Please help an international applicant on his various questions....

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hi</p>

<p>Strictly speaking, I am an international applying with a Green Card, which makes me a domestic. However, I don't live in US so I hope you can help me.</p>

<p>1) Do you want to read my supplement which contains my essay? I try to describe myself and what ever is related to me as detailed and truthful as possible, but when my friends read it, they said it sounds pathetic. I leave it till now because I don't want any one copying it. As the admission deadline has been over for a long time, I would like to know how my supplement looks in you MIT people's eyes, and whether or not I'm doomed.</p>

<p>2) Recently, I've been to this more or less continental maths competition for international senior high schoolers (ISMTF senior maths competition), and get the 28th place out of about 300 people, but not long time ago, I participated in this national maths olympiad, and I got 28 of 36 points, which according to last year's statistics, put me in the top 10, nation-wise (the full rank for this year hasn't been completed yet, but nevertheless, 28 points will be more than enough to put me in the selection round, where 6 people will be chosen and trained for the international maths olympiad). My concern is, firstly, will the fact that I score relatively poorly on the lesser known ISMTF makes the adcom suspicious of my achievement in the olympiad? The reason I didn't make it into at least the top 10 is, to me, a matter of question types, which are much broader and contain topics like advanced statistics which is just not even taught. Olympiad is more elementary in terms of topics but hard core in its depth (even questions on just basic algebra).</p>

<p>So, my concern is, will my ISMTF diminish my olympiad's achievement? secondly, I did my SAT, the first time getting an 800 in maths but I got a 720 the second time (in order to raise my verbal). Will the adcom get really suspicious? I got really relaxed and careless when I was doing my second SAT since I was focusing so hard on my verbal.</p>

<p>3) My mid year report is coming out soon. Am I allowed to still fax it in? If so, may I also fax a classical music composition with two instruments that I'm making for a tiny concert at my music school along with that report as something supplemental? I did mention my passion in music, but I hope to substantiate it. Or, will the sending of that composition ****/annoy the adcoms?</p>

<p>4) Very unfortunately, my superscore SAT is 800 maths, 590 verbal, and 630 writing. I'm not a native English speaker. Will my verbal score really be the kiss of death? I see that there are still people with lower than 600 verbal get into MIT, but what kind of people are they? ALL URMs? After all, I heard that top US universities like MIT filter all the applicants first by their SAT scores to find the deal breakers. However, I'm really not that bad in other areas of my application. It's just that my level of English mastery yet at this moment isn't really that deep. Although I know probably there are lots of internationals with stellar verbal scores, but still....... I apply to MIT any way....</p>

<p>I'm basically 90% done with my universities application, but I want to have some hindsights from you MIT people's experience to adjust my level of expectation to prevent further emotional break down. :) :p :-) :-p</p>

<p>Thank you very much</p>

2

<p>If you are being considered in the domestic pool, it's too late to send supplemental information -- selection has already begun, and admissions officers are no longer reading applications.</p>

<p>
[quote]
secondly, I did my SAT, the first time getting an 800 in maths but I got a 720 the second time (in order to raise my verbal). Will the adcom get really suspicious?

[/quote]

No. MIT considers only your highest scores in each section -- they won't consider the 720 at all.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I see that there are still people with lower than 600 verbal get into MIT, but what kind of people are they? ALL URMs?

[/quote]

No. Most or all of them are probably non-native English speakers.</p>

3

<p>I believe that since the Admissions staff is already in selection, it is too late to send any further supplemental information. Music or art supplements were to have been received much earlier, because they are reviewed by the music or art departments, so it would not be worth sending that at this point. I believe it is also too late at this point to send a midyear report (you could call the MIT Admissions office and ask them directly if it is too late).</p>

<p>Admissions will use the standardized test scores that put you in the best light. They will not "get suspicious" if your second set of math scores is not as high as your first, they will evaluate based on the highest scores.</p>

<p>As a non-native English speaker, you had the option to provide a TOEFL score to substitute for your CR:

[quote]
Non-native English speakers have two options, which we consider equivalent. We have no preference between these options. It is your choice, and you should take the set of tests with which you feel the most comfortable:</p>

<pre><code>* Option 1: SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing; and two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).

  • Option 2: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language); and two SAT Subject Tests, one in math (level 1 or 2) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). This option is especially recommended for students who do not speak English at home or in school, or who have been speaking English for fewer than five years.

[/quote]

</code></pre>

<p>Based on what you posted, I am guessing you did not submit a TOEFL score, but that was an option.</p>

<p>Both of the math achievements you listed will be considered just fine, far more than most applicants can offer. Don't worry that not being the tops in one would somehow "drag down" a top rank in another.</p>

<p>And yes, you are considered a domestic applicant because of your green card status, regardless of where you are living now, so you will be considered in the domestic applicant pool.</p>

<p>At this point, all anyone can do is wait and hope. You've done your best, and now it's time to enjoy the rest of your senior year while the Admissions folks do their evaulations. Good luck to you and everyone who is still waiting to hear!</p>

