Do I have a shot at MIT and other top schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey CC, I’m a senior in high school finalizing my college applications.
First of all, my stats:
-3.85 GPA (though I have had a easily recognizable upwards trend (have a 3.94 since 2nd semester freshman year, 3.98 since sophomore year)
-36 composite on the ACT
-2120 on SAT (which I won’t be using given my ACT score)
-800 on SAT Math II, 780 on U.S. History, taking Physics next week, expecting good results
-6 AP classes (of which 5 were taken last year, when I achieved a 4.0 GPA for the year)
-6 5’s on AP tests
-5 Honors Classes
-ec activities include: Lead yearbook editor for 2015/16 school year, independent research project where I have been modeling and creating a school aquaponics unit to provide organic food for the school cafe (and will soon be creating an actual research hypothesis regarding nutrient cycling and how certain factors may effect the productivity of the system), selection as best math student from my high school (will be receiving an award and a feature in local newspapers at a Rotary Club luncheon on Tuesday), and 4 years of non-varsity sports (running XC and track on a very competitive team).

Do I have a chance at getting in to MIT? My GPA could be better, and I have nothing that really, really sets me apart (no national awards or anything), but it’s currently my reach school and I want to set my expectations straight. Other schools I’m looking at are Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkely/UCLA, and Michigan (where I have a long family legacy). Would really appreciate the time taken out of your days to chance me on some of these schools. Thanks!

2

Your GPA and test scores are in range for MIT (assuming Physics turns out well, since MIT requires Math I/II and a science). Your independent research project really piqued my interest, and I think it might do the same at MIT, especially when so many of their applicants are kids who’ve done all the standard stuff - science fair, took the tests to qualify for science olympiads, enrolled in MOOCs, etc - that every other STEM applicant has on his/her application.

Nobody can tell you your chances with absolute certainty except the person reading your application, and MIT is a crapshoot in the same way all schools with < 10% acceptance rates would be. A few years ago they rejected a kid who built a working nuclear reactor. A nuclear reactor - in his backyard! - wasn’t enough to get into MIT.

With those caveats, I think you’re a great candidate. Let us know how things work out for you.

3

Thanks! I will report back later. My school’s Honors Physics teacher has been facilitating these independent research projects for two years (1 student two years ago and 5 last year), and of the 6 students, the three who applied for MIT got in and are attending the school now. Thing is, of those three, one was the football team captain, another was a national rowing champion, and the last came from an engineering background with a dad who is a high-up at Boeing. I don’t have the same tier of accomplishments as them, but I’m still hoping for the best!