my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I am going into gr. 11 in Alberta, Canada.</p>

<p>I've never taken SATs or anything before, so I know it'd be hard to tell me accurately about my chances to these schools. What would my chances be if i got 2100, 2200 and 2300?</p>

<p>Well, some trivial information about me. I am an international student, meaning I am not a landed immigrant here. I came here from South Korea in November 2000. </p>

<p>These are my "stats". (Reasons why I am stating whether my marks were the highest or not is so that you know the level of the schools I attended/am attending)</p>

<p>Gr. 9 (junior high)
* Academics * (honours classes)
English: 96 (highest in the grade)
Social: 96 (highest in the grade)
Math: 100 (highest in the grade)
Science: 99 (highest in the grade)
Music: 95 (highest in the grade)
Art: 97 (highest in the grade)
Religion/Health: 99
Gym: 86 (highest mark in the grade was 87)</p>

<p>Rank: 1/ about 200 ...not too sure</p>

<p>Gr. 10 (High School)
- Some facts about my high school: Old Scona Academic High School
+ It is an IB school
+ It is ranked #1 in Alberta, and one of the top schools in Canada. Also I hear rumors that it is #7 IB school in North America. Considering that our school IB average is around 5.4, I believe it.
+ We have to write an entrance exam and get teacher rec to get into the school.
+ Unfortunately, it is only academically inclined and is very poor in extracurricular activities. There are very few clubs, and most are dead. Our sports team is not good at all, because the school is full of nerds. </p>

<ul>
<li>Academics *
English 80 (my english teacher is notorious for giving really low marks...the highest mark in our grade who had her as the teacher got 81, so yeah... Most people got 70s)</li>
</ul>

<p>Social 88 (Social is my worst subject, compared to other students. But I think I can do better next year, since all tests next year will be essays and I generally do better on essay exams)</p>

<p>Science 10: 95 (highest mark in the grade)
Math 20: 100 (highest mark in the grade. Math 20 is like gr. 11 math. In our school, many students come from some academic junior high, where they learn gr. 10 stuff in gr. 9. Unfortunately I didn't go this school, but I got lucky enough to get into Math 20 without taking math 10)</p>

<p>French 20: 96 (highest mark in the grade)
Art 10: 97
Instrumental Music 10: 92
Biology 15B: 96 (highest mark in the grade)
Chemistry 25B: 98 (highest mark in the grade)
Career & Life Management: 97
Debate: 96
Physical Education 10: 90</p>

<p>Rank: either 1 or 2 / 100 students</p>

<p>Grade 11 courses
English 20 IB (HL)
Social Studies World History IB (HL)
Biology 20 IB (HL)
Chemistry 20 IB (SL)
Physics 20 IB (SL)
Mathematics 30 IB (SL)
French 20 IB (SL)
Computer Science 10 IB (SL)
Computer Science 20 IB (SL)
Art 20
Instrumental Music 20
Physical Education 20</p>

<p>Awards
Gr. 1~6
- Several inner-school essay/poetry competition awards (South Korea)
- Honourable Mention in Provincial Poetry Reading Competition (South Korea)
- 2001 Pythagoras Mathematics Competition – Medal Winner</p>

<p>Grade 7~9
- 2002 School awards (Honours, Top 5 Academic Award, Service Award)
- 2003 Gauss Mathematics Competition – 5th place in Edmonton
- 2003 Kumon Math Challenge – 3rd in Canada
- 2003 School awards (Honours, Top 5 Academic Award, Math Award)
- 2004 Edmonton Junior High Mathematics Competition Invitational – 2nd place
- 2004 Science Olympics – 2nd place in Edmonton
- 2004 Kumon Math Challenge – 4th in North America
- 2004 Stop Racism Poster Competition – 3rd in Edmonton
- 2004 School awards (Honours, Top 5 Academic Award, Art Award, Wellness Award: voted by peers)</p>

<p>Grade 10
- Alberta High School Math Competition – Top 50, which qualified me for part II
- Canadian Open Mathematics Competition – Top 25%
- Gr. 12 Euclid Math Competition – Top 25%
- Gr. 11 Fermat Math Competition – Top 25%
- Gr. 11 Hypatia Math Competition – Bronze Standard
- Michael Smith Science Challenge – 1st in Alberta
- Science Olympics – 2nd in Edmonton
- School awards (Mathematics 20B Award, Biology 15B Award, French 20B Award, Science 10B Award)</p>

<p>Activities
- School Instrumental Band (Gr. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- School Jazz Band (Gr. 7, 8, 9)
- School Drama Club (Gr. 8)
- School Basketball Team (Gr. 8, 9, 10, 11)
- Mathematics Club (Gr. 10, 11)
- Debate Club (Gr. 10, 11)
- Science Olympics Club (Gr. 9, 10, 11)
- School Drama Production Orchestra (Gr. 10, 11)
- Invited to Regional Mathematics Camp at the University of Alberta in August 2004</p>

<p>Leadership Roles
- Class President (Gr. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in South Korea)
- Mathematics Club President (gr. 11)
- School Student’s Union Class Representative (Gr. 11)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Work Experience
- Child actor on various TV shows, videos, commercials in South Korea (6 years, from 1993~1999)
- Edmonton Korean Language School – Assistant Teacher (Gr. 7)
- Canadian Blood Services Youth Committee (Gr. 10, 11)
- Various school events
- Tutoring Peers in Mathematics and Sciences (Gr. 10, 11)
- Working at Canadian Tire (July ~ August 2005, 20+ hours/week)</p>

<p>On the actual application, i am going to put some of the major math and science awards I have gotten, and I am actually thinking of sending in a resume. Is that oK?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>I believe the word on the street is "no resumes".</p>

3

<p>Does MIT take interest in pre-high school activities?</p>

4

<p>If I recall correctly, MIT's application specifically states they want your activities from all four years of your high school education. I think giving them anything more (unless it's significant... i.e. winning a Nobel or something), I think it'd be rude to ask them to read more. Then again, I'm not really in a position to say. Besides, it makes you more human when you just focus on the most important things to you, rather than just have a huge list you're toting around.</p>

<ul>
<li>Timur</li>
</ul>

5

<p>its just that I know a girl who's going to MIT on a full scholarship this year, and she told me to put all the little details on a separate resume.</p>

<p>Anyhow...no one told me about my chances yet. Any inputs????</p>

6

<p>First, know that I am not an adcom, just a student, so I cannot deliver expert opinions. </p>

<p>Concentrate on a few things that you are passionate about. The laundry-list won't help you out. From this board, it would seem that MIT discourages the laundry list.</p>

<p>Your chances, as they are, are average. Organize a list of what makes you tick - write good essays, and your chances will be better.</p>

<p>Also - MIT doesn't give merit scholarships, so the opinion of you friend is just as valid is the opinon of any MIT student.</p>

7

<p>Tetrahedron,,, What do you mean by average? like 3% chance?</p>

8

<p>Passion and sincerity in your essays can usually crush any sort of laundry list you can construct. Focus on those I would say.</p>

9

<p>No, average meaning whatever the average is... I don't think it's 3%. But you have time to improve those chances - a whole year to do stuff, organize yourself, follow your passion.</p>

10

<p>7.5% of the admitted students for the class of 2009 were international students.</p>

<p>These students made up roughly 5% of all international applicants.</p>