<p>After looking at the thread Michael Woods started "For those who want to know their chances at Caltech" or whatever it was....I feel discouraged. It said getting Bs in math/science courses "just looks bad."
I know its Caltech, but doesn't MIT have a similar evaluation values? idk.</p>
<p>I got 3's Bs in total...a B+ in AP Stats and B in AP Physics for the second semester (Got As in the first semester)</p>
<p>But I also got a B+ in the senior year first semester for AP Chem...yeah, I never really care about grades.
I'm still ranked 4 out of 490 though.</p>
<p>On another note, how do adcoms look at the transcript? My interviewer asked me to bring my transcript...he just glanced at it and congradulated me for my excelence. lol.</p>
<p>Getting Bs in a challenging course isn’t bad. It’s better to take a course that is hard and get a B than to take a course that is easy and get an A.</p>
<p>I don’t know if the Bs will keep you from getting into MIT or not. As a hypothetical, let’s just say that you won’t get in. With a ranking of 4 out of 490 there are many other fine schools that will accept you that also have a terrific math and science curriculum.</p>
<p>People have gotten in before with B’s in math or science courses.</p>
<p>However, think about it. How good do you have to be to get an “A” in a high school class? Top 25%? Top 10%? If you claim you are one of the best 1500 seniors in the country in math or science (the number MIT accepts each year), wouldn’t it make sense that you would be able to be in the top 25% or whatever % of students in each of your high school math and science classes?</p>
<p>The fact your rank is so high should help though, because it suggests that it is somewhat difficult to get an “A”.</p>
<p>I have the same question…since there are students who might have higher grades in math/science than me at my school but school is basically the ONLY thing they do. I top school off with research, track, robotics, piano, science fairs, and debate, so there is a slight difference between us. Maybe an interview would be a good chance to explain? A B doesn’t even signify lower understanding than the A students…esp if it is like 89. Students at my school are so crazy that some call in sick for tests and ask their friends what were on it so they can set the curve when they retake it. :(</p>
<p>You don’t need to explain anything in your interview or the application–it’ll be taken as making excuses.</p>
<p>As for neongreen’s question, it’s not expected that you give up EC’s so you can have a “perfect” academic record. However, there are plenty of people out there that have straight A’s without breaking a sweat and have plenty of time for EC’s, even if that’s not the case at your school. Don’t want to be harsh, but this is MIT we’re talking about. </p>
<p>If you really have unusual academic abilities (e.g., special ability in robotics or something,) then yeah that can make up for it. But you’ll have to be better than just signing up for some activity. If you get a “B” in physics but do well on the physics olympiad tryouts, then that’s another example of how you could show mastery, and passion, for a subject. But I reject the general argument that A = B because 91% is close to an 89%. You shouldn’t be close to a 91% anyway.</p>
<p>I will have competed at the nat’l level in 3 of my ECs by spring, (already international level in 1 last yr). I do research, too, and competed at the state level for my varsity sport for the past few years. I think that my level of commitment to ECs just might explain my 89 over someone else’ 90. I believe there is a difference–it’s MIT :)</p>
<p>I think it’s commitments like these (way more than “joining”) that may sometimes explain grades that differ by a percent. :)</p>
<p>Plus, my school doesn’t round!!! ahhhh I have heard there are schools where teachers round 89.9s, for example)</p>
<p>And I don’t think explaining is an excuse-if the explanation tells itself in the resume.</p>
<p>Well ok, but it sounded that you were going to say something explicitly on your application.</p>
<p>Your EC’s sound great, but originally you just gave me a list of activities so I just responded to that. And the ivies will care more about your athletic prowess. In fact, if you are recruitable and it sounds like you are, you could write your own ticket at any ivy.</p>
<p>neongreen, you sound well-rounded which is something most schools want to see. I don’t know if MIT is a school that will appreciate this as much as other schools. In fact, why would you want to go to a school that is rather narrowly focused when you have more breadth?</p>
<p>@Pea: Thanks! I would like to go to MIT since it is a school where I can compete in my sport without having that be an absolute focus, yet primarily because my robotics/research experience have led me to become interested in MIT. I’m interested in studying neuroscience there+I love the environment, and their AI dept. appeals to me as well. I would like to be surrounded by students studying/interested in the same subjects. </p>
<p>Reflecting, the majority of my main ECs are related to science, minus debate/track.</p>
<p>Also depends a lot on the rigor of the high school. It’s far harder to be the valedictorian at Philips Exeter than an inner-city high school in Detroit.</p>
<p>This is the reason why I often feel rank is not very indicative…</p>
<p>Our school is a mediocre high school…but our physics teacher is badass legit. I love him. he’s one of the Stanford grads around actually.</p>
<p>He grades super hard. But he says I’m the best student he’s ever seen…even though I got a B second semester…he nominated me for the Caltech Signature Award.</p>
<p>To MIT, there is no need for everything to be perfect (unlike CalTech): if you’re already perfect, then there is no point going to school :D. So QuantumArbiter (hey, cool nick name! :D), did you ask your physics teacher to write you a letter of recommendation? If so, there is nothing to worry about.
Anyway the class rank does say something. Even if you cannot have every teachers of yours to write you letters, I don’t think that will lower your chance considerably.</p>
<p>12npm12: Are you an adcom?
and
Yes, I have asked him…and the Stats teacher as well (for other schools)! Honestly, the teachers who gave me B+ are legit teachers who have a high opinion of me LOL. They’re the only ones i respect.</p>
<p>No, of course I deduced that from everything I heard about MIT and read on the website. Think about it
If you said so, I think there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Be a little more confident :)</p>
I believe there is a difference–it’s MIT :)</p>
I deduced that from everything I heard about MIT and read on the website. Think about it 