<p>Does MIT take UW GPA into consideration ? How does it take special circumstances into consideration (say came to US 5 years ago, at time of completing the application, $45000 Household income, IB Classes and GPA of 3.5 UW)</p>
<p>Do people write notes etc explaining reasons for low GPA ?</p>
<p>I read somewhere that the average GPA was 3.89 (for someone entering MIT). I'm assuming this is UW ?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>what does a household income of $45000 have anything to do with a low GPA</p>
<p>I don't think you need to write notes explaining your low gpa. Just make sure you have a demanding course schedule and MIT will be fine with a 3.5 gpa uw. once again, don't write notes, its like your making excuses for not having As</p>
<p>do you really think they're fine with a 3.5 gpa if you have a demanding course load? because ive been working my butt off this year in a really hard course load when i could have coasted, but my grades aren't as good as my all a's and occasional b's i used to have (now i have a few more b's). i mean what's done is done, and im really just asking to make myself feel better.</p>
<p>don't worry, what kind of classes are you taking like ap physics etc.
if there are 3-4 classes like that, a 3.5 is not a problem at all</p>
<p>
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do you really think they're fine with a 3.5 gpa if you have a demanding course load?
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</p>
<p>Yeah. I mean, obviously, straight 100s are better, but the MIT adcom is really understanding about the realities of high school life, much more so than some other top-tier institutions I could name. Rather than looking for near-finished products, they're looking for people they can educate and take to the next level. And logically, someone with a B average and a bunch of tough classes seems more promising than someone with straight 98s in cake classes. It shows you challenge yourself and are willing to take risks, as opposed to sticking with the easy route of easy As.</p>
<p>A rigorous curriculum is extremely important to MIT. Be assured that with an average of 3.89 UW GPA, admitted students took the toughest courses available to them in high school. At 3.5 you would definitely be in the lower quartile if not lower decile.</p>
<p>Or you could just quit worrying about it, try your hardest in school, apply, and see what happens. As the really annoying but true saying goes, if you don't apply, you have a 0% chance of getting in.</p>
<p>oh well my grades aren't that bad i have like a 3.75, and i did apply. i guess what i meant by my question was how bad does it look if you have a 3.5 with hard classes, and exactly how true is it that they say that it's ok (i know it's more complicated than that... im asking what you think the complication entails)? i hope that's a little more clear, i'm not the best at explaining things. sorry.</p>
<p>You're explaining fine, it's just no one really knows what the answer is. Kids are admitted all the time with B's on their transcripts, sometimes even a lot of them. But your odds of getting accepted do go down. We can't tell from the information given to the public what those accepted B students brought to the table. Brilliant essays? Published research? Top bagpipe player? Entrepreneur? A school setting without grade inflation? Math genius? </p>
<p>Ultimately, if you think you're a good fit for MIT you should apply and hope for the best.</p>
<p>If you're awesome enough to get in, believe me<em>, a few</em>* B's won't keep you out. It also doesn't mean you won't do well here.</p>
<p><em>I know from personal experience
</em>With maybe more** than a few B's
<strong><em>Seriously, like, who needs art</em></strong>* class, anyway?
****And did anyone honestly stay awake during geometry class?</p>
<p>Timur is really my child -- I got a B in geometry too. :)</p>