<p>Well I am I senior in high school right now and am trying to get into an engineering school. Preferably a difficult one such as MIT, Cornell, Clarkson, etc. There's a few problems though. Basically my whole high school academic career has been, not the best it can be shal I say, due to various tragedies in my life beyond my control. With that being said I am trying very, very hard to improve my senior year as a sort of last hope. My 3 year high school average not including senior year is an 80 GPA. I know, I know your probably in tears laughing right now "this kid is crazy!" But I'm very serious. I took my SAT and got a 2100 but plan on retaking it and getting a 2250+. So basically what I am saying is I believe I have the full potential to get in mentally, I just havent proven it. And as far as MIT not really looking for 4.0GPA's and 1600SAT scores anymore and also looking at the person, I believe I have got more than enough of that to get me in. I cannot think of a day in my life when I have not tried to reinvent something or improve it, or tinker, or take something apart and figure out why or how it works. I have personally developed over 10 inventions. So yes, I know this is extrememly ambitious if not nearly impossible. But....what I'm asking is does anyone think I have a shot? Do you think the colleges will see and understand me as an annomoly or just some crazy pot head playing a joke on them.(which I am not!, I'm just saying.)</p>
<p>Problem is, there are plenty of people who have had a strong work ethic through their high school careers, and a lot of them have had life issues beyond their control and have buckled down and gotten their work done. They also want to go to MIT or Cornell (Clarkson...?) and honestly, they've got a better shot than you do. If you can really hit the books and show a TON of improvement this year, then maybe your teachers and counselors can help convey that in their recommendations. Go ahead and try, if it's what you want, I mean, anybody's got a shot, but some shots are more surefire than others.</p>
<p>Wanting a selective college acceptance badly isn't enough. You also have to show that you'd be able to make it at a difficult college. It would seem that you might not have demonstrated that you can do that.</p>
<p>Thats what I fear, that to them I have not demonstrated that I can do it. The only other thing that I can think of in terms of proving myself, aside from excelent grades, is maybe some kind of project. Something that no one has ever done to show that I am smart enough and can do it. </p>
<p>P.S. I figured no one had heard of clarkson so I don't know why I put it, but it is an very good engineering school in NY.</p>
<p>I know the feeling. I'm not sure whether those schools will be able to see your senior year grades, since you will likely submit applications before you finish high school. I still say go for it if you feel you have the chance. It can't hurt to try, right?</p>
<p>Don't fret too much about university prestige. If you want a stronger degree, it won't stop at your bachelor's, and you will have to go through the movements again when applying for graduate school (if you so choose). For the graduate path, I think it's better to pick an undergraduate school you like and is affordable rather than chasing a brand name. You want a challenging path--and you will find it in engineering, regardless of the school.</p>
<p>Thats very true, and not a bad idea. I had not even considered going to two different schools for BA and MD.</p>
<p>Kind of wish I had found this forum 4 years ago. May have changed my life.</p>
<p>(MD...? You mean a masters or a PhD, not a medical degree, right...? I've heard of Clarkson, but I've not heard it mentioned in the same breath as MIT or Cornell.)</p>
<p>Going to MIT or the like doesn't guarantee success. Likewise, not going to a highly prestigious school doesn't mean you're doomed to failure. It's possible that you've missed the boat for MIT next fall, but if you're determined to do better, get good grades in undergrad, move on up for grad school, or prove yourself in industry. It's not like this is the end of the line. Plenty of time to "change your life," so to speak... You're in high school still!</p>
<p>Even a 2250 won't seem special. You'll need your recs to talk about those tragedies if you want a chance. You will get into Clarkson though, it has a very high admit rate. And your SAT on the grander scheme of things, is pretty fantastic.</p>
<p>However, you are certainly NOT an anomaly. There are plenty of slackers with B minus GPAs and SAT scores in the 99th percentile. (I'd know, I'm one of them) And a lot of us have dealt with deaths, impoverishment, disease, alienation, etc. It happens. I worked 50 hours a week on top of school to pay bills and take care of my mom. I have a strong research background for a HSer, have won a few competitions, but that still will not get me into MIT. I am also a URM. A bad GPA is almost impossible to counter. At schools like MIT, there isn't much you can say to excuse mediocrity. If valedictorians with 2350s are having trouble maintaining a C average at MIT, what makes you think you can? Are any of your inventions patented? Have you created a business selling them? These are the kinds of kids that are innovative. Making something cool sometimes just doesn't seem like enough. You could always transfer, but an 80, which translates to a 2.7 on some scales, just isn't going to cut it. You have not shown the tenacity to overcome obstacles - who knows what tragedies await you during college? The idea is that you'll be able to overcome them, and still remain at the very top. And you have not.</p>
<p>Best of luck in all you endeavor</p>
<p>Altho, if you have a few 5s, as far as APs go, that may help significantly.</p>
<p>(calc BC, physics, chem, etc)</p>
