<p>Is MIT one of the more forgiving (flexible) schools when it comes to numbers compared to other schools of the same caliber? I mean, we all know not all geniuses have the best GPA.</p>
<p>I wonder if a C basically kills one's chance of admission? Or can that be overpowered by other special qualities? Thanks</p>
<p>A C really won't make or break your application. It won't come down to a point where they'll say, "Oh man, this kid is so great, I wish we could accept him-- but damn, look at that C on his transcript."</p>
<p>Generally speaking though, it shouldn't be like that all around. A single C won't kill you, but if it's all you have on your transcript... MIT probably isn't for you. MIT is not in the habit of admitting "geniuses." MIT admits people who will do great things with the resources made available by attending MIT. Around here, working hard really counts for a lot more than any sort of "natural" "intelligence."</p>
<p>FYI: I had a C and I got in...</p>
<p>Schools don't really like risky choices. However, if you show that the C was a fluke, and that you've gone beyond that, and have stellar other stuff, you shouldn't worry too much.</p>
<p>But grades to matter a lot.</p>
<p>"Schools don't really like risky choices."</p>
<p>Untrue in MIT's case. MIT likes students who take risks, because MIT is a risk-taking place. However, MIT would rather have students who know what risks are intelligent, and whose risks pay off at least a good chunk of the time. So, a C won't kill you, but a consistent pattern of taking risks and getting low grades will show that you aren't very good at risk assessment and will hurt you.</p>
<p>wow. i'm having trouble breathing right now... i'm overjoyed. i have a specific teacher who has a problem with teaching (interesting...) and i'm almost convinced i'm not going to be able to pull out of taht class with an A. i thought my life was over, but now i realize, i still might have a one-percent shot at it! sweet. </p>
<p>and just wondering, would winning the intel competition compensate for lets say... a 3.5 GPA?</p>
<p>Pretty much everyone who considers applying to MIT has a chance of getting in. I don't think anyone really has more than that, though - there are just too many applicants and too many variables.</p>
<p>So yeah, don't sweat the small stuff. Worry about doing something cool that's interesting to you, like starting a robotics club or directing a one-act play or feeding the homeless or whatever you like to do. Doing stuff to get into college is the worst idea ever, because if you don't get in, then sucks for you, you wasted your life. But if you do it for other, much awesomer reasons, than if you don't get in, it doesn't matter because you were still awesome!</p>
<p>OKAY that was a really big tangent. Um, yeah. Sorry, just trying to avoid doing actual work...</p>
<p>MIT is my dream school, and I'm just so worried that my sophomore year is going to totally thwart my plans because one, I'm not taking AP Euro and I didn't get into Accelerated English and two, my Psychology teacher is the hardest teacher on campus and I'm not completely sure I can get out of that class with an A. If I do get less than a 4.00 will I be totally ruined? And my classes are so basic I feel helpless. I'm thinking about taking some online classes, should I go ahead with that?</p>
<p>In most cases, there's probably no one thing you can do as a high schooler that would in all circumstances keep you out of MIT. (Well, there might be a few.)</p>
<p>Still, there are a lot of applicants every year and not very many people admitted, so focusing on what could keep you out seems like a futile exercise. It seems much more productive to focus on the ways you stand out from the pack -- to focus on the things that could get you in. I mean, you can't worry about every possible minor setback; at some point you have to just go full steam ahead.</p>
<p>
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and just wondering, would winning the intel competition compensate for lets say... a 3.5 GPA?
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</p>
<p>It might. There are other factors, such as what level of Intel you're winning at and whether a 3.5 at your high school is reasonable, or even excellent, or something that anything with a pulse could get. But as a general statement, research experience will be viewed positively by MIT.</p>
<p>
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If I do get less than a 4.00 will I be totally ruined?
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</p>
<p>Of course not. I had a 3.85.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm thinking about taking some online classes, should I go ahead with that?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you want and can find good ones.</p>
<p>Yes, my alumni interviewer is the head of the MIT alumni association for the ENTIRE UNITED STATES. Upon talking to him, he made it very apparent that in general ivy league kids have your typical perfect scores/grades while MIT students are extraordinary in some way to the point that they have a sincere urge to innovate. So, I'd say the answer is yes.</p>