MIT Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Yes, another request for some obsessive student to view the opinions of his peers on his eligibility for a chance at MIT as an Aerospace Engineer.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 Unweighted
5.(something) Weighted--I'm not sure exactly, but it's over five, I
think it's around 5.7.</p>

<p>Rank: Top 10 for sure, either 3, 4, or 5 though that may have changed by the end of the year as I maintained all A's whereas some of my classmates received some B's. I'm not 1 because of some technicalities and some people were fluent in French, enabling them to take classes weighted more their freshman year. However, I might pull ahead to Valedictorian next year.</p>

<p>Courseload: Enrolled in the IB Program, which is pretty rigid.</p>

<p>Freshman: All Pre-IB Geometry, English, Biology, Inquiry Skills, Government,
Spanish I
AP Human Geography
Two electives :-/ (Typing/Business, Web Design)</p>

<p>Sophmore: Pre-IB Algebra II, Literature, Spanish II & III, Chem I
AP World History
Mandatory SAT Prep, then one elective :-/ (TV Production)</p>

<p>Junior: IB/AP World Lit HL, IB/AP Physics SL, IB Math Higher Level,
IB History of the Americas HL, IB Chem II HL, IB Spanish IV & V SL</p>

<p>Senior: IB World Lit HL, IB Chem III HL, IB Math Higher Level, IB History of
the Americas HL, AP Psychology, AP Enviromental Science</p>

<p><em>Note</em> To those unfamiliar with the IB Program, Pre-IB is roughly honors and IB is rougly AP, although it is much more rigid in structure. Classes are either Standard level (SL) or Higher Level (HL), so some cover more material. I took all the HL classes offered...</p>

<p>AP/IB Scores: AP Human Geography: 4
AP World History: 5
Others still TBA, expecting 6's and 7's</p>

<p>PSAT: 207</p>

<p>SAT: 2070 (750 Math, 620 CR, 700 Writing) -- Okay this is not so hot, I have an issue taking critical reading tests like that. Strange how I can interpret Dotoevesky and Plato, but not those readings...An MIT interviewer tells me SAT scores will not keep me out although I might still retake them</p>

<p>SATII's: Physics, Chem, Math II TBA June 26th I think</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>(1) FIRST Robotics -- Will be fourth year. Over 200 hours devoted to it, work with some Pratt Engineers, became Lead Programmer this year and will be lead programmer the upcoming year</p>

<p>(2) 3 Year Varsity Swimming and Club-- Over 300 hours devoted to swimming (for high school and club swim combined)...unfortunately I did not swim freshman year. I started competitive swimming at age 5. Captains are still undecided for next year, but I'm hopeful</p>

<p>(3) NHS-- various service projects</p>

<p>(4) Beta Club -- starting next year as competitor in Science</p>

<p>(5) Teenage Republicans and Young Democrats -- talk about political matters, elections, etc. Nothing nationally recognized but it's something...</p>

<p>(6) Tutoring- at least 50 hours I don't have my logbook on hand (for free)</p>

<p>(7) Mentored Lego League Team</p>

<p>I also want to put in that I was involved in FIRST Lego League and Junior Solar Sprint (build and race solar cars) in Middle School, which may not be credible for college apps, but is an element to draw from in essays</p>

<p>Various Awards</p>

<p>(a) FIRST Robotics Florida Regional Champions 2006 (I think that's the year)</p>

<p>(b) Various school awards for receiving the highest grades in a specific subject: Geometry, Algebra II, Spanish II, Spanish III. They didn't award any of those this year, though I received the highest grade in Physics (I had a few over 100 lol) and perhaps a few others</p>

<p>(c) Commended for National Merit -- it will be interesting to see how that carries on (if I get finalist, etc)</p>

<p>Unfortunately not too much here yet--I expect some to arise next year with National Merit hopefully, Science Fair, Chem Olympiad (which I qualified for this year, but was unable to attend due to a conflict with robotics), and Beta Club</p>

<p>Random Information:</p>

<p>Conducting research for my Extended Essay about the efficiency of Photovoltaic Cells (Solar Panels).</p>

<p>I am very proficient in writing (it is a gift that I cherish), not to be arrogant or anything. It's just a gift that has emerged in High School, which will help me with my essays.</p>

<p>Input would be greatly appreciated. My SAT scores are undoubtedly a weakness, and perhaps my lack of awards. I'll have to draw the majority of my strength from my experience with robotics, "well-roundness" due the various courses I took and my dedication to a few extracurriculars. Everyone applying to MIT undoubtedly will have a superb academic record, so it is these things that help. Please agree/disagree with me so that I may attempt to make adjustments to my current course and drive myself to find other pursuits and avenues. Thanks.</p>

