<p>wait, are we talking about grad or undergrad?</p>
<p>Undergrad.</p>
<p>oooo nvm, i didnt know we were talking about transfers.</p>
<p>i thought we were takligna bout applying as a freshman</p>
<p>Chiming, as predicted! :)</p>
<p>The only real problem is that the transfer admissions rate is vanishingly low. So even if you did drop your linear algebra class to take a calc-based physics class, there's no guarantee that you'd get in as a transfer, and then you'd have taken a lame physics class for nothing. And that would suck.</p>
<p>I guess my vote is this: if you're psyched about MIT, go ahead and apply as a transfer, but I think you should seriously consider the cross-registration program (info and whatnot [url=<a href="http://www.wellesley.edu/USStudy/mitcross-registration.html%5Dhere%5B/url">http://www.wellesley.edu/USStudy/mitcross-registration.html]here[/url</a>], in case you weren't aware) as a more viable alternative. I'm sure the commute is a killer, but you could take many, many classes at MIT without having to go through the transfer process, an option that's not available to most prospective transfer applicants.</p>
<p>Mollie's advice is really good. Because getting into MIT as a transfer is crazy hard, mostly because very few people transfer out of MIT, which leaves a very small number of spots. Last few years they've accepted transfers in the single digits. I say "they" because I (like most people in MIT admissions) am not involved in the transfer process here; that's overseen by very senior people.</p>
<p>Thanks! That helped a lot. I don't think I'm going to transfer this year anymore. At least... I'll take some more classes and see where my interests end up. If by spring of sophmore year it seemed like MIT is still better, I'll reconsider transferring. </p>
<p>I guess the bus is not too bad, I take it every week anyways. Just not everyday. I just hope the capped enrollment classes aren't too hard to get into since I won't be able to register when everyone else registers.</p>
<p>There aren't too many courses with limited enrollment, generally speaking -- what department(s) are you thinking of taking courses in?</p>
<p>Ben in the last page when you said that a person taking an year off and not doing anything after high school is likely to get rejected..But by "not doing anything after high school" did u mean not enrolled in a university or not doing anything to keep oneself busy if one chose not to enroll in a university.
Suppose a gap year can add many dimensions about the applicant for eg. say olympiad achievements and better test results or research experience..that should obviously put the applicant in a better positions than the high schoolers. Am I right?</p>
<p>Sorry, I should have been more clear. By "not doing anything" I meant sitting around eating doritos and watching bad TV all day. :-) The things you mentioned, on the other hand, would certainly help your chances. Note that <em>enrolling</em> at another university (enrolling is different from simply taking classes) means you would have to apply to MIT as a transfer, which is insanely competitive.</p>
<p>thats the way to go ben...earlier I was all worried that gap year students were at such a great disadvantage...considering that the Pranay the Indian guy at MIT this year took a gap year.</p>
<p>well.. a lot of classes have lotteries, and I don't know how I fit in. I actually recently heard wellesley girls have an advantage just because only 1 or 2 wants to take the class so they'll let you in no matter what.</p>
<p>Now what I understand is that IT IS VERY IMPORTANT those who do not go to school should have done something. I think I have done a lot ( like Vampiro said i was on an International Olympiad , and prepared for better test results).</p>
<p>But on the admission application we are asked only once what we have been doing since HS. Is it enough, or we should write in the other essays about our post-HS activities.</p>
<p>And what about the style of this essay - should it be just a plain list of activities, or like i did - for each activity explain the reason for doing it and a more detailed description of each activity.</p>
<p>I would include as much as possible about what you did in the gap year. Err on the side of too much, not too little. Use the supplemental essays, etc if you need to. Use whatever format works best for you.</p>
<p>I wrote 247 words for my essay (i applied ED to Princeton) in which I included what I planned and am doing in my gap-year. I wrote just a line or 2 about each activity and just "said" why it was important for me. These are two excerpts:</p>
<p>"Since graduation, I traveled to Norway and enrolled myself in two Virtual High School courses (AP Macro and Micro Economics, AP Calculus BC). I am also pursuing an independent study in Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism and Mechanics), keeping in mind that it would be most beneficial for me to plan my year such that it provides me with a solid fourth year experience considering I completed high school in three years." </p>
<p>I had also mentioned in a self-interview how I am just "slow" in math so maybe by doing calculus for 2 years (I did AB last year and got a 4), I might improve in the subject and learn to enjoy it.</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>"Pursuing my interest in social science, I finalized an internship with the professor of political science at the University of Stavanger. Volunteering at Amnesty International and at the Sandnes Museum (part of the European Culture City 2008 Stavanger development program) will help me serve the community whilst gaining experience in my fields of interests during my gap year."</p>
<p>Would this sort of explanation suffice for MIT or would it be advisable to write more?</p>
<p>hi, i'm sorry if i'm stealing the thread, but i'm reapplying too (but to another school) and i was wondering if the same that benjones said applied in some way to other colleges?</p>
<p>callthecops2 - I'd say the more info the better. Give us exhaustive descriptions - not only what you did, but why you did it and what it meant to you.</p>
<p>bellhyena - wish I could tell you, but MIT is the only school with which I am truly familiar... perhaps others have some insight.</p>
<p>thanks ben! I'll keep that in mind when I send my app :-)</p>