Early Action to MIT

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

Okay, so to preface, my mom works at MIT, so I found out that if I were to go, I would go for free (besides room and board). I also have secured a lab research summer internship with one of the leading world neuroscientists at MIT, so I’m partially wondering if that will help my chances.

Ok, onto the stats:

Demographics: Male, caucasian, Boston, public high school (2000 students)

Intended major(s): Pre-med/pre-law

Academics:

ACT: 35 composite, 35 on all sections

SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 800, Bio E 740, Latin 720

GPA: 3.8 (school only offers unweighted)

Coursework: All highest classes, taking two languages (Latin and Chinese), 3 APs this year (Junior year), English, Latin, and APUSH. I skipped a year of Latin when I moved to this school, so I don’t know if that would help at all. I plan to take four APs next year (Calc BC, Bio, Euro, and English) and self-study Latin (taken the highest possible amount of Latin classes) and highest level Chinese.

Awards: Gold Medal on National Latin Exam freshman and sophomore year, honor roll four semesters so far, won almost every track meet in Pole Vault (will go into that later).

Extracurriculars:

(Before I moved to this school) Volunteered at a local hospital, worked at a local toy shop for a year and a half, worked at a day camp as a counselor for three summers in a row, started an Irish culture club, started a badminton team (and fundraised all the money by myself – turned $20 into $500), member of track and field team at my high school (won conference indoor and outdoor in pole vault my sophomore year), and made short movies in my free time.

(After moving) Volunteer at local, famous private library, volunteer at local hospital, volunteer at an LGBTQ legal hotline (kind of a big deal), started a neuroscience club at my school, still making videos, member of a Samba club, LGBTQ rights advocacy club, and writing poetry and papers in my free time. Also practicing pole vault 3-4 times a week in the offseason at MIT and Harvard. This summer, as said before, I will be doing research at a leading neuroscientist’s lab (also a big deal), and I will also be doing a two-week medicine camp this summer.

Leadership: Was listed above.

So, what would my chances at MIT be, considering the research opportunity and possibly because we have connections at the school?

2

8%

3

What does this mean? It doesn’t increase my chances? Regardless, I asked about my chances, not what the school’s acceptance rate is.

4

What do you want to hear? You are competitive for sure, but nobody here can tell you what your chances are. Almost everybody that applies to MIT is competitive, so maybe your chances are 8.5%.

5

This is an old thread, but always relevant here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/939227-reminder-no-one-not-even-me-can-give-you-an-accurate-chance-at-mit-p1.html

6

Ok this clears it up thanks, all. I just wasn’t really sure what exactly the 8% was supposed to mean.

7

There have been a number of posts about this in the past and MIT really doesn’t care at all about legacy or if you are the child of a staff member or professor. Doing quality research will certainly help your application. But like everyone else says really no edge to be found.

8

"8% " means that you should already know what your chances are and (assuming that you are a senior applying this year) there is nothing more you can do at this point to increase your chances. That makes your question USELESS.

You do have good stats and are probably a better than average applicant, but then again, you already know that.

9

@nickmcollins wrote:
> So, what would my chances at MIT be, considering the research opportunity

> and possibly because we have connections at the school?

Nickmcollins:
See the admissions blog by MITChris:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/just-to-be-clear-we-dont-do-legacy

Pay close attention to the replies, where he responds to a question:

10

Well, just a parent’s opinion, but you sound really good to me. Especially if you are a pole vaulter who can compete well on the college circuit. MIT loves smart kids who are athletic, and how many pole vaulters do you think are applying this year?