Getting into MIT

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>I will be a sophomore in high school next year and I'm already stressed about taking the right classes to get into a college such as MIT. By the time I graduate I will have the following:</p>

<p>I have recieved A's in all of these classes for both semesters:</p>

<p>7th Grade: Algebra I</p>

<p>8th Grade: Geometry, Biology <em>tenth grade</em>, German I</p>

<p>9th Grade: Algebra II, Chemistry, Honors English, German II, CAD, Gym, World Regions</p>

<p>Classes I will take:</p>

<p>This summer: Biology 101 & 102 at the University of Maryland Overseas</p>

<p>10th Grade: Math Analysis, AP Chemistry, English 10 <em>Honors not available</em>, AP World History, German III, Computer Service & support, C++, and Health\Art</p>

<p>11th Grade: AP Calc A\B, AP Physics, AP Literature & Composition, AP Computer Science I, AP US History, AP German, Cisco Networking I</p>

<p>12th Grade: AP Calc B\C, AP Statistics, AP English, AP Computer Science II, AP Art History, Cisco Networking II, US Gov't\Art</p>

<p>Other college courses will of course be considered in the summers between 10th and 11th, and 11th and 12th grade. I have just recently taken the SATs and have yet to recieve my scores.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars are as follow:</p>

<p>-Cross country, Track, NJHS <em>next year NHS</em>, Boy Scouts <em>almost eagle</em>, German Honor Society, German club <em>next year</em>, and possibly a math club.</p>

<p>I know I have a few classes a little advanced for my grade, but they don't challenge me all that much. Class does get very boring at times. I think a school like MIT would be great for me but I'm worried about whether or not I'll get in. I've read about what they look for, but I feel so stupid after reading about the people who do get in. I've looked into several other schools; RIT in particular looks like it has a great computer engineering program and co-op too. I know that cooperative education will give you job experience at a company of your choice. Does MIT offer a program like this, or will most people get a job simply because they went to MIT? </p>

<p>I know the post is long, and from a freshman in high school, maybe I shouldn't worry about it right now. Thanks for reading over my post, I'd like an idea of where I stand in all this mess!</p>

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<p>Oh, just found out the biology 101 class is full and there aren't many options for me since this is the only college I can attend as I live in Europe. Do you have any suggestions for college courses I can take online?</p>

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<p>Actually, you don't really need to take both AP Calc A/B and B/C. You'll either take one or the other, B/C being more advanced. Most kids that go to MIT take at least up to a B/C level, but not everyone. I would suggest just taking one of the two your junior year, and then try to find a multivariate course to take, or even just stats, if you like.</p>

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<p>i wish i could give you some help after you took all the time to write that out. In the end none of this "what are my chances" malarkey is useful at all. If some random kids on a message board told you you had no chance, you'd still apply anyway, and if they say "you'll definitely get in" they'd be talking out of their arses since they're not the admissions officials. At the end the only answers you'll get are vague answers like "i'd say you'll maybe have a somewhat decent chance of perhaps getting in," uneducated responses like "they only accept people with 2400 or higher on the sat, 50 AP's, and super-duper EC" or just plain rude ones like "my extracurriculars are way better! i was the [insert meaningless title] in my school's [insert more meaningless organization.]" If you're that desperate for the "odds," just go to the threads where acceptees/rejects have posted their stats and see how you compare. Just apply and see how it goes, it's more exciting that way...And remember, if you don't get accepted, it's not the end of the world! There are much more good, challenging colleges you can get accepted to.
So...the only advise i can give you-do your best and don't lose your hope.
good luck!</p>

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<p>Hehe, I wasn't trying to make this a what are my chances thread, sorry! I hate those and all they get are confusing responses. I want to know if going to MIT is going to make a huge difference than going to a school like RIT. I like to be challenged in my coursework and I don't know if this is the school for me. Being socially active 24/7 isn't my concern. I want professors that can give me help when I do need it, which sometimes does happen. At the same time, I would like to have job oppurtinities right out of college and I don't know if a "lesser" college woudl provide that for me. I realize that I'm only going to be a sophomore in high school next year, but this is something I think about.</p>