<p>Although your odds of getting in may be slim, I think that it is worth the try to apply for MIT with the hope of getting accepted. Assuming you can handle the difficulties of reality and overcome the dissapointment of rejection, this goal that you have set for yourself can become a strategic motivating tool for achieving personal academic success. By your trying to attain this difficult goal, you might actually develop solid work ethics and study habits that will benefit you during your remaining high school career and hopefully into your undergraduate career. If you can accomplish this, no matter what undergraduate engineering program you attend, you will have the opportunity to succeed academically, which ultimately will help you get into the Masters program of your choice.</p>
<p>Whatever school you end up attending for your undergrad, try to take on your undergraduate studies as if you are attending MIT (this of course applies if you are attending MIT). If you don't get complacent, you have a good chance of ending up at around the same place no matter where you start from.</p>
<p>Also, messing up in high school is not really a big deal as long as you don't carry the bad habits that led to those negative results over into college. You've got a long road ahead of you; plan ahead of time from this point on and try to stick to it as best as possible.</p>
<p>Get use to the rejection, I say, it won't stop at college.</p>
<p>I would put HS behind me and "get in where you fit in" so to speak. HS is easy to mess up, especially if you aren't challenged or involved. This is because an education isn't always what they offer, but what you get out of it. I know some engineers from colleges that people would say is better than my alma mater who are a lot dumber and not as well off as I am, if that matters. </p>
<p>If you can't get into a college you want I would either go to one that will give you a solid education despite being less selective on admittance with the anticipation of continuing my education at a more selective universtiy, or I would go to community college and find an inside track with the admittance office. </p>
<p>I have a friend who was told by our HS counciler that he would never go to college or amount to anything. He got it in his head that he would go to Cal Poly, despite horrible grades and a laughable SAT. He moved to San Luis Obispo after HS and attended Cuesta Community for nearly 3 years, appling for admittance to Cal Poly every quarter. He eventually got in, struggled, and got a BS in Forestry from the school of his dreams. He is now a city planner and does very well. The best part was the class reunion where he took his framed diploma and got that advisor to admit he was wrong. The look on my friends face and the emotions that ran through him taught me what true success was.</p>
<p>You are still in high school. If your that confident and determined about being successful, you will do fine where ever you go. Good thing you realized it sooner than later. Do well in whatever college you go to, pursue your passion, and nail it down.</p>
<p>Also, have fun in college.</p>
<p>Also, there are so many people who have potentials and are passionate and confident (like yourself). The truth is, MIT will most likely pick the one who also has great grades and great test scores (if not perfect). However, this doesn't mean that people who go to other 'less prestigious" schools don't succeed in life. In fact, I believe that people who truly find their fit would be happier and be more successful in life.</p>
<p>I hate to be the rotten apple but the chances you getting into MIT are slim to none and slim just left town. Simply because they have so many applicants, just like you, who have proven themselves throughout high school. They don't just take kids because they have perfect sat/grades. At a minimum the students they consider have that. From that point they evaluate them on what they've done outside of school (competitions, life experiences, philanthropy). I think your best bet would be to transfer into a school.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Some good advice.</p>
<p>Chris, apply, you never know. But do understand that it's not about whether you can make it at MIT or any school that you need to prove to admissions. Almost everyone applying would do just fine there. You need to convince them that you are so special/interesting/accomplished that you deserve one of the very few spaces they have more than the other highly qualified candidates.</p>
<p>To be honest, I don't think you're getting accepted. From 1 to 10, I would say 1 and I don't mean it in a bad way is just that were talking about MIT, the best of the best in engineering. If you got the brains like you claim, then don't worry about MIT, there are plenty of universities that can provide you with the resources necessary to become the best engineer in the world. You can always do your MS or PhD in MIT, just make sure you keep proving yourself at the next institution you attend. But just like everybody else here, I'll be pulling for you so just apply and see if you get that 1-out of-10 chance.</p>
<p>Personally, I would'nt hold my breath to get accepted at MIT.</p>
<p>You see, they have thousands of applications just like yours from people who ARE the valedictorian and have near perfect SAT scores. </p>
<p>Sorry for being cold. I just like to live in reality rather than fantasy land.</p>
<p>However, another reality: MIT doesn't mean success, and Success doesn't have to come from MIT.</p>
<p>That sounds familiar... ;)</p>
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Going to MIT or the like doesn't guarantee success. Likewise, not going to a highly prestigious school doesn't mean you're doomed to failure.
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<p>Haha it does :). I didn't notice your post.</p>