MIT and school type - Question

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Whenever I see these "chance me" threads, I see "public magnet school" as their school type. </p>

<p>The school I go to would not, by any metric (except maybe size), be measured as such. On SchoolDigger.com, it's ranked 173 out of 225 Maryland High Schools for the most recently reported standardized test scores. </p>

<p>I just recently realized how little I know about programming, despite taking a class last year and a class this year on Java. Most of that isn't my fault, in case you're wondering - we are copying programs that we don't understand straight from a textbook. I've started focusing on learning Java outside of school, but it's a bit depressing to learn you've wasted a year and a half. This does not make me believe in the academic classes offered in my school. </p>

<p>Would the admissions officers weigh the standard academic stats - if not top, close to top of my class, a load of AP courses (aiming for 14-17), high test scores, club leadership positions, etc. - any differently because I go to a rather bad public school?</p>

2

<p>Your application is always read regarding your school scenario. If you believe you’re at a weak high school, you should work hard to make your way to the highest positions of the ranking and show you want to learn regardless of the environment around you.</p>

3

<p>Alright. I’m currently ~5 out of 400ish, and the people above me are taking 2-3 APs, compared to my 4. I’ll be working hard, and valedictorian seems within reach if I can take all the APs I want. </p>

<p>How would MIT know about my school? Would my school send them the stats of my class (average 2.1 GPA weighted, +.5 for honors +1 for AP, B=3 A=4), or do I have to ask Guidance to know about what they send? If they don’t send stats, how would MIT be able to weigh achievements differently (if they do)?</p>

4

<p>^A lot of schools have a school handout of sorts, sometimes called a School Profile, that summarizes the “make-up” and rigor of the school. Guidance counselors know all about this stuff and are fully aware of what to submit with an applicant’s Counselor’s Report. You don’t really need to know what they send, though you could ask them if you’re curious. Most Counselor Reports that I’ve seen – from all schools – tell the guidance counselors what they’d like to see, but I’m betting that your counselors, like most others, will already know what to send. It’s their job.</p>

<p>Admissions staff at most colleges look at applications holistically. Applicants are considered in terms of the opportunities that were available to them. You won’t be the only applicant from a bad public school, if that is what yours is. And admissions staff at MIT, or any other school you apply to, will know what to do with that information and how to “weigh” you as a candidate.</p>

<p>Basically, in a nutshell, I would say that you don’t have to worry about the sorts of things you’re worrying about. Your job is to worry about your efforts and performance in all areas of your life, given the resources you’ve been given, fill out your applications, and give others timely notice of what you need from them (letters of rec, counselor reports, mid-year reports, transcripts, etc). The guidance counselors will do their job and submit the necessary paperwork for you, assuming you’ve turned in the appropriate paperwork to them. And the admissions staff at MIT and all your other schools will do their job and evaluate what they’ve received in a fair and conscientious manner.</p>

<p>You’re dealing with professionals who will do what they have to do professionally … which makes it much easier on you, because all you have to worry about is what you have to do! :)</p>

5

<p>All righty, then. Thanks for setting my mind at ease!</p>

6

<p>^You’re welcome. I hope it really does help set your mind at ease. There’s so much to do as a college applicant. No need to worry yourself with things that are not only beyond your control, but also not worthy of your concern or mental energy. :)</p>

7

<p>Well, I’ve talked with my current Guidance Counselor and acquired a copy of this year’s school report. Most of it is just fluff, and there are only four real statistics they show: the AP’s offered, the graduation requirements, the percentage going to college (75%, 38% to four year and 37% to two year), and a list of some colleges graduating seniors have been accepted to. The graduation requirements and AP’s offered show the rigor of my classes.</p>

<p>I’ve tried to skip pre-calc (no go), tried to pass straight into AP Bio(no go, self-studying), and will take AP Physics as a Junior. If I pass the chemistry final next year (won’t be in class), I’ll be able to go into AP Chem.</p>

<p>By the end of my senior year, if my schedule pans out, I’ll have taking 16 AP exams, (four self-studies). The only classes I am not able to fit in my schedule are AP Euro/Human Geo/Spanish/Studio Art/Art History, none of which I’m really that concerned about.</p>

<p>I’ve been talking to the people I know are above me in class rank - the way the scheduling is right now, if I manage to get straight A’s from now on, then I’ll be 3rd at the end of Junior year. If I can take more AP’s as a Senior then the #2 person, then I’ll be #1, because the #1 wants to duel-enroll at a local community college for a Veterinarian course. Valedictorian, or at least Saludictorian, seems within reach.</p>

<p>I would think that having only three out of four people attending college and having the most prestigious (from my current knowledge) of the colleges that graduates are attending be Virginia Tech, would show that, at the very least, my school is Thomas Jefferson High. </p>

<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! This extra bit of knowledge has saved me the hours of worrying that I’d probably do in the future if I didn’t know it. I’m so glad I stumbled on this website.</p>