My second dream school- MIT

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hey, guys. I'm wondering about my chances at MIT. Along with Caltech, its been one of my dream schools, as I love math. I'm an junior Asian male from a suburb of Saginaw, Michigan and go to an okay school. How are my chances? I said before on my caltech thread that I need to improve on my SAT Verbal, and I improved to 670 (+80, with help of vocab). So how are my prospects? In what percentile would I be of applicants? </p>

<p>PSAT(sophomore): 80M, 59W, 55CR
PSAT(this year-expected): 80M, ~65W, ~65CR
Old SAT: 800 Math, 670 Verbal (New Score!)
GPA: 3.9 unweighted, 4.1 weighted
Rank: 25? out of 300?</p>

<p>9th Grade:
Honors Analysis (Precalc): A/A
Honors English: B/ B+
Computer Programming: A/A
Gym: A/A
Integrated Biology/ Physical Science (double period): A/A</p>

<p>10th Grade:
Calculus AB AP: A/A
Physics: A/A
Adv. Biology: A/A
US History: A/A-
Honors English: A/B+
Statistics AP: A/A</p>

<p>11th Grade- so far:
Physics AP: A
Biology AP: A-
Regular English 11: A
Chemistry: A
Multivariable Calc (half-year class at Wayne State Univ): currently an A!
Linear Algebra (half-year class at Wayne State Univ): have not taken, will probably get an A-/A</p>

<p>Proposed 12th Grade Sched:
English 12 AP (will challenge myself with this class)
Chemistry AP
Computer Science AB AP
Mathematical Proofs ( full-year rigourous proof-writing class at Wayne State)
Modern Physics (full year- EPGY)
Differential Equations (half-year class at Wayne State Univ)
Real Analysis: (half-year class at Wayne State Univ)</p>

<p>AP's by End of High School:
- Statistics AP (5)
- Calculus BC AP (4),my class was doing AB, but school signed everyone up for BC accidentally. Thus I could enroll in college classes.
- Physics C E&M AP
- Physics C M AP
- Biology AP
- Chemistry AP
- U.S. History AP
- Computer Science AB AP
- English Language AP
- English Literature AP</p>

<p>I have done no research and don't think I will be able to.</p>

<p>Activities (limited) by end of high school:
- JV Tennis (9-10), trying out again this year, possibly up to the 12th
- Math club (9-12)
- National Honor Society (10-12)
- Qualified for AIME.
- Got to Part II on Michigan Math Prize Competition
- Qualified for State Geography Bee 8th Grade
- Science Olympiad- "Varsity" as sophomore, junior (this year), and most likely senior </p>

<ul>
<li>So what are my chances? I know my awards and extracirriculars are lacking, but how much much will my extra math classes help me? Should I retake Calculus BC for a 5 (now easy for me)?</li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>You are just like most of the other competitive applicants to MIT. Just write a good essay and have a good interview. Don't get too stressed over it. A lot of it is random.</p>

3

<p>Again, will my math classes make me stand out?</p>

4

<p>Well, I'm a bit negative, but I would say probably not, since many other applicants have taken similar courses, and done well at various competitions.</p>

5

<p>You will have a hard time. I'd say a 30-40% chance.</p>

6

<p>Would you guys care to elaborate? Do you really think that more than 30% of the applicants take those classes? Thanks?</p>

7

<p>You really can't just depend on having taken more math courses than others. It will help, but you really need a "hook"</p>

<p>Try not to show "have done no research and don't think I will be able to." in your interview or in your essay.<br>
A lot of others will look a lot similar to you. Most of the ppl applying to MIT have taken those math courses. Way more than 30%</p>

8

<p>Academically, I don't think you can outshine a great majority of applicants. Just to mention that most applicants from Asia have done roughly up to the end of 1st-year Math courses, your only strengths are extracurricular things.</p>

<p>To be honest, if compared with other applicants who have similar academic records, then you are at no advantage at all, according to your activity list.</p>

<p>Sorry saying those words, but it is from my sincerity.</p>

9

<p>Thanks guys... though ipsen, I was born and live in the U.S. Is my SAT score fine? I realize I do not have a "hook", but am I still very competitive?</p>

