<p>I am applying to MIT for the second time now. I wonder what does MIT do with our (for those reapplying) old application folders. Do they open them again? And if yes, what impact do they have on the new admission process?
No impact at all, very little, little, some, the same as the new app. folder, undefined or it depends on the individual? :)</p>
<p>This is an interesting case. Did you take a year off from school, or did you applying as a junior?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that they don't go back to your old folder. You're different than the person you were a year ago. I'm not 100% sure on this; check with Ben.</p>
<p>I am taking a year off</p>
<p>cool!</p>
<p>how come you took a year off? i'd like to take a year off too! i kinda have this thing i wanan study</p>
<p>It is not that difficult
Just do not enroll in a university, and stay at home :)</p>
<p>But I took this year off only because I was not admitted to MIT last year. Now I am applying to more universities</p>
<p>o</p>
<p>i thought you took a year off to study somewhere else.</p>
<p>mit is good, but its not life. u shouldn't have spent that year off in my opinion.</p>
<p>If you applied last year and didn't get in, and have reapplied this year, we will see both applications. I've seen a couple of these cases so far this year.</p>
<p>I look at last year's summaries to see how the readers and selection committee arrived at their conclusions / decisions last year. Then I read your new app from scratch to see where you are now in contrast, in particular what you've done in the last year.</p>
<p>As this year's applicant pool is shaping up to be equally competitive (if not moreso) than last year's, folks who reapply without having done anything since HS will likely not be accepted, as they will essentially be submitting the same app into an equally competitive pool.</p>
<p>On the other hand, those who have taken the year as an opportunity to pursue some great experiences and grow as students/people may have a good chance of finding success the second time around. It all depends on the individual case.</p>
<p>I should note that there is no advantage to having applied to MIT in a previous year.</p>
<p>Thank you very much Ben
I really have done a lot since high school
and I'll try to show this in my new application</p>
<p>I'm reapplying this year RD, after getting rejected last year Swetko. I have some really interesting things this gap year:</p>
<p>-Taking 2 APs online (virtual high school) Calc BC and Macro and Micro Econ
-Self-studying AP Physics C (both parts)
-Internship with Political Science professor at a university in Norway on a UN Project
-Amnesty International volunteer
-In the process of patenting a traffic-regulation machine (speed-control device) Describing it briefly in my app
-Taking refresher courses in Norwegian and Spanish to be completely proficient by the end of the year
-Working with a Museum team in Stavanger for developing the citys museum for European Culture City 2008</p>
<p>This is what I really wanted to do and I'm doing it, but is it decent enough for a gap-year?</p>
<p>Last year I had quite dismal SATs and SAT IIs (690M, 660V, 640WR SAT II, 680 IIC, 690 Physics) and no AP scores. This year, I have 690M, 670CR, 700WR, 750IC, 690 Physics, expecting 750+ in World History and 5 on Physics B, and 4s on Calc AB, Stats and Lit. Does having these AP scores put me in a better light statistically? There was nothing to validate my 4.3 W, 3.9UW last year, but do my AP scores now show there isnt grade inflation? I just am not good at multiple choice, as my SATs vs. APs reflect, so is this conveyed?</p>
<p>Try to get that math score higher. It may hurt you.</p>
<p>yeah thats what im shooting for in January. I was shocked with my 690, expected 750+. Does anybody have answers to my questions? Ben? :)</p>
<p>These are really chances-related questions, which as you know from other threads, I can't answer on a specific/individual basis. :-)</p>
<p>Yeah I guess you are right there Ben. How about a better phrased question: Would AP scores be a better indicator of one's skills than SAT II?</p>
<p>I wouldn't say they are better or worse indicator, just different. All the components of your app are brought together into one big overall picture of you, so you can't really look at one component outside the context of everything else (if that makes sense).</p>
<p>Thanks for that Ben. That's good so my dismal SAT IIs will not be the only factor :) </p>
<p>Does the admission commitee try to "validate" in any way the GPA by tallying school grades and AP exams so as to check for grade inflation? How do adcoms know if there is grade inflation or not? </p>
<p>Btw how many APs do students typically have when they apply?</p>
<p>ben, I am currently a student at wellesley college. I like it here a lot, but next semester i'm taking 2 science classes, 2 labs, 2 math classes, and an economics class, and that just doesn't seem very liberal arts to me. im thinking of pursuing a double in econ and math, or biochem, and im confused on whether if i should try to transfer to mit or stay here. i did not apply to mit last year because i thought it was too "techy"... but now, after seeing it in person upclose, i feel like it's a wonderful school. </p>
<p>i was looking at the transfer requirements, and one of them said calc based physics. im taking multivariable and intensive general chem right now, and differential equation (MIT), linear algebra, organic chemistry, and organismal biology next semester. is physics a requirement or am i okay with chemistry and biology?</p>
<p>You might want to start your own thread here, kandy. I suspect molliebatmit will chime in, but the Transfer Admissions website does say:
[quote]
It is also very important to understand that the transfer admissions process is highly competitive - even more so than the regular admissions process. Applicants with a wide breadth of mathematics and science courses may be at an advantage. It is rare that a student is admitted without, at the very least, the specified course work in calculus and physics.
[/quote]
Sounds as if you'd need the physics to be a competitive transfer applicant.</p>
<p>ouch.</p>
<p>so we have to take calc and physics eh?</p>
<p>namkim, you mean as an MIT student? Absolutely. The General Institute Requirements (GIRs) are, um, <em>required</em> of all undergrads. You can read about them here, or see a chart of them with links to the course descriptions here. Specific departments and majors will also have other requirements in addition to these, of course.</p>
<p>As the quote from the website says, most successful transfer applicants will have completed their school's equivalents of the GIRs, or at least physics and calculus.</p>
<p>i'm way ahead in terms of calc... even most MIT students take linear algebra as sophmores... so should i drop it and take physics instead? i really didnt like physics :(</p>