<p>Well, I've been traveling these forums for awhile and I've noticed all these prospective students that have done some amazing things. The question I have is what about students like me who go to a small school (93 in our juinor class). My school doesn't offer any other clubs than Key Club (I am a member), SGA at my school is a joke because all it is is a popularity contest. They offer only 4 AP courses, which I take and that is about it. I am very involved in my youth group, I play soccer, and I lead a small mentoring group. My only concern is that when I apply to MIT I am going to be beat out by others who have attended better high schools. Please off me some comfort or tell me to give it up please. This is causing me great stress because it is my dream to attend MIT.</p>
<p>MIT will evaluate your application in your context, not in the context of other students or other high schools. :) No worries.</p>
<p>I sure hope so because compared to most schools my school is nothing.</p>
<p>They do. Our town officially had 96 graduates, ( about 85 actually received diplomas). We have three AP classes. Limited sports, clubs and other school based activities. Math and science are very limited. We live on an island with 15 miles of road. We finally managed to get internet service to our home last July. None of these things will make or break your application. Ability and contest are the key words.</p>
<p>Take heart. MIT likes to see kids from all types of schools and backgrounds. Other good colleges do, too.</p>
<p>If it is your dream to attend MIT, you know that it is a school that concentrates on math and science. Your transcript and all your records should show an avid interest in these areas.</p>
<p>If your school does not offer special programs, you will have to make your own opportunities. Can you attend community college classes? Can you program, teach programming, or do computer tech work? Can you volunteer in a hospital, lab, or museum? Can you assist a scientist? Can you research the great math problems? Can you participate in summer science or math programs at universities?</p>
<p>If you seek out activities like this, it shows initiative on your part, and that is always a very, very good thing. </p>
<p>Good Luck!
A.M.</p>
<p>Don't worry, my school is the same. In fact, our school doesn't off any science and math clubs, activities except this once a year math competition between local high schools. So we are in the same boat.</p>
<p>Yes, MIT will consider the context of your opportunities. But that does not mean you can just sit on your duff and whine about your school. Frankly, it is not your school's responsibility to hand you high level opportunities on a silver platter. Their job is to provide opportunities that would be appropriate to the majority of their students, not the occassional unusually gifted student who might have unusually high aspirations. You are going to be competing against people who have created their own opportunities. Think about the homeschoolers who end up at MIT - they come from a much smaller "school" than any of you are talking about and have had to be creative about opportunities. Take some of AnnuduhMom's suggestions or come up with ideas of your own. Self study and take AP exams. Find a couple of friends interested in taking the AMC exams and tell your school you'll pay for it if they will register. Travel to math tournaments and compete as an individual. Start a math or science activity at your school. Or enter contests that you can do as an individual with only internet access. Here's two: <a href="http://www.usaco.org%5B/url%5D">www.usaco.org</a>, <a href="http://www.usamts.org%5B/url%5D">www.usamts.org</a>. There are some phenomenal summer programs in math and science. The time to be researching for summer 2007 is right now, because they will fill shortly after Christmas. Here are some lists to get you started: <a href="http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Resources/AoPS_R_Programs.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Resources/AoPS_R_Programs.php</a>
<a href="http://www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html</a>
<a href="http://www.jhu.edu/%7Egifted/imagine/linkA.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.jhu.edu/~gifted/imagine/linkA.htm</a></p>
<p>thanks, lots of great advice!</p>
<p>Do we really need to win some sort of competition to get in MIT(national,state)?</p>
<p>Of course not. Why would you think that?</p>
<p>That's from reading too many chances thread...</p>
<p>So does winning a math competition among local high schools worth metioning?</p>
<p>
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So does winning a math competition among local high schools worth mentioning?
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you list the best stuff you have, whatever it is.</p>
<p>List the accomplishments that you have made. Don't worry about the accomplishments of other applicants from other schools.</p>
<p>So do i need to explain my high school's situation in my application? For example, i m the only one take science and math aps as a junior. Or it doesn't matter that much?</p>
<p>Schools have what is known as a secondary school profile. This document explains the school. It lets the admissions officers know if it is a public, private, homeschool, or parochial school. It lists school size, demographics, academic offerings, and so forth. That is why Matt, Ben, and Bryan emphasize looking at each applicant on a case by case basis. How in the world could they compare an applicant from a small rural school 100 miles away from a major city with an applicant from a suburban school with an average family income of $150K/yr 5 minutes from the state's capital?</p>
<p>When guidance counselors mail transcripts to the universities this document is sent as well. I know a number of applicants to top tier schools who did not attend the top schools in their state who took advantage of opportunities both inside and outside of school that made them serious candidates when they applied to university. Hope this helps some. I would encourage you not to use your school's offerings as an excuse why you did not do something. Think of what you accomplished over the past 4 years and emphasize that in your application.</p>
<p>
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I would encourage you not to use your school's offerings as an excuse why you did not do something.
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absolutely! Show initiative by looking for ways to challenge yourself beyond your school's offerings.</p>
<p>Yes, i understand that. And i did chanllenge myself outside school by taking college classes. But i just wondering that if i should include the stuff that's not going to show up on school profile? e.g no one take APs as junior</p>
<p>Well there you go. You showed intiative by thinking outside of the box i.e. your classroom and took college classes. If you want to mention something about not taking AP's as a junior then mention that in the additional comments section of your application. It's been over a year since I've looked at the application but I do believe there is a section where you can mention stuff that didn't fit anywhere else on the application.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But i just wondering that if i should include the stuff that's not going to show up on school profile? e.g no one take APs as junior
[/quote]
The school profile typically does include info about the number of AP courses offered and how many students take them. You can ask to see it. But if you are the only person at the school who has ever taken an AP course before senior year, that would be a good thing to ask one of your recommenders to include as a reason why you are one of the best students they have ever taught. But it isn't terribly impressive on its own merits, since most students applying to MIT probably do take APs before senior year. (I know kids who started taking them in 8th or 9th grade.) The college courses might be a better thing for you to emphasize. Does the school have a rule against juniors taking APs, or do they set up prereqs that are impossible to fill before senior year, or is it just that juniors don't generally choose to sign up for APs?</p>