<p>Hello all. I have been working through my first two years at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. W&L is a small liberal arts school at which I have declared a Computer Science (B.S.) major and Mathematics minor. And while the school is ranked in the top liberal arts schools (2013 Forbes ranking, 21st overall; 20th private colleges; 2nd in the South) I feel more and more that it is not for me, for personal and academic reasons alike. The only reason I have stayed for two years is that I received a full-ride scholarship that allowed my parents to move states without the financial burden of paying for my college and because I have felt like I needed to complete two years and then see how I felt.</p>
<p>And how I feel is pretty unhappy. I left for college expecting to eventually find a more mature, adult crowd of students than I did in high school and I instead feel like I stepped back into middle school. W&L has a dominating drinking and Greek-life culture, which breeds irresponsibility and bad attitudes. W&L is also incredibly homogenous in terms of race, mindset, and background (White, arrogant, rich) and I feel no connection to the student body or the school. I have joined a low-tier Greek organization which is looked down upon by the campus because the members try to be less removed from reality -- and I would argue most students at W&L drown themselves in party nights (three to four nights a week) and spend the week working fairly hard at more trade-based majors (business, journalism/mass comm., accounting), none of which provide much of a liberal arts education.</p>
<p>I could say more, but I think you have a good idea of why I don't enjoy being at W&L. The only aspects I do enjoy are my major and the small group of friends I've found. However, the computer science department at W&L is small and understaffed, and most of the students in the department don't take the major very seriously. I have done fairly well in the major but I feel limited by my school's inherent focus on the Commerce/Business trades (Computer Science/Engineering departments feel much more like an afterthought). I would prefer to attend a university with more resources and more opportunities for research/growth in the field. And I would prefer to attend a university with a more focused student body working towards the sciences/mathematics, with ideas of helping humanity and building something new, rather than working within what has already been created for purely personal profit.</p>
<p>Thus I find myself researching the MIT transfer process, and wondering if I could stand a chance. Though the odds in general for MIT transfer are incredibly slim, I can't help but wonder. MIT requires an applicant to have completed no more than 2.5 years of college, so if I was to apply for admission during my fall term this year, I would enter in Spring 2015 after having completed exactly 2.5 years of college. So this is my first and last chance to apply for transfer.</p>
<p>A host of other questions arise about finances, setting me back a year, etc... But the fact remains that I am unhappy in my current circumstance. I was a year ago, I am today, and I feel like I still will be in a year if that's where I still am. And the prospect of spending another two years of my life in a circumstance that has triggered much depression, anxiety, existential despair, and frustration disturbs me. I have been an Apple fan since childhood, and Steve Jobs' words echo in my head, “I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”</p>
<p>Now, on to my academic information.</p>
<p>General:
Rising Junior at W&L
Johnson Scholarship Recipient (~10% of each entering freshman class receives this full ride)
Lead Alto Sax in Jazz Ensemble
Member of a Fraternity
Computer Science (B.S.) major, Mathematics minor</p>
<p>Academic:
Computer Science (B.S.) major GPA: 3.617
Cumulative GPA: 3.514</p>
<p>High School (Public) ranked 22/692
Weighted GPA: 4.412
Unweighted: 3.927
AP Scholar with Distinction
SAT I Scores (Two attempts) CR 650/750, Math 720/670, Writing 660/710
SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry 700, Math II 690, US History 710
ACT: 32 composite
AP Tests: Chemistry (4), English Language (5), English Literature (4), US History (5), American Government (4), Comparative Government (3), Calculus AB (5), Physics C: Mechanics (4).</p>
<p>Math & Science Coursework:
Calc I: (Credit from AP Calc AB - Score of 5
Calc II (Fall 2012): A
Calc III (Fall 2013): A-
Discrete Mathematics I (Fall 2013): A-
Linear Algebra (Spring 2014): B
Physics I (Fall 2012): B+; Lab B
Physics II (Spring 2014): B-; Lab A-
Fundamentals of Programming I (Spring 2013): B+
Fundamentals of Programming II (Fall 2013): A-
Computer Organization (Spring 2014): A-
Interactive Computer Graphics (Spring 2014): A</p>
<p>Professional Experience:
-Software Developer Internship (Summer 2014); three-month paid internship with a recognizable firm
-Corporate Social Responsibility research (two-week study abroad class in Copenhagen in May 2013, received A-, -currently back in Copenhagen for a four-week study abroad class with research and a published paper at the end)
-Retail job (Summer 2013)
-Law firm internship (Summer 2012)</p>
<p>I've completed quite a bit of coursework towards my major. This fall I plan on taking Software Development and Abstract Algebra I, towards the Computer Science major and Mathematics minor. My grades aren't stellar but they're okay. This past spring I have struggled quite a bit with motivation due to depression and and anxiety and shook out with the A/A- in my two computer science classes, B in Linear Algebra, and B- in Physics II. My term-by-term GPAs have been 3.60, 3.35, 3.68, 3.40.</p>
<p>I know that doesn't look great to a school like MIT, to have a student falter even two years into their undergraduate education. It's mostly been personal issues and depression. I have been to a university psychiatrist a few times and diagnosed with anxiety, and have been practicing mindfulness meditation and exercise in attempts to deal with it. I'm currently abroad with a business class doing research on sustainable practices and corporate social responsibility, and upon returning I begin a three month software developer internship. I keep busy, as much as I can, even when stuff gets me down. My lowest grades are two B-'s in physics II and microeconomics. I can attach a screenshot of my univ. transcript if anyone desires it.</p>
<p>So...chance me. Tear me apart. Should I bother applying? If so, should I retake the SATs/subject tests? And is there anywhere else I should apply, as a computer science student looking for a better education in a better place, both personally/academically? Should I wait until graduate school to try to attend a place like MIT? Any and all advice is welcomed and much appreciated. Any questions will be answered ASAP. Anything left unclear, please ask so I may clarity it for you. Thank you for taking some time out of your lives to consider mine.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>JavaLuigi</p>