<p>Your SAT scores will likely be a major factor for you. Over 2300 and you stand a chance. Below 2200 and they would not likely take a chance on you.</p>
<p>They actually don’t care as long as your SAT scores are all at least 700. You don’t need a 2300.</p>
<p>my last take was a 2030 but i think i can up my math which was only 630… </p>
<p>OP, you seem like a walking contradiction lol. You have all these amazing ECs, but you struggle academically and on tests. You can do whatever research you want, but if MIT doesn’t think you can succeed in the classroom, chances are, they won’t accept you. That 630 on math is going to destroy your chances, especially seeing that you failed pre Calc. You can make excuses for the class grades, but it’s hard to make an excuse for the math score on your SAT. The math sub score for MIT is probably the most important for them. Most of the kids applying will have 700+ on the math section and 75% of those admitted have 750+. I don’t think MIT is for you. You have a passion for science, and that can be seen, but you need to look at less competitive math and science programs.</p>
<p>The first time I took my SAT my math score was lower than yours. With hard work and in only 2 months I got my score into the 700’s. Don’t give up just yet. </p>
<p>If you think that you are an outlier. How can ANYBODY make any inferences about you with any confidence? There is very little supporting data. </p>
<p>Sorry, what are you asking?</p>
<p>Among thousands of qualified candidates … including many with great ECs and better SATs and better GPAs … why should MIT pick you over these other candidates with better stats? That is the question.</p>
<p>That is what has to jump out in your application … given the low end SATs and GPA … what is going to knock the socks off of the folks on the admissions committee. </p>
<p>I had a friend who got into Cornell engineering with some pretty flaky stuff on his HS transcript … however, his application apparently made it clear he was pretty much a genius who did amazing things when he was interested … and not so much if he was not interested. In his case the school could live with the lopsided credentials because the good side was so high and the low side didn’t really imply any lack of brain power. (and the killer part of his application lined up with what he wanted to do in college … the weaknesses were not directly tied to his interests).</p>
<p>In your case it looks to me you have a bit of an uphill climb. Your SATs and GPA are low and the weakness comes from areas (math and science) that are vital for your profession. You need a story that emphasizes your potential while minimizing the these warts … but I think that’s a tough sell.</p>
<p>I agree with 3togo. And to say it will be a tough sell to MIT would be an understatement. in terms of college admissions, you need to right the ship immediately in order to have a chance at your state flagship and/or something equally selective. </p>
<p>It’s great to find a vocation early in life, but school is there for a reason. There is value to math, english, and other subjects even if you become a biologist. And there’s really no way to make it up later if you don’t correct it now. If you are really outstanding at biology, eventually you may not be in a lab and will be writing grants all day–which is all the more reason why you should concentrate in school. Also, there are branches of biology you are cutting yourself off from if you don’t study other subjects–bioinformatics, biochem, biophysics, etc…Also, math/physics is supposed to train your mind to think abstractly. At the very least, you should be getting A’s in high school. The average and below average MIT students were the top student in their math and science classes in high school, many with like a 99-100% just to give you an indication of what other people are doing. The “geniuses” at MIT are the ones that were distinguished nationally on top of that… </p>
<p>The time for balancing grades and lab (if you can’t have both) is like junior year of college. </p>
<p>This “follow your passion” mantra that is so common among young students these days needs to be tempered; instead, master the fundamentals you are supposed to be learning in school so you can follow whatever passion that strikes your fancy later (and do what you like in the <em>spare</em> time.) You’re a kid. You don’t need to be working a full-time job and it’s debatable whether it’s good for you.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This. </p>
<p>Google “Study Hacks”. It’s a really good blog that, in part, often talks about how the idea of innate passion in a subject is flawed and often damaging.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don’t necessarily think I lack skills in English but I definetely lack in math. I think I’m giving up on applying to MIT, are there any other top tiers that I would possibly have a shot at?</p>