<p>Literally. Only 1 student in the history of the school has gotten a 19/20, a 3.8/4 if you're wondering, and that was only on one trimester, not even the whole year. We get a couple 18.5's in my year, only 1 in the year above me, and nothing over a 17.5 in the year below me (I'm in 11th grade). My average for 10th grade was a 16/20, which is actually pretty good, considering I was in the top 15% of my class of 33, and top 15% still if you're counting the 160 students across 5 classes. I improved this year, I'm probably in the top 10% or so now (started out the year with a 16 still, but I'm getting a 17.5 now), and next year it's highly likely I'll be second or third out of the 160 students. (Aiming for an 18/20)</p>
<p>As for my question - I'm obviously not in the States, and I've had my eye on MIT for a while. My SAT scores are: 720 W, 720 M, 630 CR. (1350 or 2070). To be clear, I did absolutely no studying or preparation beforehand, and I think my scores suck in all but writing, and even that I want to improve - taking it again, hoping for a 1500 this time. I've also yet to take the SAT II.</p>
<p>Again, my question - if in my college admissions they'd take my GPA as 3.2, I'm kind of doomed. In our country - Lebanon - I can get into the top colleges here (Early Action) guaranteed. Their standards are pretty low - 1250 on the SAT for an engineering major, 1200 for biology (1100 for business - yikes), top 40% rank in your class, and you're in. Seriously. Nothing else is needed.
So I'm just wondering how colleges would take to me. I mean, over the course of 2 years I've gone from top 15% to top 5% (and less), and a 3.2 to a 3.6-7 (by next year). Still, it's not a fair fight against those who can get a 4.0 GPA - it's not exactly possible here (literally.) So considering I improve my SAT scores, do you think my class ranking and lower GPA levels would affect me? Or is there some sort of appeal or something to tell them that the averages we get aren't remotely close to the standard GPA levels? Not to mention that I don't get to cross out any subjects, I still take the same subjects I had in 7th grade - I have around 11 or 12. Only next year will I be able to give up Bio - and nothing else - since I plan to go into an engineering major.
Also, is there a year they put more emphasis on? Last year I wasn't really trying to be too competitive and didn't feel like studying much so I just kept my grades where I was happy with them to a degree. It's only now that I'm really improving my scores in order to get into MIT. By next year they'll be pretty damn good - among the highest scores you can get - but I'm regretting not having the same scores in 10th and 11th grade. Does it make a difference or do they mostly look at 12th grade mid-year scores? Hoping they do. For the record, I could've gotten the same scores last year but it was just my laziness. Plus I hadn't thought of MIT then and my grades were plenty high for local colleges.</p>
<p>On a secondary note, our school program here is much more demanding - by 12th grade here it's like you've finished freshman year in college in the US. We enter into college as sophomores, and I'd like to ask if I could apply for sophomore year (as in choose a major directly and do 3 years instead of the usual 4 that include the freshman year where you don't choose a major) at MIT?</p>
<p>(Wasn't sure whether this should go into what are my chances or this forum, but my main question is about the GPA approval so I put it in this forum)</p>
<p>I'd REALLY appreciate any answers. Thanks in advance! :)</p>
Especially as to whether they’d take into context that I improved when I wanted to… maybe I’ll ask for a teacher to write something of the sort in the recommendations…</p>