Freshman Year of High School

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Basically, I have three different questions.</p>

<p>I'm about to enter my sophomore year at a top college preparatory school in my area. I recently got my final freshman year report card. My final GPA was a 3.0 (I don't know whether this is weighted or unweighted). I took two honors classes, Geometry Honors and Chemistry Honors. The Chemistry Honors course in my school is usually taken by strong students in their junior year, and the Geometry Honors course is usually taken by strong students in their freshman or sophomore year. My final grades were a C- in Geometry Honors, an A+ in Concert Band, a C in Chemistry Honors, an A- in Multimedia Design, a B- in English I, a B- in Spanish I, and an A- in Foundations of Civilizations. The classes I will most likely be taking next year are Biology (Honors or Regular), Algebra II, Concert Band, English II, Spanish II (Honors or Regular), and World History AP. Looking at my academics, what should I do to improve, so I can eventually attend MIT?</p>

<p>I had two unsuccessful campaigns for ninth grade class vice president and school treasurer, but I was elected class alternate representative for the ninth grade class. Over the course of my freshman year, I had over 50 community service hours, which earned me Community Service Honors. I was also a member of my church's youth group. I was cast in my school's spring drama production. Also, I wrote a play and performed a different play for my school's drama festival, which had to be written, performed, practiced, and directed within 24 hours of receiving the topic for the play. I'm also looking into getting student glider pilot certified, and eventually earning a private pilot's license for glider planes. If I do so, I would also want to major in Aerospace Engineering at MIT, due to my strong interest in aviation. I'm also looking into joining the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, as I would either want to enroll in the Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps, and maybe be a Naval Aviator after graduation from MIT. Looking at my extracurricular activities, what should I do to improve, so I can eventually attend MIT?</p>

<p>I did not participate in my school's athletic program in my freshman year, as I was focusing on my academics during the transition from a small Catholic middle school to a rigorous college preparatory school. I plan on playing two or three sports in my sophomore year. However, by playing sports in my sophomore year, I would not be able to participate in my school's fall or spring drama productions. I would still be able to participate in the annual drama festival, though. Which would MIT rather see: excellence in athletics or dramatics?</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>I don’t mean to sound condescending, but freshman grades don’t matter as much as your overall GPA at the time you’re applying to college. Obviously, your grades do matter, but if you show an upward trend of growth, colleges will see the improvement, and that will outweigh less-than-perfect grades early on.</p>

<p>Also, in terms of extra-curriculars, if you have to make an either/or decision, just do what you love to do more. If you follow your interests, colleges will see that you’re doing what you love, rather than just trying to fill a resume. (In other words, it’s totally your call on athletics vs. drama.)</p>

3

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<p>Your asking the wrong question. You need to drastically improve your grades to even get into a state flagship, let alone MIT. I don’t want to be harsh, but it’s better you hear it now. For MIT, you need to be getting A’s, not C’s. For the state flagship, it’s probably A’s and B’s. You should check on that.</p>

<p>Aerospace engineering is hard even if you aced math and physics. The design is the hard part. You don’t want to be stumbling around with the calculus and basic physics.</p>

4

<p>Need to bump up grades in Math and Sciences especially if you will be appliny for aerospace engineering…</p>

5

<p>Unless you completely turn around, get a 4.0 for the rest of high school, take ONLY honors and Ap at every chance, and get stellar academics, I find it hard to believe you could get in, I’m sorry. I’m a rising sophomore too, but I’m doubting if I have any chance at all with 2 B’s in middle school at hs courses (4.0 otherwise) and my planned career, even if I get a 33+ on my ACT and get into the COSMOS program. I know how hard it is to drag up a GPA, and trust me, you probably wont have a 3.8 even if you get straight a’s. I’m sorry :frowning: Georgia tech has an awesome engineering program and physics program, and its an awesome school, but less selective. I know cornell has a good aerospace program too, I think if you really work hard, you could get into cornell.</p>

6

<p>^Two Bs in High School won’t kill your chances anywhere, let alone MIDDLE SCHOOL.
They probably won’t even be looked at twice.</p>

<p>Cs in math and science would be harder to recover from, but not necessarily impossible, especially in freshman year.</p>