MIT: Foreign and Math Requirements?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I apologize in advanced for the lengthy post,</p>

<p>I have recently looked at the "Preparing for MIT" page on their admissions website, and I've noticed that 2 years of foreign language is recommended, along with Math through Calculus. This is a problem for me, I'm also very confused with as many people have told me different things about how colleges analyze an applicant.
I'm worried because I'm a high school sophomore, my grades freshman year were awful (party because of procrastination), my current year grades are all 90+ distinguished honors. I've taken all the necessary history courses, and next year I'll be done with the physics coarse, I'm attending a trade school. My issue is that, during freshman year I've taken Spanish I and II, and I haven't taken any spanish this year. My courses for next year are as followed:</p>

<p>Electronics Technology (Technical Program)
English 11 Honors
Statistics
Algebra II (can possibly be honors)
Physical Education (graduation requirement)
Health (graduation requirement)
Physics </p>

<p>With this math line up I have, there isn't anyway I can take Calc, at most I will have pre-cal A, most likely senior year.
Some tell me that colleges don't even look at senior year, I'm really confused. I can talk to my guidance councilor about switching health out for Spanish, will that work?
Spanish I and II freshman year and Spanish III for junior year? I'll probably have to do a massive review over the summer, however, it is worth it.</p>

<p>I'm studying for the SAT, I plan on playing football in fall, and I'll be programing for the robotics team next year (connects directly to STEM).</p>

<p>I just need some clarity on what to do about this, how can I maximize my chances?</p>

<p>Thank You. </p>

2

<p>Fret not. The MIT recommended syllabus is recommended and not required, and it is aimed at a American secondary school curriculum. For example, many students applying from Commonwealth countries will be taking A-levels, and will probably be taking only 3-4 subjects in a year. There is no way to meet the recommended syllabus with that system, and applicants get in from these countries every year. </p>

3

<p>If you’ve gotten credit for the equivalent of Spanish I and Spanish II, I don’t see what the problem is – MIT isn’t looking for you to take a certain number of hours of foreign language in high school, just that you have proficiency at approximately the second-year level. (And even that is a recommendation, not a requirement.)</p>

<p>The math is a little more troubling, since it’s pretty standard for MIT applicants to have taken at least calculus senior year, and since two semesters of MIT-level calculus are required of all MIT students. It’s tough to come into MIT without having seen calculus before, and the admissions office knows it. </p>

4

<p>Yes, I think I might be able to take some AP courses and Math courses with my local college.
The only issue with that is, I will most likely have to calc after senior year, so I don’t know how that will work with applications.
Also, I can redeem college credits in engineering type courses, will that help me?</p>

5

<p>I was on a similar track as you are on. My school let me skip pre-calculus and I took AP calculus AB senior year. Ask your counselor what you would have to do in order to skip pre-calculus… </p>

6

<p>Aren’t you are putting all your eggs in one basket? Most of the top universities expect 4 yrs of a language. Check out the requirements of your back up colleges too.</p>