“Do you think I should just give up on MIT, just live a regular life on some mid-tier college, hoping that nobody scoffs when I tell them what I want to study?”
What is that supposed to mean? Giving up MIT = just a regular life on some mid-tier college? (Ummm okay…?)
MIT is just superior or what are you implying there? You said you “feel compelled to change the world in the field of computing and artificial intelligence,” trust me, CS students all over the world may have the same ambition. Not just MIT students. So I really don’t know what’s the reason you wanna be at MIT so much.
5 last things:
- Your parents are not obligated to help you pursue your dreams.
- 1400 on PSAT is okay. Seriously, are you concerned about the 80 pts difference between you and your friend? And again, 33 is okay. Retake it and get a 35, I think you're capable of achieving a higher score. And again, not taking SAT or SAT II is okay, you're a junior. Start prepping now and try to get a 2300+
- MIT is not an unrealistic dream for you. Try as hard as you can. You do have a shot.
- Steve jobs (my hero) didn't graduate from MIT, in fact he dropped out of Reed College, some "mid-tier" college you were referring to. Yet he changed the world.
- Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you'll end up in the stars :)