<p>in 8th grade, my goal was florida state and i still worked my butt off to do well. now it's paid off because guess what, my mind changed and i want to go to mit, and because i worked hard, i practiced study skills that helped for future years. and because of that, the chances are not completely zero. slim, but enough to convince me to apply.</p>
<p>so it's always good to worry about your grades and try hard. but also do what you love, y'know? that's what i tell all my science team frosh. "do it because you love it." because there's always a chance your future won't turn out like you'd prepared for (horrible things can go wrong with applications) and you still want to have something to hold on to in that situation. </p>
<p>i'd be the happiest girl in the world if i got in to mit. but i'd be pretty darn okay with florida state, too.</p>
<p>I agree with GTHopeful. If you were selected for Duke TIP, that's probably an indication that you have an apptitude for standardized tests (since if I remeber right that is the sole basis for the invitation) and you likely will do well on the SATs. Like GTHopeful, my results were about 1100 in the 7th grade and 1500 as a junior. But IMO you are getting way ahead of yourself with the college admission thing. I am an MIT '12 and I had no idea that I wanted to study science/engineering, much less go to MIT, until much later, and spent alot of time with non-science ECs. It didnt hurt me in the application process or in terms of the work at MIT, although in the interests of full disclosure I now wish I had taken more math and some CS in high school. It's ok to plan a little, but dont fixate.</p>
<p>don't slack off. but have fun.
just do the best you can and move forward without any regrets.
grab a lot of opportunities
but don't just do it to impress colleges.</p>
<p>SharcBate1, as far as planning your HS courses, MIT will seek applicants who have taken the most challenging course list available to them as offered in their HS. If your HS has no AP or Honors courses, then they will not be expected or held against you. If your HS offers them and you did not take them, thats not going to bode well for your chances.</p>
<p>Secondly, have an open mind about other colleges as well - from now until the day all your applicatons are submitted senior year. As has been stated, the MIT admission rate is extremely low, and there are certainly many other good options that you should be considering as well. Lastly, a lot can and will happen in the next 3 years. It should be no surprise that students go through huge changes year to year, and that includes the junior-to-senior year when you might be surprised about who ends up becoming a MIT-type student among your HS peers.</p>
<p>For everyone who is telling this finr young person that they are too young. I say, he/she is not… not young to dream, go there, or even consider planning. I myself had no idea what I wanted to be 2 weeks ago. Now I have a life dream of going to MIT and getting my Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. Then I would try to major in Weapons Engineering and become someone like Tony Stark from Iron Man… yes that movie inspired me. I am in 9th grade and i have my life planned out, I do not have these amazing grades like the person above, but however, I have good enough grades. The only thing I recommend that this person should do is, join some more clubs and participate a lot in the community. Other than that do not become a grade freak and only worry about the best in the class, but be someone people want to like. Thank You and as always comrads, have nice day.</p>
<p>The only thing I would recommend is the following: try to get high A’s in the hardest classes offered by your high school, and try to do well on the standardized tests (you won’t have to study for the SATIIs if you do extremely wel in your classes.) </p>
<p>Other than that, just try to follow your interests and get involved in something (but don’t be asking yourself if there is you’re doing “enough” stuff. It doesn’t benefit anybody to be tailoring their application to what top colleges want until around junior year. The best candidates just try to be academic stars the first couple of years while trying different stuff in their spare time to see what they like and what they excel in.</p>