<p>EDIT: cross-posted with Mollie: hi, Mollie! :D</p>

4

<p>how have you not submitted your supplement (part 2 of your application, i assume)? id say send it in as fast as possible so you have some chance of getting accepted. i havent heard of an instance where MIT accepted someone solely based upon part 1 and scores.
oh, and for the most part, dont care about what your friends say. its your application; you write it.</p>

5

<p>thanks for the response....</p>

<p>but it never hurt to try to fax my compositions to them, right? I mean, since I am faxing them this midyear report, I just think maybe I also fax them something supplemental along the way as an update to what I've done.</p>

<p>Of course, it's a high chance that my midyear report and music composition wouldn't be evaluated. However, you know what, I actually sent my supplement real late (due to some extraneous circumstance) just about a week ago, and they still accepted it. Probably also some Kenyan applicants haven't finished submitting all their stuffs. But note that you really need a valid excuse to submit stuffs this late! I was kinda involved in this military conscription issue with my country that caused me to delay my US application first....</p>

<p>SO, I just want to fax my report AND my composition, to take the chance even if it's minimal. I even wrote in the additional section of my supplement telling specifically that my school will issue a mid-year report, and I will send it to them.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, my only concern is whether or not it would annoy the adcoms.</p>

<p>If not, I will just fax them, as I will do so to all my other US universities.</p>

<p>please help</p>

<p>thx</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
However, you know what, I actually sent my supplement real late (due to some extraneous circumstance) just about a week ago, and they still accepted it.

[/quote]

Right, and last week they weren't in selection yet. This week, they are in selection and evaluating applications, and your extra information will not be considered.</p>

<p>(And hi back, mootmom! :D Hope everything is going well on your end.)</p>

7

<p>It would probably not annoy them, because they won't see it and won't know you sent it. There's no point in faxing it to them.</p>

8

<p>thanks for you all's responses.</p>

<p>But (I'm not pestering), according to MIT admission website, it still shows the message that asks applicants to fax in materials as soon as possible, if they are indicated missing on their tracking systems. Now, doesn't that mean there should be some people, even at this moment, haven't had all their materials in? If so, how can MIT start evaluating them? Isn't it MIT's policy of only evaluating a candidate with the all the required materials sent/faxed in?</p>

9

<p>Domestic applicant selection occurs first, followed by international selection.</p>

<p>And the staff may be a bit too busy to update generic announcements on the website.</p>

10

<p>They have not yet approved my fee waiver. They told me it might be lost, since they could not find it anywhere. </p>

<p>Am I in the same boat as OP? I mean, is it too late to fax my fee waiver or pay my fee? All the other required items are in, if that helps.</p>

11

<p>Hi Tsenguun</p>

<p>No, you are not on the same boat with me. :p
I have no problem with application fee or fee waiver. My application is actually completely finished but I started this thread asking some other question like sending in more stuff like report and supplement.</p>

12

<p>No, we are not on the same boat, because I moved to my new Titanic. e.</p>

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<p>What?! :S (10 char)</p>

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<p>lol, yeah just kidding</p>

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<p>Yeah, figured. It just weirded me out the first time I read it. :)</p>

16

<p>International selection begins after domestic selection ends, so there may still be time for you to fax your fee waiver. The only way to tell is to call the admissions office and ask.</p>

17

<p>some question concerning IB vs AP grades...</p>

<p>According to my counselor, IB is more rigorous than AP (no offense), and that a 6 or a 7 is equivalent to a 5 on AP, and a 5 on an IB subject is equivalent to a 4 on AP.</p>

<p>Is that true, according to MIT's admission?</p>

18

<p>^yes...
you get credit for IB math HL 6 or 7
but only get credit in AP equivalence if and only if you get 5.
that shows your statement...
btw it dont apply for physics(IB phys is not that hard as math)</p>

19

<p>You can read about AP, IB, and other international exams and the credit they receive on the Advanced</a> Placement page on the MIT Admissions website. You will see the following under the section about IB:

[quote]
Only exams taken at the IB Higher Level (HL) are recognized. See below for information on receiving credit in specific areas.</p>

<pre><code>* Biology: No credit is given for IB examinations in Biology. To receive credit for 12 units of 7.01X, Introductory Biology, you must pass the Biology Advanced Standing Examination administered during Orientation.

  • Chemistry: No credit is given for IB examinations in chemistry. To receive credit for 12 units of 5.111, Principles of Chemical Science, students must pass the Advanced Placement (Advanced Standing) exam administered during freshman orientation.

  • Computer Science: No credit will be awarded for the IB Computer Science exam.

  • Mathematics: For a score of a 6 or 7, credit will be given for 12 units of subject 18.01, Calculus I. For scores lower than 6, no credit is awarded.

  • Physics: For a score of a 7, credit will be given for 12 units of subject 8.01, Physics I and students may begin immediately with subject 8.02 or 8.022 (Physics II).

  • Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences: On applicable exams, for a score of a 7, credit will be given for 9 general elective units. Note that credit earned from humanities-related IB exams does not satisfy any part of the HASS Requirement. For scores lower than 7, no credit is given.

[/quote]

</code></pre>

<p>These are generally along the lines of credit/placement received for 5s on the equivalent AP exams. (Which means that only in Physics or Math does one have the possibility of placing out of an intro class without taking the MIT advanced standing exam during Orientation.)</p>