10

<p>Hmm... bisbis, do you have MSN by chance? </p>

<p><a href="mailto:chancellorphoenix2@hotmail.com">chancellorphoenix2@hotmail.com</a>, would be nice to chat with you man.</p>

11

<p>Nope, sorry. Just send me a PM rather than e-mail.</p>

12

<p>Well, my point was that "don't be too confident of your test score, it is virtually not competitive at all".</p>

<p>Your list is kind of the average of int'l applicants and American students.</p>

<p>One minor point: your Verbal is a little lower than the expected from a native speaker.</p>

<p>Hope you can re-think of your position. Nothing can be certain about, even if you got 800 in every SAT.</p>

13

<p>So what? what makes you special or more deserving than anyone else?</p>

<p>I'm not trying to be mean here. You have a lot of time to think before you have to answer this question next year. so really think about it. Only you can answer what makes you special, what makes you deserving, what makes you different. </p>

<p>most people (I believe I read somewhere 80+% of the people who apply to MIT) are qualified. So what you need to do is to stand out from the rest of the 10k applicants.</p>

14

<p>More info:
SAT II Math 2c: 800
SAT II Physics: 800
SAT II Writing: 720</p>

15

<p>Again, based on your stats, there really isn't any reason for MIT to want you. It gets thousands of applicants with the same and better stats than you. You have to find a reason for them to admit you. BTW, having taken those Math Classes is not a reason to get excited. Colleges may interpret it in two ways. The more signifigant signifying that you've taken the introductory courses that they wanted to teach you.</p>

16

<p>bisbis - I think everyone is being a little hard on you. Taking real analysis and linear algebra while in high school and getting good grades in them is a great accomplishment. However, quite a few (I wouldn't say 30%) of the people here have done the same. While that is a great accomplishment, it will not in itself be enough to get you into MIT. You do need a hook, and looking at what you posted above, none really pops out. I would say you are still competitive, however, so don't lose hope. Definitely apply.</p>

17

<p>bisbis - definitely take a shot at applying to MIT. Perhaps, do you have some talents? or received an award or some sort? or have a passion for something? Those are things that can differentiate yourself from "everyone else". What people are saying is that there are a lot of people who have the same stats as you do, but you should know that there are many more out there who don't have the same stats as you. I think you stand a chance same as the rest of the folks who apply.</p>

18

<p>You are amazingly smart in math. Maybe these other posters are jealous, or maybe they are right, I don't know. But I bet MIT wants a higher SAT Verbal than that, if you don't get in based on your math, who will?</p>

19

<p>I hope I didnt' sound too mean in my post. If I did, I'm truly sorry. All I am trying to say is think about your presentation when you apply. Dont assume that admissions can see what's great about you, show them. I've seen way too many people I know get hurt because they assumed their stats were wonderful enough to automatically get into anywhere and they didn't have to put any effort into it.</p>

<p>Granted, yes, I am jealous of your sat score (1430 here, 670 verbal), and yes I am jealous of your aps (I think I took 4 or 5). I'm not saying don't apply. if any of you guys saw my stats, or stats of other people I know at mit, you would be horrified. </p>

<p>all I'm saying is this is what I think got me in last year and this is what admissions keeps saying over and over again. They want people with a passion and dedication to something, it could be music, it could be math. in my opinion, taking so many math classes isn't showing dedication--though it show intelligence. However, writing about it in an essay or long term commitment to a club or a team does. I see you're in math club, you could play off of that, if that's really important to you. That said, I hope I see you and anyone else who is reading this here one day and I'm sorry if I offended you in any way.</p>

20

<p>MIT is also my dream school but I am not sure about my chances.</p>

<p>SAT I:1430 (630V/800M)
SAT II:800M/710W/770Physics
Rank 5%
GPA: 4.12</p>

<p>EC:
Texas All state band (19th chair in clarinet section; love music)
Drum major 10th and 12th grade
Texas All state science fair participant 11th grade
Texas half Iron man Triathlon(1.3 miles swimming/56 miles biking/26 miles running) 1st place in 16-19 aga group 11th grade
Several Triathlon competitions ranked amont 1st and 3rd place in age group
Science club 4 years
NHS 4 years
volunteer in food patry for 4 years</p>

<p>I am not sure should I apply MIT. Please advice. tks.</p>