MIT EA a good idea?

<p>Im just a little afraid to apply EA considering that the admission rate for EA was slightly lower than the RD rate this year. I dont care when I get my admissions decision from MIT, I just care if I can get in. My grades, scores, etc. are fine as they are right now, but would I still be better off waiting for RD instead?</p>

<p>It kind of balances out, you'll have the same chance whether you apply EA or not; just apply early if you want the chance to find out early</p>

<p>People who are deferred really do get in RA. I promise. It's not a myth, and getting deferred doesn't detract from your application in any way. If that happens, you can always send in any additional awards/accomplishments you've accumulated since your early application. It won't hurt you and if you do get in, it'll help you breathe a bit easier. I'll say it again... it can't hurt you! ;)</p>

<p>Applying EA helped in my case because I started to scramble to revamp my application after getting deferred. Then I went to find supplemental material and such to send in. I naturally re-did my other apps to other schools as well. Without the deferral, I would have sent in a less-than-perfect app to all the schools.</p>

<p>
[quote]
...the admission rate for EA was slightly lower than the RD rate this year...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is true only if you're talking about the admission rate of those who applied early and got in early - it doesn't take into account all of the students who applied early, got deferred, and then were accepted in the RA round.</p>

<p>Last year 2965 students applied EA to MIT. 377 were accepted early (12.7%). 295 of those who were deferred were accepted RA. So doing the math... (377+295)/2965 = 22.7% of all students who applied EA got in eventually.</p>

<p>Having said that, there is <em>no</em> advantage to applying early in the eyes of the selection committee. The percentage of EA applicants who are ultimately admitted is higher because the EA applicant pool tends to be a bit stronger overall in terms of "the match," which is the primary thing the committee considers when evaluating an application.</p>

<p>So to summarize, applying early certainly can't hurt!</p>

<p>Basically, you have nothing to lose, so go for it if you can.</p>

<p>And a lot to gain. If you really, really want to attend EA is a great option. If accepted the other applications can be dropped and senior year can become fun again. If deferred you send in the other applications ( long since complete of course) and worry like everyone else about RD decisions.</p>

<p>Here, let me posts my stats. Based on them, do yall think I should apply early?</p>

<p>SAT I: 790 math, 770 reading, 720 writing
SAT IIs: Math IIC 780, physics 790, chemistry 790 (I can only choose one of the two to put on the application, so im guessing physics would be the better test to put?)</p>

<p>AP scores: Physics B 5, Chemistry 5, US history 5, English and composition 4, european history 4</p>

<p>APs for next year: Calc BC, statistics, french, english literature, biology, and an online course for AP comp science AB</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.96
weighted: 4.2</p>

<p>AMC12: 110
AIME: 20
Should I put these scores on the app? they seem a bit low.</p>

<p>ECs (I can only put 5 on the app)
Viola (9-12)(5 hours/week, every week) (Can I list all the orchestras and groups I play in under the description, or would I have to list those as seperate activities?)
FIRST robotics (11-12)(15 hours/week, 12 weeks/year)(2nd place at FIRST Robotics national championship division this year)
Junior Engineering Technical Society(10-12)(3 hours/week, 8 weeks)(team captain of the JV team in 10th grade, captain of varsity team 11th and 12th grade. JV team won 1st place at regional in 10th grade, varsity one first this year at the regional and we placed 2nd in state division, 31st in the national division)
Volunteer work peer tutoring in math/science and working at the observatory of the virginia living museum(will have 100 hours by the time I apply. Can I put peer tutoring and museum work together since its community service, or do they have to be listed as seperate activities?)</p>

<p>I have two options for my last EC.
Varsity tennis(9-11)(10 hours/week, 10 weeks/year)
or
Independent study in C# and AI programming(11-12)(3 hours/week, every week)
Which would look better?</p>

<p>Summer activities:
VA Governors School for math, science and technology (4 weeks)(2006)
Stanford EPGY summer institutes for geometry (3 weeks)(2005)
Shenendoah summer music camp (2 weeks)(2004)</p>

<p>Here are some awards Ive won, i can only put 7 on the app though. Nothing too special. The awards I won from FIRST robotics and JETS are prbly the best I have.
1st place in Alliance Francaise french speaking competition (9)
Highest academic achievement award (10-11)(basically means valedectorian for the year)
Princeton Book Award(11)
Cum Laude Society (11)
USAA National Science Merit Award (10) (I have no idea how presitigious this is...is it just one of those scam awards?)
7th place on national french exam in US (9th grade)
4th place on NFE in VA, 5th in U.S. (10th grade)
8th place on NFE in VA, 9th in US (11th gradE)
10th grade award for top sophomore in English
10th grade award for top sophomore in Honors Physics
10th grade valedictorian award
11th grade award for top junior in AP physics
11th grade valedictorian award
I am guessing I will get national merit semifinalist (I had a 234 PSAT score)
Will my APs also get me an AP scholar award?</p>

<p>So....is this good enough for me to consider applying EA? My scores seem fine, im just a little unsure about my ECs and awards though.</p>

<p>Absolutely, go for it. Write some great essays, get good recs, and definitely include FIRST and JETS among your ECs. No guarantee, of course, but there would be no harm in your applying EA, if you're ready to send it all in by Nov. 1. It won't matter which of the SAT II science scores you list on your app, especially since you received the same score on both and MIT will receive your full score report from College Board anyway, so they'll see them both.</p>

<p>Your current AP scores will likely qualify you for an AP Scholar with Distinction award, according to what I read on the</a> College Board website:
[quote]
AP Scholar with Distinction
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I thought the AIME was a maximum of 15 points, OOcrazyglueOO.</p>

<p>20 means 2 correct</p>

<p>Right, I know others who have gotten confused about that also.</p>

<p>yup...only 2 right. So is it worth putting my scores in? With people getting over 200 with their combined AMC + AIME score, 130 doesnt seem too impressive</p>

<p>Yes, it's worth it. Just to score well enough on the AMC to be invited to take the AIME is sufficient. Put them in.</p>