Harvard and MIT Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi guys, I’m new to College Confidential. I wanted to know how well prepared I am for next year when I apply to college (I’m a junior this year). My top choice is MIT, and I would like to study either astrophysics or physics. Here are my stats:

Demographic: White Male, middle class
GPA: 4.56 (3.98/4.0 UW) (no ranking system)
SAT: 1570/1600 (800M, 770R) - possibly retaking? Should I?
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Physics, 780 Chemistry
Legacy: Dad attended Harvard undergrad, and my mom attended MIT graduate

EC:
-Quiz Bowl (C team 9th, A team 10th, 11th)
-Math Club (9th - Present)
-Physics Club (10th - Present) - Founder/President - I grew this club from scratch, now has almost 30 members - I spend most of my time here…
-Spanish Club (10th - Present)
-I’ve won some school level and regional contests and awards for math and physics, and I got 2nd place in a state level foreign language essay contest (wrote about physics lol)
-I took part in a competitive internship at Lockheed Martin last summer
-MIT Launch Club (9th - Present) - Founder/President
-Math Tutoring Program - (10th - Present) - Founder - I started a math tutoring program at my school where students mentor other students. It helped people a lot so the school implemented into the study halls, and now there are more than 60 mentors

Hooks: Legacy. My biggest hook is becoming a Siemens semi-finalist last year. I’m hoping to get far in ISEF this year (Siemens ended).

Also, I am finished our Multivariable Calculus math course last year (last course available) and I am taking online math classes this year. And I am taking Physics C: EM this year. I guess this helps because I love math and physics and my whole application/life is based on it?

For rec letters, my physics teacher knows me realllllyyyyy well and loves me, so I am definitely asking her. She understands my work ethic and what kind of a student I am. I think it will be a great letter.
My second will be from my APUSH teacher who I am also close with. Hoping for a 9/10 rec?

Thanks for any help and input guys!

2

Your stats look good. Both schools are high reaches for pretty much everyone, particularly students without a hook.

You definitely need to spend more time thinking about matches and safeties rather than your reaches. For a very high stats student such as yourself the reaches are relatively easy to find – just look for the highest ranked school in your intended major. Safeties can be significantly more difficult to decide upon.

By the way, my intent to major in physics ended somewhere in the middle of quantum physics (I was fine through special relativity). Keep an open mind wrt both schools and majors.

3

You are an extremely competitive applicant. Your stats and ECs are great, and your legacy hook will probably help your application. Write good essays and you could get accepted to any of these schools

4

It looks really good! Strong grades and strong EC! Could I ask what is a MIT launch club? Like what do you do in the club?