MIT, Olin, CMU; want to know if I'm in the right direction (junior)

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I'm a rising junior and I know it's still way early to get an accurate estimate on my chances for colleges but I would really like to know if I'm at least "going in the right direction," as someone put it. ALSO - my dilemma is that, as is discernible from the thread name, I'm looking into engineering colleges, but in my sophomore year I had Bs in my math and science classes with As in everything else. I'm worried that my current record looks like I'm not actually that into or good at math/science.</p>

<p>My main concern is whether or not this will have a huge effect on my chances for these colleges; MIT's a stretch without question, but CMU is looking a little far for me and Olin is my dream college. I know colleges might like improvement and I'm taking steps to compensate for the Bs with SAT subject tests, but I'd still really love to know if anyone has been in a similar situation and how they ended up.</p>

<p>Brief overview of my stats.
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
Weighted GPA: 4.26
SAT: 2330; 770 CR, 800 writing, 760 math</p>

<p>Major Extracurriculars
-Science Bowl for four years; always on the A-team of five students out of around twenty total
-Envirothon; nationwide environmental science competition. I was unofficial co-captain last year and we came 2nd in the state for the first time. This is my main leadership example.
-Fed Challenge; only held by the New York Federal Reserve and another Fed Reserve bank somewhere. It's a macroeconomics competition with both a presentation and Q&A, and up to five team members. Made it to the finals last year.
-junior varsity tennis for two years
-pretty good at violin, been playing it for 13 yrs; specifics are probably irrelevant.
-volunteering at the local library
-self-published a novel</p>

<p>A few other things:
-I'm an Asian girl attending a competitive school district.
-also part of a district program for exceptional math students.
-I took all honors courses if offered, with one exception.
-I dropped an elective to do double science courses my sophomore year and will do it again as a junior, so hopefully that will help show my interest in science...?</p>

<p>=====</p>

<p>My record looks sort of haphazard, I know, but I do a wide variety of things because I genuinely enjoy them. But are my chances of admission in trouble for these colleges? Does it seem like I have a lack of focus? If I were to improve and compensate for the Bs like I mentioned, would I still have a decent shot? Would I be better off looking at options that would mix engineering with liberal arts, like Cooper Union?</p>

<p>Thanks for your time, all answers appreciated!</p>

<p>You’re ECs/borderline low GPA put you at an average chance at MIT, considering you’re also a female. Nonetheless, B’s in math/science are kind of disappointing, but ace all you’re classes Junior year to boost your GPA, then score near perfect on the subject tests for a real shot at any of these schools. Stay involved, I don’t see a single passion with depth, which may hurt you. So have some easier schools in sight!</p>

<p>I actually heard that a couple years back MIT went gender-blind, but I’m not really sure on that.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>

<p>Luckily for you, MIT is almost definitely not gender-blind. MULTIPLE girls from my school district who should not have got in normally were accepted to MIT. If you are female, above-average at math/science, then you will have a good shot at any top engineering school.</p>

<p>Bump and ten chars.</p>

<p>[Olin</a> College : Admission : Class of 2017 Profile](<a href=“http://www.olin.edu/admission/profile2017.aspx]Olin”>http://www.olin.edu/admission/profile2017.aspx)</p>

<p>There’s a link to the class that is starting F. W. Olin College of Engineering this year, there are more females than males!!</p>

<p>Don’t worry about not seeming passionate about STEM subjects; you can easily illustrate your love of math and science in your essays. </p>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>