It's cliche, but chance please

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>GPA: 3.7 UW (upwards trend though)
Rank: Top %10
SAT: 800 CR 800 M 750 W</p>

<p>EC: Math League (9, 10 Treasurer, 11, 12 President) Science Bowl (11, 12 Captain both) Ocean Science Bowl (11, 12 Captain both) Robotics (9, 10, 11, 12 Captain) Key Club (9, 10, 11, 12) NHS (11, 12) Japanese Club (9, 10, 11, 12) </p>

<p>AP: AP Calculus BC (5), AP Physics C Mechanics (5), AP Biology (5), AP English Lang (5)
Senior Courseload: AP Macro/Micro Economics, AP Statistics, AP Chemistry, AP European History, AP Computer Science, AP English Literature, Self Studying AP Physics C E&M </p>

<p>Awards: ISEF Finalist/Best in Category at state fair, JSHS Finalist, AMC 12 School Winner, NMSF, National Ocean Science Bowl 5th place, Regional Science Bowl 3rd place, USACO semifinalist, FRC Regional Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Honors, CSM Award for Achievement in Math and Science</p>

<p>What's really hurting me are my grades. I have taken the hardest courseload available, practically unheard of in my school's history. However, I do not blame my poor grades on this fact, and I do show an upward trend from my freshman to junior year in terms of grades as I have matured a lot over the years. How badly will this hurt my chances and is there anything I can do to mitigate the damage? </p>

<p>Caltech, MIT, HYPSM</p>

<p>Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback. I appreciate it :D</p>

2

<p>male or female? exact rank? what part of the country? URM?</p>

3

<p>Male, Not sure for rank (school does not reveal), and unfortunately asian from a non-underrepresented state.</p>

4

<p>A lot of EC’s shwoing your passion! Im sure that will help with your GPA problem. I think you have a good shot.</p>

5

<p>Here’s the thing with MIT, along with most HYP schools. They receive thousands of applications from qualified applicants for a limited number of spots. What it then comes down to, is an intangible thing, that no one here can know.</p>

<p>For MIT, last year they received over 12000 applications from young men, and offered less than 900 of them admission. Most of those applicants had stats similar to yours.</p>

<p>98% of those admitted are in the top 10% of their high school class. In reality, a very large percentage of those were valedictorians.</p>

<p>It’s fine to keep striving for MIT, but don’t limit yourself, or your aspirations, to one school. What is it about MIT in particular that you want? Is there a particular course of study that you are interested in? (and don’t just say, I want math and they’re good in it. What in particular about the MIT course of study is it that appeals to you? Why MIT’s program over xy or z program?)</p>

<p>What in particular can you bring to MIT? Every student there is smart, motivated, hard working, etc. Every kid there loves math/science and has plenty of ECs to show that. What about you makes you a good fit for MIT and what about you will enhance the character of the class? </p>

<p>What was your AMC 12 score and what about AIME?<br>
Interview is essential in your case as well.</p>

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<p>I am aware of the extremely selective process at MIT and the sheer number of qualified students that apply each year. I am not currently limiting myself to MIT (This was a chance thread for Caltech, Harvard, etc. as well) I dont know my AMC score as the teacher does not reveal it unless asked, which I havent done yet. All I know is that it wasnt high enough to make the AIME XD</p>

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<p>ok, as to AMC - MIT asks for this on their application. Because the SAT really doesn’t demonstrate math competence above a certain level, those kinds of scores matter to them. (It doesn’t mean that they don’t admit students without AMC/AIME/USAMO - I know people admitted there who never took them at all, but if you have taken them and have scores of a certain level, then you want to include them. If not, they won’t help.)</p>

<p>My response to you is not a criticism, but a serious inquiry. My questions to you are the ones that you’ll have to answer, both for yourself as you identify what academics you pursue, and for the university to which you apply. But as one who’s aware of the extremely selective admissions process, you must then know that “chance threads” based on basic statistics alone can’t be very useful. And since none of us are sitting on the admissions committee putting together a class, we can’t go much beyond that.<br>
Good luck.</p>

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<p>I will make sure to find out my AMC score. As such, I did not take it as a serious criticism (Im sorry if I seemed defensive). With the next admissions cycle approaching, I have begun to think more deeply about these questions as well. Ive always taken these chance threads with a grain of salt because I do realize the fact no one can give me a completely accurate answer. However, I still like to think the CC community is more versed in selective college admissions which is why I seek advice.</p>

9

<p>A 3.7 GPA is not going to sink you. Your SATs are amazing. Your AP scores are perfect. All that matters is that you are taking challenging classes and working hard to do well in them. A few Bs in a AP classes are not a sole reason for rejection.</p>

10

<p>Your grades won’t kill you. Apply with confidence. The good news is that you seem to have mastered the material.</p>

<p>MIT is your best chance out of HYPSM. Maybe Yale is also possible since they don’t get as many science guys. Stanford doesn’t always care about stats, but I feel like that applies more to people who aren’t academic-type candidates.</p>

11

<p>^ Do not underestimate Yale. There are plenty of kids who were rejected by all of YPM at the same time, and saved by one school, Harvard.</p>

12

<p>Nowadays, perhaps there is no clear formula.</p>

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<p>Regarding * Why MIT’s program over xy or z program? * :</p>

<p>See, I truly agree this is how it in principle should be (you choose your favorite program by comparing directly with the others and the program of study), but in reality I think it is wiser to think of all this in a more neutral way. As in, what about x is very good and suits me, as opposed to what about x is better for me than y or z. Usually in reality, a fair number of schools fit one’s needs relatively well, and of course fortune permitting, several of them may offer admission to the same individual. And on the same token, none of them may offer admission to an individual who is a good fit and qualified for several of them.</p>

<p>I think some of the generic answers as to why MIT (for one thing, the sorts of students who go there is probably huge) are probably actually pretty good reasons, even if they may not make one stand out by themselves.</p>

<p>All said, I congratulate you on a good application. You are definitely very qualified to attend one of those schools (and no, I do not believe almost all applicants are). I think the only thing “chance” threads can do is point at obvious gaps, and perhaps (if I haven’t glossed over something) you don’t seem to have those. Be sure to have appealing alternative schools! Other Ivy Leagues and other strong math/science schools definitely have students with your qualifications, so you won’t be alone.</p>

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<p>All I’m saying is that Yale gets less true math/science candidates, although they get a ton of top premeds. However, other than ISEF state, the OP has nice awards that demonstrate he would be a good student at an ivy league, but they aren’t really top-shelf awards. So I’m not sure there is enough to distinguish the OP from a premed…</p>

15

<p>You have a good shot</p>