<p>This may have already been answered, but I couldn't find it by searching.</p>
<p>I keep hearing that schools (like MIT) will look at the courses offered and make sure that you are challenging yourself as much as you can. My school doesn't have any AP classes (but I'm in honors). I know they won't quite hold this against me, but if they are looking at someone with the same stats and and everything as me, but the other person had AP classes, will they pick that person? Would they expect me to go to a com college and take classes, or take AP tests on my own (but that would have to be after I apply)?</p>
<p>My school doesn't often send students to great schools (and never MIT), and I'm wondering if AP could be a factor.</p>
<p>I too came from a school that never sent people to top schools - or science schools, for that matter. </p>
<p>The thing is, MIT is going to look at your classes, SAT scores, GPA, etc to <em>get you in the door</em>. Did you take advantage of your opportunities (it sounds like you are, since you're in honors classes)? Did you do well in them? Ok, this person seems capable and willing to learn. Check.</p>
<p>Once you've shown capability, the REST of your application will get you in - your activities, your recommendations, your essays, etc.</p>
<p>Do you know if once you 'get in the door' if they stop looking at stats and just focus solely on activities, etc.?</p>
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Do you know if once you 'get in the door' if they stop looking at stats and just focus solely on activities, etc.?
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<p>That's always been my impression, though maybe some upperclassmen can correct me...?</p>
<p>If your school doesn't offer AP classes you probably come from a disadvantaged community. Thus, they will probably look more at your essays the most to see what you can bring to them since elite colleges want diversity. So assuming you're involved and did at least like 1900 on SAT, I think you stand a chance if your essays are good.</p>
<p>I don't come from a disadvantaged community at all; in fact, most people in my school and area do pretty well, and everything is honors, but there is just no AP for whatever reason. I don't think diversity is going to help me at all.</p>
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I don't come from a disadvantaged community at all... there is just no AP for whatever reason.
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<p>I don't think he was saying that you have a disadvantage in that you don't have APs offered - that won't be held against you.</p>
<p>just take all the honors courses possible, get good grades, and challenge yourself (take classes at a university, enter competitions, make a club, whatever). you can still be heavily considered if you make do with what you have.</p>
<p>Let's try this: take all the classes you want to take, get involved in the activities you love. If you're one to seek challenge, you might just be a good for MIT and it's worth applying. If you're one to kick back and coast (which is <em>perfectly fine</em> - just don't leech, k?), that's ok too! But it means that you aren't a fit for MIT.</p>
<p>If you do what you want to do, you'll be accepted at a school that wants YOU. If you try to be someone else, eventually you're going to get sick of it and not be able to keep it up. And you'll be at a college who was looking for some <em>other</em> person that you pretended to be.</p>
<p>This isn't directed at this post - more overall.</p>
<p>Judging from the MIT admissions blogs and these responses, taking classes at a community college shouldn't be necessary, right? I would only be doing it to make up for a lack of AP classes, not because I'm passionate about it, so that wouldn't seem to fit with MIT's philosophy.</p>
<p>Necessary? No, plenty of people (like me) get in without that. Should you? If classes interest you and you have the time, sure! I wish I had looked into that option in high school =P</p>