<p><strong>I've already made the same thread over the admission section - I want to know what you guys guys over this section of the forum think...(Forgive me if this isn't permissible.)</strong></p>
<p>I'm a Quebec high school student in grade 11 and I'm looking forward to apply to MIT in a few years. My main concern is that throughout my high school years until now I have been living with so many family problems (probably never going to end) and have never really got to perform well at school. Over here in Quebec, high school ends early (grade 11) and then we go to CEGEP (2 year post-secondary insitution). I have been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, OCD and anxiety disorder and I'm expecting a great change once I move on to CEGEP (I'll be 17) and hopefully by then I can manage and settle for myself to be able to properly study, get great grades and do lots of extracurricular activities and other stuff that I've never really got the chance to do. So I'm wondering how much of my high school years would affect admission to universities like MIT? I'm definitely hoping to completely change my whole "profile" as I move to CEGEP by hopefully doing well in my studies and do a lot of activities.</p>
<p>So what you guys think?...</p>
<p>Thank you. :)</p>
<p>I believe that if you have a really strong, solid transcript in CEGEP then you can make a case for admission to some top schools. I imagine that MIT admissions would want to ensure that you could handle the courseload, pace, and pressure that students find at MIT. Most students that enroll at MIT have taken the most challenging courses available at their secondary schools and they have excelled in them; the great surprise (or shock) to many admitted students is the level of challenge that MIT presents, compared to the typical secondary school. Once you have settled down and applied study habits that work well for you, then you can begin to research colleges and universities where you believe that you can thrive.</p>
<p>I’m in the most strong math and science program at my high school. My concern is that I’ve been pretty much an average student and I have never really got the chance to get involved in any extracurricular activities or even excel in my studies. I do however hope to significantly change the situation once I move on to CEGEP and out of my family turmoil…I’m just afraid that my performance in high school affects my admission even if I do really well later on.</p>
<p>Do you think its reasonable to explain them about why I may have performed poorly - explain about how my family issues and mood disorders have affected my performance in high school (grade 7-11)?</p>
<p>I think there’s always hope - the question is, can you persuade THEM to accept you? In the end, I think it’s what you get out of your experiences and how you show that on your application. I think they’re looking for potential and not past achievements necessarily, although past awards can be very concise statements of potential. If you can show them great growth towards the end, that may show the potential they’re looking for.</p>
<p>I don’t think explaining your issues is enough, though - you’ll have to show that you dealt with them to the best of your abilities and succeeded despite them. (“Succeeded” here is a very subjective term.)</p>
<p>It was a big relief reading your reply, munchybunch! I’ll definitely work hard and work on my way up…I’m sure I can get out of this mess and hopefully show them the potential in me…</p>