<p>So here's my story. My senior year i sort of just blew off the whole college thing and only applied to my reliable state school UIUC mostly cuz my parents really didn't want to fork over the money for just a BS degree. I got in Aerospace Eng with credit for Calc, DFQ, and Physics. Over the summer i self studied Statics/Dynamcs and my 1st sem. I started out taking Aerospace Dynamics which is a junior/senior level class here. It's a junior level class too at MIT. I aced it and got the 3nd highest grade in the class. My advisor told me I was the 1st freshman ever to take the class and quite stunned that I had done so well. In addition I took the requisite chem, Circuits, ,Thermo, and all the other sophomore/junior level classes. I finished the year with straight A's. Despite this, I'm really bored here at UIUC even thougn i'm told i could finish in 2.5 years. which would be nice. I just don't find it challenging for a supposedly "top school".. I really want to apply to MIT for Feb. admission. I wish i had applied in high school but everyone was telling me UIUC was better bang for the buck and you can always go to MIT for grad school. I just think i'd be a lot happier at MIT than I am right now. The next year I plan on taking all humanities classes, since i'm already way ahead, to diversify myself if I apply. I'm also enrolling in the Univ. flight school to start working on my flight instructor's license.</p>
<p>My stats are about low/average for your typical MIT applicant I guess. High GPA, 2300 SAT,(verbal killed me) NHS, ISEF. I didn't take SAT II's since they aren't required for UIUC but i can take them soon. I guess that my only real stand-out is that I'm an instrument rated pilot, licensed glider pilot and if you haven't figured it out have a real passion for Aeronautics. Anyone think I have at least a decent shot?</p>
<p>You sound like a strong applicant...apply, what bad could it do? It sounds like you've already got a great recommendation lined up from that class. MIT has around a 4% transfer rate, but you're certainly one that I could see being in that 4%. Good luck.</p>
<p>Yeah, go for it! Only thing i'd say is that you should take some senior/grad level aero classes in addition to some high-level humanities, next term; consider some rocket science and stuff too; then you'll be ahead</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick replies. Actually I forgot to mention that i've also taken quite a few other Aero/Astro courses. I took Aerospace Dynamics, Aerodynamics, Flight Mechanics and Control Systems. I think I"ll take Orbital Mechanics and Propulsion systems next sem and a couple of Humanities courses. I just wanna make sure I leave room for the Flight classes which i'm keen on enrolling in. If I do apply and am lucky enough to be admitted, will MIT give me credit for any of my Aero classes? I know that they cover a Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Structures in a course called Unified Engineering (I've studied the MIT curriculum) so I doubt I'll get credit for Aerodynamics or Propulsion if I take it since it's only part of one course and if not mistaken every MIT Aero student must take Unified. I know for a fact though that Aerospace Dynamics is a separate class so maybe i'll at least get credit for that.</p>
<p>Yea, the thing about aero/astro at MIT is that the program is highly structured so it is almost odd to transfer into it. That's why I recommend just taking some of the highest level, obscurest electives (even without the prereqs), since it will be impressive, and probably more interesting classes, harder, and they won't overlap so much.</p>
<p>I can totally relate to your situation. I'm a prospective transfer student for the fall of 2007. There's no way I would have would have been accepted into MIT out of high school with my HS GPA and test sores, in fact I was rejected from both state universities and ended up at a small un-known satalite campus. Since then, I've been pretty much aceing my way through the first year and a half of the M.E. program, and even taking whatever higher level classes that I'm not 'supposed' to be taking and doing rather well in them. I just feel that my current university wont make the investent in my education that I feel I deserve and that I strongly desire. My greatest worry is taking too many higher level courses and getting too far into the dregree than desired for a transfer (I'll more than glady re-take those courses at a more prestigious school, hence the reason to go to a better school). I'm a colligent athlete here and active in way to many clubs, but I just feel I'm getting a short-changed education unless I attend the best school possible. MIT is my dream school, and all I can hope for is being a compeditive applicant.</p>
<p>ill also be applying to MIT as a transfer in the fall of '07, though it will be after only one year in college. i was rejected this year, my high school stats arent terrible (top 10%, 1500 SAT, pretty good ECs, 7 5's on AP exams), but theyre not great. Im just pretty much hoping for a 4.0 next year so my app will be at least somewhat competitive, even though i know there is basically no hope as an MIT transfer. might as well try, otherwise you dont know if you could have got in. ill probably also be applying to uchicago next year, so maybe ill have a better shot there</p>
<p>I am going to be an upcoming freshman this year at a nice school this upcoming fall; however, for some reason I did not apply to MIT as a senior. I have come to a realization that this was a mistake and I regret not doing so. I perceived that MIT was narrow in scope in terms of the academic fields it covered and I had absolutely no idea when it came to what I wanted to study. However, currently I have a significant leaning towards a math/science area. My situation is made more complicated since I am also an athlete that would greatly like to play on a team. The current school that I will be attending is top in the nation in terms of athletics and there is no guarantee that I would make the team. MIT is a div. 3 school and I would be much more competitive. Since I have devoted many years of my life to athletics it is very important to me to play in college, I cannot simply quit what I have devoted so much time to. If I do not make my current college's team I will most likely apply to MIT as a transfer and see what happens. I hope my past academic work would increase my chances, valedictorian, 4.0, decent test scores, many awards, etc. Still, I know that MIT transfer acceptance rate is low so I would need all the luck I could get.</p>
<p>I know someone who got into MIT as a transfer, so it can be done. Her first year grades at her college weren't even particularly great, but she had done considerable undergraduate research in her first year, taken a couple of classes at MIT as a cross-registered student, and had a strong letter of recommendation from a highly respected MIT prof.</p>
<p>Why would being an athlete change anything? I believe all you have to do is get your current college coach or athletic director to sign the NCAA release form if the NCAA is your governing body... and if the coach refuses, you just have to red-shirt a season if you even transfer and decide to compete. I compete at an NCAA D2 school so if your at a D1 school rules could be more strict. If I get accepted for transfer, I have full intention to compete for MIT.</p>