<p>Any advice on my situation would be greatly appreciated. I have very solid grades and perfect test scores (please don't remind me that perfect scores don't mean much -- I'm well aware of that :)) as well as several strong ECs, but only one very minor one has anything to do with math or science. I know MIT places a lot of emphasis on demonstrated passion for math/science, so will this automatically assign my application to the trash bin? It's not that I don't like those subjects (I love them), but I go to a very small school that doesn't offer much in the way of clubs and such, and it just never occurred to me to go out and do anything on my own. Is there anything I can do at this point? (I'll be a senior next year.)</p>
<p>find a research internship in a local university</p>
<p>Explain what you just explained to us in your essays to them. They know that not all students have the same access to math and science related extracurriculars. You definitely need the aptitude, which you have demonstrated that you have. That said, MIT is tough to get into. If you don’t get in there are many other fine schools that you will be accepted to.</p>
<p>That was my situation exactly. We were a very humanities-strong school. I hadn’t heard of FIRST or AIME or any of those other competitions until I heard it from fellow applicants.</p>
<p>Try to do what you can, but they know access is a big part.</p>
<p>What… how… who?!</p>
<p>@112358 - We’ve talked before, about the 2400 SAT, remember? Anyway, I read your post up there, and your situation sounds EXACTLY like mine. Small school, not too many activities, little to no math/science activities. Are you secretly me, and I’m secretly you? In that case, let’s team up and submit one application together to MIT :D</p>
<p>Haha, just kidding. Seriously though, I do have that same situation. I’m a little worried too.</p>
<p>Like Piper, I came from a very humanities-oriented school – my major extracurriculars were marching band, show choir, and theater.</p>
<p>You don’t necessarily have to show that you’re passionate about math/science in your ECs, but you should show it somehow in your application. Essays and teacher recommendations are great places to do this.</p>
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<p>Now that I think about it, my school is more humanities oriented- a team of seniors won the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals or something, and drama club + art is pretty big here.</p>
<p>At this point it’s too late to worry about getting an internship IMO. If the opportunity presents itself take it, but I wouldn’t rush to cram something just before I apply to MIT. Right now, all I’m doing is studying a little, maybe getting a volunteer job somewhere on the weekdays, and relaxing. </p>
<p>As all of the above posters said, you’re not doomed, I guess.</p>
<p>Don’t stress it. Some applicants have math/science EC’s. Most of the admitted students that I have met have not. They almost all have an interest in Math and/or Science, but they usually have interests in lots of other things too. Many candidates that I have met have no interests whatsoever outside of Math and Science. Almost all of these have failed to get in.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouraging advice, everyone. If nothing comes up, I’ll just make sure to highlight my math and science interests in my essays.</p>