<p>Hi, there just joined and this is my first post. Anyways, I'm really yearning to go to MIT ,but I'm afraid it may be too late. I'm a junior in high school and I've made A's all through high school with the exception of 2 B's. I'm currently not in AP classes. As far as my extra curriculurs go, I do olympic style weightlifting outside of school but am not currently involved in any clubs. If I transfer to AP classes, really focus on upping my testing scores, and start participating in clubs that interest me do I even have a shot or is it too late?
Thanks.</p>
<p>If you do things you are passionate about, and those things include math, science, programming, or engineering, then you have a really nice shot.</p>
<p>From what I’ve read, AP classes are not a must; they’re just another way of demonstrating your passion for math and science. You can also demonstrate that passion through clubs, competitions, inventing something, making a web site, or doing research, to name a few. I really wouldn’t drop weightlifting–it sounds original and it sounds like something you’re really into.</p>
<p>Most colleges look to AP classes to see that you’re interested in the material and trying to push yourself. If you are taking a light load in order to focus on your weightlifting, that’s a really fantastic activity, but know that, if you can’t balance AP classes and weightlifting, you won’t be able to balance weightlifting and MIT.</p>
<p>If you have the opportunity to take AP classes and you choose not to, it looks bad. But, if you don’t actually <em>want</em> to take AP classes, then MIT is probably a poor fit for you.</p>
<p>I guess my question is really - if you want to go to MIT, why don’t you want to take AP classes?</p>
<p>I never really gave AP much thought, honestly. Its a very poor excuse and I’m sure some of it was out of lazyness ,but now I realize the potential I’m waisting. I’ll be transfering to AP as soon as possible though.</p>
<p>== Karen. I just want to reiterate that there’s nothing wrong with not pushing yourself academically. It sounds like you’ve decided to focus weightlifting instead. That’s awesome! But if you don’t feel like pushing yourself academically, don’t make yourself become that person to go to MIT, because if you do get in, you likely won’t be happy here.</p>
<p>Find a place that makes you happy. Don’t make yourself into something you’re not for a place you think will make you happy.</p>
<p>^^^ This really isn’t a satisfying answer either - if you had never given AP classes much thought, I don’t really understand why you want the gigantic step-up in difficulty that MIT would present to you.</p>
<p>Put it this way: I was in the top 10% of my top 100 high school and got As in all of my AP classes. I skated through high school, even at the highest level. And MIT is <em>still</em> kicking my rear on a regular basis. Do you <em>really</em> want this?</p>
<p>I appreciate the input. It’s raised some questions that I need to think long and hard about. Thanks.</p>