<p>Hi All!</p>
<p>First of all, I don't want to sound arrogant in any way, so if you read anything that seems arrogant below, please don't take it that way because I don't mean it :)</p>
<p>Basically I have two questions about the two question MIT February Update Form!</p>
<p>The first is about Mid-Year grades. I go to a school in the UK and although we have school grades and mock exams at then end of term, these are grades given effort/achievement and they are not regarded as formal in any shape or form. Thus, while I have many "As", I have mostly scored "A+s" in the subject tests administered at school. The teachers prefer giving As in order to encourage students to work harder for their end-of-year exams. While reading through the comments on other threads, it seems apparent that in the States, Midyear grades are taken a lot more seriously (and reflect exam performance etc.?). Should I therefore put my report grades down or state that my school does not offer End of Semester grades based on rankings?</p>
<p>The second question is about the update text box. Should I tell MIT that I managed to secure places at both Cambridge and Imperial to study Engineering? I don't know whether this would advantage or disadvantage my application and I just want to see what you guys think about it?</p>
<p>Many thanks for any criticisms/responses!</p>
<p>Bob12321</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If those mock grades are on your transcript, then list them. If not, then do not. They will match up your report with a year-end report, so only tell MIT what is listed. There are check boxes to indicate that grades are not given - given grades are grades that will be on your final transcript.</p></li>
<li><p>It is none of MIT’s business where you have gotten in. No advantage to tell them whatsoever.</p></li>
<li><p>There is nothing arrogant about your questions.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hey awcntb!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the prompt reply! May I ask what exactly is a transcript? Is it an official document that is unique to US high schools? Because at my school, I don’t think I have an official transcript of any sort (at least not that I know of!)?</p>
<p>Excellent, I might as well mention them though, as I think they possibly fall under achievements.</p>
<p>Finally, haha thanks! I always need to make sure though - I wouldn’t want people to think I’m a snobby Brit ;)</p>
<ol>
<li> A transcript is the document that shows what courses you took and the letter grade or number grade you received. It would show the courses you took each year. In the UK, you obviously call it something diffrent.</li>
</ol>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>Physics - A
Calculus - 100</p>
<ol>
<li>No, your acceptances do not fall under achievement, under US standards. In fact, culturally, it may look to the admissions committee that you are bragging or being cocky - a good reason to reject you possibly. This is a cultural thing. I will tell you that telling them where see you got accepted before you are accepted to MIT will not be looked highly upon - it most likely will be viewed as a negative.</li>
</ol>
<p>Ah right, we don’t have official course grades but school reports instead. I think I’d just use those! :)</p>
<p>Excellent, many thanks for that input. That’s exactly what I needed! Right, if its viewed as cocky I will most definitely not put them in! Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>Notice though that MIT wants grades, not full reports. If there are not grades, then simply check that box that says “my school does not report mid-year grades.” MIT is clear that they do not want full reports sent in. In fact, there is no place to put a report.</p>