<p>Hi to one and all,
I am kinda new here. Any way, I have completed grade 10 with 95% in the Delhi syllabus in a school in Abu Dhabi and the school topper. Now i have joined an international school doing the sabis syllabus. I have opted for whatever they have allowed me to.</p>
<p>Now my prime concern is what needs to be done to join in the one and only MIT. For extra-curriculars: I am particularly interested in model UN, debates, science projects, sports , piano, MSF or red cross, if i do have a chance in the student organisation at this school then that too. Being entirely new to this curriculum and having never attempted o-levels b4, i just dont know how heavy the subjects i have taken are going to be. Actually i trying to persuade my school to allow me to take an AP course in computers inplace of the o-level. I probably want to do something in biotechnology along with economics or medical engineering.</p>
<p>Coming to the question: can any1 suggest what courses i ought to choose for grade 12 that will secure the chances of an indian(me) getting into MIT.
Do the A-levels make you more desirable along with the APs.</p>
<p>there is no way to "secure" your chances. it is very difficult for international applicants-particularly those from india since such a large number apply. good luck, however.</p>
<p>It is not as difficult for international applicants to be admitted as the numbers suggest. The U.S. applicants are more self-selective IMO. MIT happens to be among the handful of elite American schools (HYPS + maybe Columbia ) known to most international students, and the online application makes it easier for them to apply. On the other hand American applicants can find something appealing in each of, e.g., the top 100 universities and LACs, and that makes them less likely to swarm onto a particular school.</p>
<p>Then MIT would almost have to double its international admits to reach 8%. There's a long way to go. - As far as I've read on CC, frankly some profiles by international applicants for MIT are not as impressive.</p>
<p>No What I meant was Internationals make up only 8% of it's class. MIT doesn't enrol internationals beyond the 8% "cap".</p>
<p>You're definitely right about the last sentence, does anyone remember "ranjodh" (or someone like that). He was in 10th grade, didn't take calculus, couldn't spell stuff right but wanted to go to MIT and claimed he would get in.</p>
<p>I have words from a lot of MITers that internationals are a billion times harder, and had they been itnernational they wouldn't have come.
what's more, even Ben Jones says interntional pool is more "self-selected" and "more competitive"</p>
<p>so, internationals are MUCH harder than Americans. there is no way Americans are more self-selected, i'm sorry.</p>
<p>I based my claim on some CC posts by internationals. - I happen to know kids of 9th and 10th grades in Asia who inspire to apply to MIT. And I understand that they are not the top students gradewise in their respective high schools. Time will tell whether they apply. But if they do, they will not be as "self-selective".</p>
<p>You are correct in that international applicants have to work harder. For example, for the Chinese and Russian students to score the same on SATs, they must learn English first. Unlike in India, as you know, English is foreign in China, Russia and most other countries.</p>
<p>Ben has the first hand data to support your claim (do you have a link to his statement?). So we may end this "self-selective" discussion now.</p>
<p>It's not just that they have to work harder to reach the same bar as US applicants(ie learning English for SAT). They have a much higher bar period. I've heard you're not really in contention in the international pool unless you have awards on the international level like international science olympiad medals.</p>
<p>he said it in the admissions info session when i visited MIT.
well, for internationals, perhaps east asia is hardest.
if you're from a country in africa that no one comes ot the US, u may be considered to add diversity.</p>
<p>you wont get in . period. sorry about that. </p>
<p>MIT admits 4 indians or 5 max a year from an applicant pool of 1200 odd.
most tend to be International olympiadists, with a gold or silver etcc. A lot of people have international Level achievements. one last year had represented India at Red Rover goes to Mars. </p>
<p>its not possible. its harsh . i know. i am sorry. prepared.</p>
<p>MIT2011dad,
"I happen to know kids of 9th and 10th grades in Asia who inspire to apply to MIT. And I understand that they are not the top students gradewise in their respective high schools. "</p>
<p>just because they are not the top, doesn't mean they, a few people can represent the whole international applicant pool.
And internationals have to work hard not just for SAT and language barriers, but also extra achievements.
At least for people in India and east asia, in the past, almost every admit has won gold/silver medals in international XXXXX olympiads.</p>
<p>what about coming from a small country like trinidad and tobago? (1.3 million population...) would that hurt or help ( or have no effect) on my chances?</p>
<p>This past year there were 5 undergraduates and 2 grad students from Trinidad and Tobago at MIT. You can see the distribution for any recent year here. International admissions is extremely, extremely competitive, regardless of where you're from. For countries like India from which there are large numbers of applicants, it may hurt an applicant's chances. For most other countries it isn't likely to help much. Be stellar and memorable and impress the admissions folks with who you are and what you've done and what you want to do; and best of luck to you.</p>