<p>Ok so this isn't one of those rants saying "DON'T ASK FOR CHANCES IT IS STUPID" because lets face it, we were all there at one time or another. Sometimes you just want to put it out there, maybe there is some specific feedback that you're looking for or you are looking for some encouragement. I think it is ok to ask fellow CC-ers for chances, not because they have any clue whatsoever as to what your chances are, especially as students who haven't actually gotten into colleges yet. Even still, MITChris, even an MIT admissions officer states quite firmly that even he cannot chance you! KEEP THIS IS MIND. </p>
<p>Now the responses you usually get from these chance me threads on the MIT forum are something along the line of: (these are based off of what I have obsevred on CC for the past few years, nothing too serious, more of a lighthearted "this is why you shouldn't take chance replies too seriously". Not meant to offend anyone)</p>
<p>a. that stereotypical CC-er who has perfect A's, won the freaking Nobel Prize (or whatever), has published 7 research papers, owns his or her own business, is captain of the tennis team, won all state <em>insert musical instrument here</em> for 4 years in a row, the list of crazy accomplishments continues. Sometimes these people will tell you that your grades/SATs/ECs WHATHAVEYOU needs to be improved.</p>
<p>b. Current students/Parents of current students/admits. These replies are usually helpful and encouraging barring any legitimate claims to "you need to improve_____" like if you have 1050 on the SAT or have a 2.7 gpa or whatever. Usually these people will try to be helpful instead of just saying "NO YOU WILL NOT GET IT" but that is not necessarily because they are "better people" or whatever, they have just been in your shoes before and have a better idea of what gets you into MIT having gotten into MIT themselves (or their kids)</p>
<p>c. Kids who are just as nervous about getting into or getting rejected from MIT (and other colleges) as you are. Sometimes these people will try to encourage you saying things like "You will for sure get in" and the like. Sometimes that is what you need to hear. I needed to hear it too when I was preparing to apply to MIT. Applying to MIT is really freaking scary. If you are on CC in the first place, you are usually a strong, outstanding student. You aren't used to failing/not achieving what you try for. Getting into MIT is often a dream for many of us and unfortunately not everyone can get into MIT. Like you will find on every single "for deferred and rejected students" thread, MIT can admit classes upon classes of students that are qualified for MIT, but they only have space physical classroom and dorm space, for ONE class. Not getting into MIT doesn't mean that you "failed" at anything that will really matter to you 20 years from now. Other times, these kids who are just as nervous as you are will be mean and say things like "YOU HAVE NO CHANCE, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING BOTHERING?!" ignore them. They have no clue what they are talking about. Seriously. They haven't gotten into MIT yet either. </p>
<p>d. MITChris. MITChris and other MIT reps (on blogs, email, insert other mode of human communication here) are some of the most helpful people I have ever encountered. Seriously, apart from just being nice in the first place, they are honest. I know some of you may go and read "the MIT fit" paragraph on the MIT website (sometimes even at the direction of MITChris or one of his blogs/posts) and look at in and say "ok, that is nice and all, but...... I KNOW I JUST KNOOOW I WON"T GET IN WITH A 2350 ON MY SAT!!!! PLEASE WILL IT JUST SAY SOMEWHERE WHAT I NEED TO GET ON THE SAT TO GET INTO MIT!!!" But really though, I truly believe that the most important factor in MIT admissions decisions is the MIT fit. I mean yes, your grades and test scores etc probably matter somewhat but really guys, how much difference do you think they give to a kid with a 32 on the ACT and a kid with a 33? One kid got a B+ in AP Euro so he has a 3.999 and another kid aced it and still has his 4.00? Maybe it was one test that did it, who knows? Exactly. Numbers can only tell so much about an applicant, and I'd say that MIT knows about which numbers show that an applicant can handle the work at MIT. Looking back, what do I think my "numbers" show about me? I am hardworking and reasonably intelligent and I know how to take standardized tests. It doesn't show if I actually like the subjects that I am taking. Maybe some kid has an A+ in AP Chem but despises science and only takes hard classes because that is what is expected of him. There is no possible way I can list or even think up the various ways that numbers do not represent the whole applicant.</p>
<p>Something that used to really FREAK ME OUT was when chancing/looking though chance threads/looking though admitted stats threads was the sheer epicness of everyone's accomplishments. Like really, I'd see magic words like "published research" or "interned for NASA" and "Siemens Finalist" etc and think to myself "there is no way I can possibly compete with that". </p>
<p>THAT BEING SAID: I got into MIT. Now what I'm going to tell you next is not like "This what I did, I got in, you do it too and you'll get in" I just want to point out that applicants like me CAN get in..... I can't find the post but I was panicking before EA results came out and PiperXP (I think) told me that she didn't have research experience and stuff like that either. In fact, not only did I have NO research experience whatsoever, NO math competitions (AMC, whatever), NEVER (had the opportunity to) participate(d) in Olympiads, NO big science fairs (Siemens, Intel, etc). Nothing like that at all. I did ONE summer program while in high school, it was really cool and fairly competitive to get into but not overly so (MSU PAN program, I highly recommend it). So if you've seen the thread titled something like "Do normal people get into MIT?", well "normal people" as they have a situation similar to the one I just talked about up above + good grades, hard classes (hardest available to you that you are interested in), good test scores (you can look at the MIT score stats on their website and compare them with the admit stat threads on CC to see what kind of scores are typical but also remember that they admit people with lower scores and higher scores, so basically CHILL OUT ABOUT THE NUMBERS PEOPLE lol :P)+ (and this is what is important I think) a love of learning, passion for science and proof in the form of essays, teacher recs and interview that you are a person who is going to both benefit from and contribute to the environment at MIT.</p>
<p><em>disclaimer</em> these are my thoughts on the MIT admissions process and I in no way have any authority on the matter apart from having been there and been admitted. Maybe the picture I painted is not exactly true of MIT but it is really how I felt about the whole process. I meant this as to help those worrying about applying to MIT next year and those nervously awaiting decisions in March. I did not mean to offend anyone if I have and if any one has anything (helpful/constructive) to add/change/say to future applicants/current applicants, please comment.</p>
<p>MITChris/Mollie/Piper: If I screwed anything up or said anything that was suuuper wrong/ needs clarification please don't hesitate to say so :P</p>
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Good luck at MIT the next 4 years; hopefully I’ll join you in 2013. ;P</p>