Need your consideration on MIT and U of C

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am applying early to both of these schools, and I need a general idea of what the admission standards are, as far as they can be quantified.</p>

<p>I am a Asian American male, born in China, but a US Citizen. I live in a moderate income household with my mother; my father is deceased. I reside in Chicago, IL</p>

<p>My GPA is 4.88 weighted, 3.9x unweighted
I am within the top 2% or 1% of my class</p>

<p>SAT I (new)
M: 780 V: 760 W: 660 E: 10</p>

<p>SAT IIs have not yet been taken at all, but will take
in Chemistry, US History and Math IIC</p>

<p>ACTs:
Highest Composite: 33, W/E:10 WComp: 33; Have achieved 34/35 on Reading, Math and Science</p>

<p>AP:
Chem: 5, Calc BC/ABsub: 4/5 PhysB: 4 USHist: 5
AP (current):
EnvSci, PhysC: Mech and EM, Lit, Stats, Gov</p>

<p>EC:
Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering
Engineering Club
Lecturer at Computer Club
National Honor Society
Academic Decathlon</p>

<p>U of C Collegiate Scholars Program/Bridge
Have taken few undergrad classes: Microecon, Introductory 198, European Civ I-II 13x and Calc 151-1.</p>

<p>NSLC in Engineering summer of 03</p>

<p>Worked at Columbia University's Center of Orthopaedic Research in summer of 2003 (a few hundred hours)</p>

<p>Interned at WHI (an investment company) in the summer of 2004.</p>

<p>Research:
I have done no research whatsoever.</p>

<p>Recs: Unknown, but assumed to be of low quality.</p>

<p>Legacy: My father received an MA from U of C. I have no connections with MIT.</p>

<p>I have a strong preference for MIT, as I do plan to major in engineering. U of C does not offer any engineering program, and thus I would not know what to study.</p>

<p>I honestly am very doubtful about my chances, and this is ruining my health. If all else fails, I hope I will be admitted to UIUC, where I plan to pursue something in aeronautical engineering.</p>

<p>Any opinions are appreciated. Yes, I am a senior this year, despite what my records seem to show.</p>

2

<p>Any comments would be appreciated. I understand my SAT writing score is low, and I'm not going to try to make it higher.</p>

3

<p>Please cheer up and start your Chicago essay. You will probably fine at U of C unless your essay is as negative as your last post.</p>

<p>MIT, I'm not sure of. If you pull excellent SAT II's you will be a valid candidate, but you are going to have to find and show that spark that is within you. I think you should give it a shot, because if you don't
apply you certainly won't get in.</p>

<p>Have you considered Harvey Mudd? U of Rochester?</p>

4

<p>I think your chances at MIT are pretty small but with a good essay your definitely in at UofC and dont worry about the writing section it raped me (610) and im actually a very good writer</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the comments.</p>

<p>As for spark, I have a several ideas that I will share as part of the application. In the MIT application, I will be banking on my essay and interviews. The quality of recs seem just 'ordinary' to me. Who knows?</p>

<p>As for those two schools, no I have not. My state school, UIUC, has a competitive engineering program, and is my "if all else fails" school. It is also feasible in terms of finance.</p>

<p>The essay is the trouble at U of C, but I honestly dont know what to major in if I do get in. Math doesnt interest me nearly as much as engineering.</p>

<p>Well, if MIT early is a rejection or deferral, I will be applying to Cornell and probably U Penn both for engineering. Any ideas on those schools?</p>

6

<p>I know its not your favorite, but its nice that you are instate for UIUC - that does simplify matters. Cornell is likely a reachy match, and UPenn a tab more problematic. Another wonderful school is CMU. </p>

<p>Just out of curiousity, is there some reason you're not looking at Northwestern?</p>

7

<p>ohio_mom:</p>

<p>I've never really liked NWU, I mean, unless you convince me otherwise. :) I also dislike the prospect remaining in Chicago.</p>

<p>Now, for the regular admissions process, assuming my SAT IIs go well, I do have another chance in Dec to bump up my writing, and hopefully get 800 in math.</p>

<p>I am definitely applying to CMU/T, and probably will apply for JHU, not in biomed, so a bit less competitive. Cornell and U Penn are reach schools any way I put them, but they are both worth a try.</p>

<p>I do tend to lean towards Cornell, since it is one of the few on my list offering aeronautical engineering. I hope I get into one of these places; my lack of interest in UIUC doesn't stem from any disdain for their program. Its more of an issue of pride: everyone at our school, as long as you're in the top half, considers UIUC a safety, and many go there. I don't want my relatively superior achievements to go for naught.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for your comments.</p>

8

<p>My son attends UChicago so I'm not likely to have the amunition to convince you to attend Northwestern (although my mom received her Master's from it a <em>very</em> long time ago)!</p>

9

<p>ohiomom:</p>

<p>I understand the rivalry. I personally don't get how NWU is ranked higher than UC.</p>

<p>I am also thinking about applying to Columbia Eng./Fu. So, any more opinions on my chances, particularly to the RD reaches (Cornell, Penn, Columbia), all three for engineering?</p>

<p>For mid-ground schools, I'm thinking UMich and UCB, but both seems somewhat reachy to me (since Im outta state for UCB). Any considerations?</p>

10

<p>Why are you applying to UChicago if it doesn't have the only subject you want to major in and it's in a city you don't want to stay in?</p>

11

<p>koala717:</p>

<p>Hahaha. That's an interesting question. There is an opportunity at a full-ride for CPS (Chicago Public School) students. 6 of them, to be exact. If I get the full-ride, I would not mind majoring in physics and then doing engineering for grad school.</p>

12

<p>Chicago is Chicago. Even engineers don't have to be rational all the time.</p>

<p>I think you should apply to UMich right now (well, soon) as they are a rolling admit school - and a very good school. </p>

<p>Your chances as an engineering major at the ivies is going to look about the general admit rate for those programs. Which is to say, problematic. But the thing is, you are a viable candidate, and you have worked hard, which means that if you think they fit you, apply.</p>

13

<p>oh, okay. That makes sense ;)</p>

14

<p>Alright. How about UC Berkley (out of state)?</p>