<p>Just another note, other colleges I'm looking at:</p>

<p>CalTech
GATech
University of Florida
University of Maryland
Cornell University
RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
University of Illinois</p>

2

<p>Is it a 4.0/4.0 UW GPA, or a 4.0/5.0 unweighted GPA (because having a weighted GPA over 5 is very strange)?</p>

3

<p>It's a 4.0/4.0 UW</p>

<p>Our school weights AP/IB as 7. My friends tell me they have around 5.7, so I assumed the same considering our IB Curriculums are nearly identical in weight.</p>

<p>Although you never know...they could have simply made a typo or mistakenly said 5 instead of 4. Weightings may vary between schools so I assume that the fact that the 4.0 is associated with IB/AP is more important.</p>

4

<p>I think you will most likely be accepted by all the schools on your list, although if anything prevents you from getting in it will be your SAT (which isn't awful, but a 2150+ would help tremendously).
Good luck!</p>

5

<p>based on awards and ECs and awards...MIT is a mid-high reach. But the essays can work magic...so good luck!</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the input so far. Awards I can't help much unfortunately...that takes time. I might have to find some extracurriculars over the summer, my school schedule is stretched thin--I usually finish my homework at 9 or 10 PM on a good night after activities.</p>

<p>Anyone have any suggestions for technology-related activities over the summer in Florida? Keep the comments coming please ;)</p>

7

<p>looks like you've paid your dues the last three years</p>

8

<p>If you can do some research over the summer or get a research internship (NASA would be good lol) then you would have much better chances at MIT.</p>

9

<p>Actually now that I think of it Pratt & Whitney is about 15 miles away from me, although I'm not sure if they do internships--I'll have to check. Unfortunately Florida doesn't have too many research opportunities, or at least around me. And I try to maintain my swimming over the summer.</p>

10

<p>bump</p>

<p>also anyone have an opinion on how flight lessons would improve my chances?</p>

11

<p>For MIT: work on acitivities u are really passionate about ie show depth not quantity
For Caltech: increase ur SAT scores
For all unis: write good essays
Keep working on the Awards...something at a national or international level would really boost your chances</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

12

<p>hmm alright</p>

<p>altho im pretty in-depth for Robotics and Swimming those are my powerhouse activities--i spend a great deal of my free time on them as those are some of my hobbies. Unfortunately i did not document all of my robotics hours, I should be closer to 250 but i figured id be safe sayin 200</p>

13

<p>oh yeah, i m not saying you arent...those are the basic guidelines to each uni....</p>

14

<p>ah ok thx I was just a little worried there lol</p>

15

<p>yeah, luks ok to me. Maybe 2200s for SAT will make it safer, then some research(passionate and focused, not bits and peices all over the place), and some good essays. That's one man's opinion, though.</p>

16

<p>sats are too low</p>

17

<p>bump for more opinions</p>

18

<p>Over dinner tonight friends and I were talking about the kids who didn't get into MIT fom our school this year. The most surprising one was girl with almost perfects stats which shocked us.</p>

<p>Anyway, I need more info. How good is your school i.e. what's it's average SAT score? Are you the lone val?</p>

<p>What state are you from and what's your ethnicity? Can you improve SATs?</p>

19

<p>Let's see...</p>

<p>Ethnicity/gender doesn't help me--White Male whose father went to school for 14 years and thus is of the upper class</p>

<p>School: Ranked 262 or around there by Newsweek--I personally don't believe in school rankings like this but it's what you asked for.</p>

<p>Public School in Florida which is fairly diverse, what defines it is the IB Program which almost exists completely separate from the rest of the school and is fairly competitive to enter.</p>

<p>Class size is about 500, top 5 is fairly competitive (mostly due to people who chose to manipulate the system--alot take easier classes with the same weight to augment their rank. It irks me but I am sound with my choice of courses I wouldn't have it any other way)</p>

<p>Idk about average SAT...</p>

<p>I will most definately improve my SAT critical reading. I despise studying to a test but if its what must be done, I have a summer....</p>

20

<p>I assume you mean Newsweek public school rankings which tells as nothing because it's based on number of AP classes taken per capita and at most schools anyone who wants can take an AP class. Also, those ranking exclude the most competitive schools in the Country: elite publics and all private schools.</p>

<p>To understand how competitive a HS is we need average SAT score. 1350 cr + math means very competitive and go from there.</p>

<p>Are you the only val? What state are you from?</p>