<p>I am a rising Sophomore at a competitive IB school. my freshman year i took two AP classes (comp sci and world history) doing bad on both of them (<=3). next year i am taking Statistics and hopefully comp sci AB. i am a very into my school's debate team and academic team, going to nationals in the latter as a freshman. i also play soccer and I am an Eagle Scout. My Junior and Senior year i will be taking at least 6 AP/IB classes each year. what can i do to increase my chances of getting into MIT? </p>
<p>Thank You</p>
<p>p.s. i want to major in physics/astronomy. (i have been teaching myself this for the past few years)</p>
<p>From the people I know here, it seems everyone did well academically, and did something else at an incredible level. I think the best thing you can do it find something you're passionate in and really devote yourself to it (like debate or soccer). I think high scores and good APs certainly help too. Freshman year is a little early to set your heart on a school, imo. Take some classes and figure out what you like and what your good at, then look ahead at which schools fit your interests. I was certain of what I wanted to major in all through high school, and then changed my mind twice since I've arrived and found out what some field of study actually involve.
As long as you constantly challenge yourself and do things you like, you'll wind up somewhere where you fit.</p>
<p>Man, if I were a dude, I would've tried to be an Eagle Scout....</p>
<p>Anyway, you sound like you're on the right track. Good grades, getting involved - that's the important stuff. Do what you want to do, and then find a school that likes it. Don't try to shape yourself to fit a school =D.</p>
<p>Why are you taking the AP exam if you are in IB and therefore required to take the IB exam? Taking an IB course (where the course material must be taught in accordance with their own requirements) and following that up with the AP exam is not the same as taking a course that is specifically tailored to the AP exam. That might be part of the problem on those AP exams that you took, particularly if you received a good class grade. Personally, i am not a big fan of IB. I know most schools pay lip service to treating IB scores (and British A levels) on a par with AP, but does anyone know how IB scores are actually treated at MIT for college credit and advanced placement?</p>
<p>MIT loves people who are communicators- debate, writing, acting etc.</p>
<p>there is a definite evidence that applicants I know who did courses
for the sake of adding to their resume got burned EA and RD. try not
to accumulate APs and IBs unless it is a requirement or in a subject
area you care about. rather spend the time deepening an area you
care about or taking it to the next level.</p>
<p>Research (award winning and otherwise) would always be a positive.
Try not to make this a central theme of your app though.</p>
<p>Eagle scouts are cool- especially that final community project!</p>
<p>Importantly, demonstrate that you have a life and will continue to
have one at MIT.</p>
<p>Over all, you are on the track. Keep up the hard classes and doing things that you really really enjoy.
one thing though, if you want to take AP tests, make sure you get a good preperation. I know it was only your freshmen year, but it is important to able to evaluate yourself and know your limits. For whatever you do, do a good job. Don't take AP classes just for the sake of having "AP" in front of the class. Plainly taking many AP/IB classes won't help you as much as spending the same amount of time on other things outside of school that really interest you, maybe do some physics or astronomy research?.
I think they are taking away Comp Sci AB AP next year. Only 5k students take it every year.</p>
<p>It's not profitable for them. Too few students take it. For collegeboard, no profit = no good grr (soo much for non-profit)
My school district alone accounts for at least 10% of all the 5's for AP CS AB every year. The fact we have APCS at all is because we are in the Silicon Valley. Even some people who are planning on doing business and biology takes it.
More schools should consider to offer AP CS . it is an awesome class that teaches a different way of thinking and solving problems.</p>
<p>Take the most challenging classes you can handle
Show evidence of self-motivation, collaborative activities, leadership, creativity
Show you have an interest, pursued outside of school, explored in depth (hopefully unusual)
Find other schools you’d be happy at besides MIT - admission chances are low for everyone</p>