<p>I think both are amazing schools and are both harder to get into, for a math/science oriented engineering major which would be easier to get in to for early action?</p>
<p>The ways I've been considering it are that MIT will probably attract the best of the best math science students whereas i think stanford attracts a larger crowd. If i apply to MIT does it make sense to say that I would have a tougher time since i will be competing against mostly math and science people specifically?</p>
<p>Do you think that people who get in to one can generally get into another?</p>
<p>It comes to a point that it doesn’t matter so much about grades, test scores and such. You are talking about the best of the best. Unless you have a big hook, its a crap shoot. If the person who reads your application didn’t get much sleep the night before and/or had a fight with their spouse and are basically in a bad mood when they look at it you are probably not going to get in.</p>
<p>um im not entirely sure of the point of your post ACollegeDad. It just sounds like you’re saying its pointless to apply because it’s ultimately based on the chance that they had a bad morning or night. So are you saying that unless i’ve done something super amazing “big hook” it’s pointless to apply?</p>
<p>he’s right the people that read your applications are tired, hungry and most likely doing it for something(money) or someone, as my english professor said. Apparently they are mostly the underpaid staff most likely the english/humanities/social science professors.He’s told me that best way to get to these people is through sympathy without lowering yourself in their perspective (I couldnt even tell you how to do this). He’s somewhat crazy so I doubt his credibility, though he does have a PhD in English…</p>
<p>A couple of my friends were at the top of our county’s high schools thought they were for sure going to one of the top 10 only one ended up at Stanford rest are are UCs. </p>
<p>At that level of competition its based on chance because you look like everyone else which is where the hook helps out.</p>
<p>Im not sure what sex you are but if youre female apparently it helps out a lot for engineering from what I’ve read on this forum.</p>
<p>My anthropology professor, who read applications for 11 years for UCI, said at one point he started giving more weight to their hook than their actual essay. For example someone started off with the hook in their essay “While I am not a vampire but …” was his favorite he talks about it every semester. I would definitely not do that for MIT just keep in mind there are all sorts of people that read applications.</p>
<p>No abelinkin60. I am saying do apply, but keep in mind that unless you have a big hook, your chances of getting in are low. I would suggest having some back-up schools.</p>
<p>Scienceguy1: It’s kind of depressing to think that the essay hook makes you stand out the most as opposed to many other factors but I do agree that most people will have the same grades and types of extracurriculars.</p>
<p>ACollegeDad: I definitely have back up schools, MIT and Stanford are just my top two schools. </p>
<p>Also, just to clarify, when both of you say hooks you are talkin about the first part of the essay right?</p>
<p>Hook means something special that gives you an advantage. One would be if one of your parents went there.</p>
<p>Another hook is being Hispanic/Black, or having millions of dollars and sending some with your application (kidding ;D but being rich helps)</p>
<p>do you guys think race is particularly crucial? The other day, and i think it may have been a joke, one of my friends said that it would be so much easier to get in to college if he was native american or black or something like that. </p>
<p>Do most colleges kind of categorize all Asian applicants into one group and all whites into another and then choose based on that, or do they just view you as you rather than your race? I guess what I am trying to say is, if you are not a minority group, is that a significant disadvantage?</p>
<p>What they are referring to ask hook is based on you as a person not your essay.
A hook is just a portion of the essay, an amazingly well-planned well-thought out essay will also help you stand out. Personally I believe for these applications if you lack a hook a kick ss essay can make up for it partially. Try to think of things that other applicants look past I know that’s what I did for my applications.</p>
<p>I think there is a separate category for azn I believe it’s pacific island or Asian is the box you would click if you were.
Keep in mind your essay is how you are selling yourself to the school, most people really don’t get that. “how am I different from the rest” is something you should be asking yourself when writing the essays. How have you shown maturity and what have you accomplished, and dont give philosophy about anything, because after all we are just kids and what do we really know. That is all of the advise that was given to me by my English professor over the course of a summer.</p>
<p>Scienceguy1: I see what you are saying and it makes alot of sense. So what would you say the rule on “bragging” in essays is? like if i was writing an essay solely to show my leadership skills, would it be bad of me to say directly about me being a leader using the phrases “as a leader”, “leaders should”," i am a leader" or things of that nature?</p>
<p>I was trying my best to show my leadership in the essay but Im just not too sure how to fully convey that to them.</p>
<p>Personally what I did for that is tie it into something I was talking about, I’m not sure what your essay topic is. I did not apply to those level of schools but I stayed in tier 1.</p>