals is silly. I think mathboy, Greta, and Ivysaur were totally correct with their comments and that your reaction to them was NOT always graceful…</p>

12

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<p>90% of his grades the first two years are A+'s. How is it “lying to himself” to predict similar success in the last two years? It’s not.</p>

<p>

Chance posts are mostly pointless, but I’ve noticed that the people with the stronger records get the most flak. If you’re making the point that MIT doesn’t select for perfect records, then fine, I guess a person with a perfect record wouldn’t automatically get in and therefore might want to know what their chances were or how to boost the application.</p>

13

<p>I don’t believe that they’re just “hypotheticals.” They are reasonable predictions of what I should have by the time I’m applying to colleges. I’m perfectly aware that I do not have these exact credentials right now, and I’m sorry if I seem “immature,” but I don’t really see the point of people constantly reminding me of this. Don’t be so serious about it, guys! I just wanted to know if you thought I would have a shot of getting accepted to MIT when the time comes. </p>

<p>Thank you, collegealum314. I agree with you!</p>

14

<p>To the OP: you’re doing fine, but if you’re going to be spending that amount of hours doing community service, I would recommend organizing a project (e.g., a fundraiser.) Something that would show some leadership and ability to work with people toward a common goal. Top colleges look at community service hours and sort of glaze over it unless there is something distinctive.</p>

<p>A ton of people do research, but if you’re interested, this might be something to do as well (maybe next summer.) Again, having it culminate in a project (in this case, for Intel/Siemens submission) would boost your application. But don’t do it unless you want to.</p>

15

<p>Looking over your qualifications, I think you have an excellent chance. I’m not sure how you teach MATHCOUNTS at a community college, but whatever it means exactly, I think it will help your application a lot. An essay about how you enjoy sharing your love of math would be very effective in my opinion. And maybe if you want to organize something, maybe you could do some sort of educational community service project.</p>

16

<p>Thanks for the information! I’ll look into the community service projects, and I would love to take your advice on the research; I’ve always wanted to do it. However, I don’t really know where to begin, because people in my area don’t really do this kind of stuff.</p>

<p>The MATHCOUNTS class is at a community college, but the students aren’t college students. They are younger kids.</p>

17

<p>All you have to do is email a prof asking to do research. I don’t know what fields you would be interested in. </p>

<p>Check out this website:
[The</a> Jisan Research Institute - The Summer High School Research Program](<a href=“jisan.org”>jisan.org)</p>

<p>It’s an organization specifically designed to help undergrads do research. Even if it’s not right for you, I’m sure they would be able to give you advice.</p>

18

<p>BTW, have you thought about taking the AMC? People who are good at ARML tend to do well on the AMC. </p>

<p>Even if your high school doesn’t have it, there are ways around that (taking it at another school, convincing your school to sponsor it, etc.)</p>