<p>Oh, I didn't know that about calculus ^_^ Those are the only math classes that can be taken here. I may fill that in with another AP class then. Do you think that taking six AP classes in my junior year is a bad idea?</p>

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<p>oops, sry about that post then :)</p>

<p>well, 6 AP classes in your junior year sounds impressive, but it's better to take a little bit less and to score all 5's, than to take a lot and score 1-5
besides, you have to take SAT also...
however, if you feel you can do well on all of the AP's and on SAT, then go ahead :)</p>

<p>oh, there is this question....if i take, let's say, 6 AP's during HS, but i score badly on one of them....can write in my application that i took only 5 AP's and not to mention about that bad class? (as if i never took it? )</p>

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<p>I think that if you really think you are ready to take an AP class, you'll do fine. You should get a 3 - 5 if this is the case, otherwise maybe you shouldn't be taking an AP class. I don't mean to sound rude with that since even I haven't taken an AP class yet, but I think many will find that statement to be true. Don't lie on your application though, if you didn't do well in the class just explain why. There should be a good reason. Just work hard in the class and you should do fine I think. Remember, getting a lower grade in an AP class is just as good as getting an A in a normal class, maybe even better.</p>

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<p>actually, i already took APchem this year (sophmore) and i'm pretty sure i didn't do well...in fact, i think i did REALLY bad :)
of course, it didn't happen on pupose...i came to the US right in my sophmore year, took AP chem without even taking regular class, my school provided us only 6-7 labs during the whole school year
but who would listen to this? making excuses is not the right way, i think :)</p>

<p>but back to the thread
MIT, as i've heard, is a really challenging school
and it's true you don't have a loooot of free time
however, if you know how to arrange (spelling?) your study-time, work-time and rest/sleep/party time, you'll do just fine!
teachers, no matter how bad the could be, will always find time to talk to you (but you have to know how to make them listen to you ;) )</p>

<p>Besides, going to MIT give you NAME and a lot of friends (friends, that also will have NAMES)
i'm not sure you understand what i mean, but my word is, going to such a prestige school like MIT, opens up a lot of "doors" for you</p>

<p>what do you wanna major in?</p>

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<p>I am looking into majoring in either Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Yeah I understand the name thing, but would I get the same thing from Stanford or Berkely, being high on the list of universities for engineering? I want options, I don't want to go to a school where all my preperation will go to waste.</p>

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<p>Oh btw, I did take the SAT, I am awaiting the results, they will be available to me online on the 20th.</p>

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<p>hm..i didn't know one can take SAT before his/her junior year....</p>

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<p>Haha, you can take the SAT whenever you want, as long as you're willing to pay the money and sit through the test. I took the ACT in 8th grade.</p>

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<p>I remember a 35 y/o guy took the SAT.. to try to get the lowest score. He had to retake I think.. first time round he got 210.</p>

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<p>On the math section I mean.. managed to get a geometry answer right.</p>

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<p>For admisision into MIT, do they require EVERYTHING people have listed here? It seems that they like high test scores, extra curricular activities, sports, community service \ volunteer work, research, good recommendations, among many other things. I don't think there is a perfect person, but can't you meet most of the requirements? I haven't done research for example...</p>

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<p><em>shrug</em> i got in w/o any particularly solid research experience.
and the strict "requirements" aren't that extensive, check the website. but you're going up against an excessively obsessive and over-qualified applicant pool. so the general philosophy is that every little bit helps.</p>

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<p>Isn't there a summer program high school students can attend at MIT?</p>

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<p>there are several, for different categories of high school students. you're probably thinking about rsi, however. what about it?</p>

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<p>Is it worth going to? What kind of things do you do there?</p>

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<p>Do you have the opportunity to take an AP class or two? Does it help later on when you try to apply?</p>