Do normal people get into MIT?

[neverending]

<p>On the same vein as karaokemachine’s post… I created this thread a few months ago kind of depressed/dismayed at my chances of getting into MIT. I love science, and a lot of other things, but thought my lack of big impressive awards/inventions/college courses would give me no chance. </p>

<p>I just want to let any future applicants worriedly reading this know that yesterday, my question was answered: YES, normal people DO get into MIT Just keep working hard and doing what you like; it’ll pay off.</p>

[lvvcsf]

<p>I’ve just been following this post. It sounds as if congratulations are in order. Way to go!</p>

[cortana431]

<p>Normal people do get in, but I’d wager to say the distinct majority of accepted applicants have high achievements in math and science.</p>

[src125]

<p>Yes! Absolutely! I’m your average white male student-athlete. Sure, I’m second in my class, but my SAT score wasn’t absolutely amazing (2120) and I didn’t even do that great on Math II (730). Don’t give up! MIT looks for people on their application, not numbers!</p>

[DDRsMom]

<p>I love MIT, my son is graduating this June with a degree in electric engineering and computer science. But if you want to apply there, be aware that MIT admits the best. My daughter was just rejected. We knew that she had a small chance to get in. She has good grades, IB full candidate, NHS board member, athlete, but not so good SAT scores. So my advice to future applicants is: try hard to get good SAT or ACT scores.
MIT is the best school in the world !!!</p>

[rspence]

<p>It’s possible, but very slim chance, for “normal” people to get into MIT. I think they mostly look for people with vast potential or interest, and winning a national/international competition or working on a research project for the past several years during HS are good ways of showing potential.</p>

<p>I got into MIT mostly because I did USAMO and won division 2 in the Natl. Scrabble Championship. However, my SAT scores weren’t that impressive (2070), and I got a couple 2’s on AP Language and Lit tests. A few other of my friends got into MIT mostly because they participated in MOP or ISEF.</p>

<p>Basically, MIT looks for students who “stand out” (not necessarily math or science – they look for lots of interests). Having a 2300 or 2400 and high AP scores with virtually nothing else probably won’t make the cut.</p>

[2016Parent]

<p>Normal people do get into MIT, but they’re the stupid ones in all the classes.</p>

[wellthatsokay]

<p>The above post is absolutely not true. ('nough said).</p>

<p>I also disagree with the poster above that one (regarding the “slim chance” part, not the “stand out” part necessarily). Out of the people I know here, at least half would qualify as academically “normal” in high school and are doing just fine.</p>

[karaokemachine]

<p>

Basically, MIT looks for students who “stand out” (not necessarily math or science – they look for lots of interests). Having a 2300 or 2400 and high AP scores with virtually nothing else probably won’t make the cut.

</p>

<p>You’re looking at someone who got accepted with a 2320, almost all 5s, and no awards or competitions. Rethink your statement.</p>

[breakmon]

<p>YES, ABSOLUTELY!</p>

<p>My D had a 2.3 in high school but she was on the Varsity swim team for 4 years. Also, the living was done in a low-income neighborhood. Maybe we being African American had somethign to do with it?</p>

[ZepHead]

<p>

@cellardweller

MIT cares more about what you may accomplish in the future than what you have done so far. Admission to MIT is not another merit award; it is more an educated guess about your potential contribution to society through science and engineering.

How are they able to identify who’ll accomplish more? They can’t measure the applicants’ aptitude by GPA or SAT scores.</p>

[ZepHead]

<p>

@wellthatsokay

…Well, I went to an unknown rural public school that had limited AP offerings, had no research experience, and had no test prep or summer internships (fancy or otherwise), and I’m currently typing this from an MIT dormitory. Such a description could apply to a lot of my friends here as well. So, I would say that insinuating that such candidates “would not stand a chance at admission” is quite off base.</p>

<p>I don’t know what exactly you mean by “normal”, but I know a lot of people here who would fit my definition of academically normal. That is, they haven’t won (or even heard of) academic international competitions.

Assuming that you didn’t have GPA around 4.0 and SAT score around 2400 prior to being admitted, I can’t understand why a plethora of applicants with consummate scores are rejected.</p>

[PiperXP]

<p>

How are they able to identify who’ll accomplish more? They can’t measure the applicants’ aptitude by GPA or SAT scores.

</p>

<p>Precisely. The rest of the application (essays, letters of recommendation, etc) exist for a reason. Admissions tries to figure out the applicant’s background and compare it to what they’ve accomplished. Is this person the type who will push and stretch available opportunities, or is this just the type of person who does what they’re expected to do with no innate drive to do so?</p>

<p>It’s a hard job.</p>

[mathboy98]

<p>

How are they able to identify who’ll accomplish more? They can’t measure the applicants’ aptitude by GPA or SAT scores.

</p>

<p>In fact, what makes it even harder is that we all know there isn’t an easy way to judge <em>when</em> someone will or won’t become someone without much desire to go beyond what’s expected. After all, sometimes a love for something remains quite dormant until later in life. It might be more feasible, yet still very challenging, to decipher who already does seem to show that tendency. </p>

<p>

Basically, MIT looks for students who “stand out” (not necessarily math or science – they look for lots of interests). Having a 2300 or 2400 and high AP scores with virtually nothing else probably won’t make the cut.

You’re looking at someone who got accepted with a 2320, almost all 5s, and no awards or competitions. Rethink your statement.

</p>

<p>To clarify: I do not believe there was a problem with that poster’s statement, unless one notes that he/she might be using the word “normal” in the sense of the first post in this thread. </p>

<p>By my definition of “normal,” from all indications, MIT isn’t looking for “normal” … but it’s defined differently by the OP to be roughly someone without tons of national/international awards. </p>

<p>Otherwise, I’d think it is consistent with what I’ve read about admissions that a 2300 + lots of 5’s would probably be a reject without anything else which stands out. The only fault that can be found with the claim is if “stands out” is in direct clash with “normal” as defined by the OP.</p>

[IsaacM]

<p>I would say that the things that make an applicant “stand out” “look awesome” etc, has absolutely nothing to do with scores. Like the admissions people aren’t going to look at your SAT and say “2400! Now THAT’S what I call ‘impressive’”</p>

[MITChris]

<p>Precisely.</p>

[ZepHead]

<p>

@IsaacM

I would say that the things that make an applicant “stand out” “look awesome” etc, has absolutely nothing to do with scores. Like the admissions people aren’t going to look at your SAT and say “2400! Now THAT’S what I call ‘impressive’”

I agree; an international accolade is much more dazzling.</p>

[IsaacM]

<p>Or maybe a great personality, extreme potential and a desire to do amazing things with your brain.</p>

[ZepHead]

<p>

extreme potential

I would say the SAT and ACT scores really reflect this quite fairly.</p>

[PiperXP]

<p>^ To the degree MIT needs to separate its candidates, it does not. At least, not to the degree that the rest of the application can.</p>