<p>Hi, everyone. I'm a rising (int'l) junior interested in MIT. I fell in love with the school last year when I first started reading the blogs on the Admissions site. It has everything I'm looking for in a school - STEM focused, nerdy/innovative/hacking culture, and collaborative environment. It's basically my dream school.</p>
<p>The only thing is that I'm not a "genius". Or at least, I'm far from what I feel MIT requires, not just to (miraculously) get in but to stay in and fully enjoy the pace of what I'm learning. To clarify, I've never been the greatest at math. I hated it with a passion before entering high school (teachers who didn't know what they were doing, lack of practice on my part, no one to help me catch up, etc.), but after experiencing high school math, I can easily say that I love it. My favourite part is how when my teachers introduce new concepts, they have us apply what we already know and understand the limitations of our knowledge and introduce rules while solving problems (lol, do all teachers do this? I feel what I'm explaining isn't extraordinary, but it was something totally new to me). I love problem solving! Despite this though, I procrastinated and neglected studying and got a B- in Gr. 9 Academic Math (Canada's version of Algebra 1?)</p>
<p>I did a lot better this year and brought it up to an A- in Gr. 10 Math and even though I feel that my thinking/logical skills have definitely increased (not to mention my <em>slight</em> resistance to procrastination), I still feel like I'm really lacking in the math department compared to other future applicants. I plan on heavily working on my problem solving and math skills over the summer.</p>
<p>Basically what I'm getting at is, *will I ever have a chance at MIT? I know math skills can definitely be developed and worked on but are all MIT students math whizzes/people who have always succeeded at math?</p>
<p><em>Um, even though this is how I phrased my question, I don't plan on working on math just to get into this school. I really love computer science and I feel that my lack in math skills is holding me back from fully appreciating the subject. Also, math is *surprisingly</em> cool ;D</p>
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Of course.</p>
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No.</p>
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More or less mostly yes. But this doesn’t mean they haven’t ever struggled or gotten Bs.</p>
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Heads up: at MIT, the computer science major is extremely math heavy. Some of the classes you will be required to take as a computer science major will be math classes. You will likely do more math and thinking about coding than actual coding, at least in your required course 6-3 classes.</p>
<p>On the bright side, another thing to keep in mind: with the exception of a few introductory classes, college level math, especially the math you would use in your classes as a computer major, is very, very different from the “math” you’re experiencing in high school. Think less applying and reproducing protocols or solving expressions and more proofs and hard abstract thinking.</p>
<p>If you do well in the rest of your math classes, MIT won’t care how you did in algebra I. You definitely don’t need to worry about getting a B. Plenty of people at MIT have gotten Bs in high school math, me included. Grades won’t get you in. You’ll get in because of something else, and if you have that something else, a few Bs won’t hold you back.</p>
<p>The thing I would be concerned about is that you might be behind most people who get into MIT. If you just finished algebra I in 9th grade, you’ll be in geometry in 10th grade, algebra 2 in 11th grade, and precalculus in 12th grade? If it’s possible for you and if you could do it without sacrificing your performance and understanding of the material (and your quality of life), I would recommend doubling up in math classes or studying over the summer to skip a grade in math. If it’s not possible for you then don’t worry about it. MIT admissions considers the opportunities you have when they consider your application, and you can start off with 18.01 as a freshman when you get here and that would be just fine.</p>
<p>Actually the way it works in Ontario, Canada is that Math is required up until Gr.11 with varying levels of difficulty (Academic, Applied, and Essentials for 9-10 and University, Uni/College, College in 11-12). Gr. 9 Math is more like half of Algebra I with some Geometry, Gr. 10 is the other half plus a bit of Algebra 2 with more geometry and intro to trig, Gr. 11 Functions is the rest of Algebra 2 and the rest of trig and geometry. Then in Grade 12 there are 3 different math courses: Advanced Functions (basically pre-calc), Calculus and Vectors, and Data Management (Statistics).</p>
<p>This upcoming year I’ll be taking 11 University Functions in the first semester and 12 University Data Management in second and I’ll be able to finish Calculus in senior year :D</p>
<p>That aside, thank you for your response! I definitely feel more (if not marginally, considering I’m an int’l applicant) hopeful about MIT. I was going to try hard anyway, but your response made me feel much more motivated! :D</p>
<p>Hey! You seem like a good kid, and you definitely seem like a hard worker. Not many people can do what you did, take a subject you found difficult and turn into something they work hard at and eventually love. Computer science is math heavy, especially at MIT, where they tend to push you. The thing is it is also hard to get into because the admission councilors also want to make sure that every student is a good fit for the school.</p>
<p>The good news is there are alot of fantastic schools out there with what you described. “STEM focused, nerdy/innovative/hacking culture, and collaborative environment.” Before I started visiting a variety of schools, I too had a dream school that I felt was “perfect.” It was also one of the most difficult ones to get into in the country. Fortunately, I found that many of the schools I visited on my trips had the same qualities and culture similar to my first dream school, in some ways even surpassing my expectations.</p>
<p>So what I am saying is there are many great ways to go to a great school and broadening your scope beyond one school is a good idea as well, if it is not a certain thing (which for MIT it sometimes isn’t). You might find a computer science program that is better fit than the one at MIT, or you might find a campus culture just as cool and fitting. It is a good idea to start looking into a variety of colleges out there as soon as possible, but always hold on to who you are and your aspirations in the process. Good luck!</p>
<p>@shawnspencer Yeah definitely, I have been looking at different schools. Rest assured, I’m not so obsessed with MIT. My second choice (University of Waterloo) is a definite match for me and has most of what I’m looking for and is closer to home.</p>
<p>Haha, if you asked me last year I probably would have said something like, “Consider other schools? MIT is the only place for me!”, but I’m definitely more mature and realize that there are other great schools that offer the things that I’m looking for :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>MIT isn’t going to care about a B in freshman math when they see A’s in later math courses. </p>
<p>MIT is always a small chance, for everyone. But nothing you’ve said makes me think you’re worse off than average.</p>
<p>@PiperXP Thanks for the info! </p>