<p>I'm currently a sophomore in high school. I've always wanted to go to MIT since I moved to America in the fourth grade. In general, what does it take to be admitted into MIT? For example, will not having straight-A's ruin your chance of being admitted? Is there an interview in the process? In hopes that this will help others as well, I'll refrain from applying this only to myself by asking if I specifically will get in.</p>
<p>Such a response would truly benefit myself, and perhaps others.
Thank you.</p>
<p>In general, college admissions is a crapshoot. Much as somewhere in the corner of his/her heart everyone wants there to be some magic list ranking every college applicant in the country from 1 to a zillion, the fact is that a huge number of highly qualified people apply to schools like MIT every year, and it's hard to say who's more highly qualified than someone else.</p>
<p>So what I'm saying is that, in order to be accepted to MIT, you must be highly qualified, intelligent, inquisitive, and hard-working (and prove that to the admissions committee in your application). However, any number of highly qualified, intelligent, inquisitive, hard-working people are rejected every year. Not having a 4.0 won't ruin your chances, but having one obviously won't guarantee admission.</p>
<p>There is an interview, conducted by MIT-affiliated persons all over the country, so you don't have to come to Cambridge to get interviewed. The interview is optional, but is probably a plus for many people (I personally am and always have been terrified of meeting new people, so I put off calling my interviewer to set up an appointment and ended up not having an interview).</p>