I’m currently getting ready to submit my application for early action at MIT. I have a 34 ACT, SAT 2’s – 780 on math, 700 on physics, 3.92 unweighted GPA, and a ton of extracurriculars (nothing special but I just have a lot of activities). I’m president of one club and Vice President of another, leader of my football team… and I get MIT’s small support from their football coach’s list of athletes for recruitment. I know that we can never be 100% sure about anything, but I’m curious as to my chances on getting into MIT.
0% if you don’t apply 
I think it is worth applying. They like athletes like you that are academically capable.
Hahaha that’s very true.thanks 
I was just wondering whether or not I have the same chance as everyone else or if I get a little boost from athletics?
The coach can write for you a rec letter, but that’s basically it. The letter gives some boost, but you need to be as qualified (or more qualified since you’re an athlete) as other candidates.
He cannot write a rec letter. He told me the best and only thing they can do is send a list of athletes to the admissions office by rank. Oh and just curious… I have to be more qualified?? :0
No. MIT is an evidence based institution.
If someone claims music prowess, then they send in a music supplement that is sent off to the music faculty for review. If someone claims visual arts prowess, then they send off an art supplement which is reviewed by the Arts faculty. If someone claims athletic prowess, then that claim is validated by the Athletics faculty who then sends MIT a recommendation. In all of those cases, having the validated claim that you would bring something beyond academics to the MIT environment is very, very helpful.
However, for athletics, MIT uses the tragic accident test. If this student suffered a tragic accident in the summer before starting MIT and could never play his/her sport again, would MIT still be the right institution for that applicant? If the answer to that question is yes, then the letter from the coach is extremely helpful to the applicant. If the answer to that question is no, then no letter from any coach (or musician or artist) can rescue the application. Yes athletic recruitment helps, and it can help a lot, but only to students who looked reasonable for admission anyway. If you might well have gotten in without the athletics, then it can be very helpful.
Where else are you applying tomEA?
Just MIT. It’s my dream school and my first option.
@Mikalye thanks! That was helpful.