<p>Please cite where MIT considers math grades to be "extremely important." I know how math is paramount in the sciences, but that itself is not a definite cause for anyone to be rejected to science/technology-focused universities. If I recall, all universities also requires or at least offers the option for undergraduates to learn math from algebra I so this student isn't quite doomed to begin with. With that SAT Math score, it's reasonable to assume this student will be able to "redeem" himself in Algebra II at least. I'm curious what grade he got in math during his senior year too.</p>
<p>As for it being "fair or reasonable" - I would agree it is. It's another example that one factor in the admissions - GPA in this case - is not the ONLY factor as it seems to be.</p>
<p>To me, from the way you portray this guy, you seem to be quite jealous at his results and trying to spark negative responses against this guy.</p>
<p>yea, don't be a jerk (it seems that you're continually demeaning his accomplishment) about how he got into great colleges. and it's not a good thing or smiley face worthy that you're jealous.</p>
<p>A different version of your comments might be ... a slacker genious got into a bunch of great schools and I think it is unfair since other students worked harder and got better GPAs at my HS. Maybe, just maybe, rather than accept a student who grinds away for their grades some of these schools wants to take a change on the potential of this genious and see if they can spark that genious. Then again maybe he has shown his genious in ways you know nothing about and that came through in his application.</p>
<p>It's not a good thing that I am jealous because he got in to a great college with extremely minimal effort and even if I put in 10X that effort my chances are still slim? OK. I am not demeaning the student, he had nothing to do with this really (nor is it HIS fault), I actually wonder what goes on in terms of college admissions that would lead to this sort of result. That's why I asked if it was fair, fair for the colleges to do it. I take back if it was reasonable, because clearly alot of colleges accepted him.</p>
<p>An athlete at my son's schools with similar (not even quite as high SATs) was accepted to many of those schools. Not URM, but legacy as well. He graduated from MIT in 4 years.</p>
<p>I say congratulations to him. Here's hoping he takes full advantage of the wonderful opportunity that lies ahead of him----grades are not everything, he may have told a compelling story about himself through his application essays, recommendations</p>
<p>How do you know that the information you have passed on is accurate? Hav eyou seem his transcript, or his test score reports?</p>
<p>When I was in high school a few decades back, a friend of mine came to the school newspaper room fresh from an appointment with her guidance counselor. She had set her books down on the guidance counselor's desk;when she picked up her books, she accidentally picked up a copy of the official class ranking for the senior class. When she discovered what had happened, she asked me what she should do. A person of more maturity might have advised her to return it at once. Instead, I replied that she might get in trouble for leaving with it if she returned it. We kept the copy hidden in our files, and took turns reading it until it was quite dog-eared.</p>
<p>What I remember best about this tawdry episode is that lots of people lie about their class rank. People lie about a lot of things: their test scores, what colleges accepted them, the dates on their resumes, and how they behaved with Whitehouse interns. More often than not, stories that sound too strange to be true are not in fact true.</p>
<p>^^
I can be sure about his GPA and SAT because of naviance. Also, he is not the kind to lie, he really doesnt care. I guess I cant be 100% sure about his exact grades but I know his GPA, SAT(ill take his word for it about the breakdown-Naviance only shows his composite) and which colleges he was accepted to based on Naviance. So- I dont think that is a valid point. However, finally someone is agreeing with me that it is strange.</p>
<p>I've taught college and I've taught many students who appear to be slackers, but whose writing skills kick butt because they put lots of effort into their writing even though their friends aren't aware that they do.</p>
<p>Introuble111, you seem to be looking for someone just to say it shouldn't have happened. Knock it off. Car crashes aren't fair or reasonable, but you're not posting about them happening. Sit back, and be happy for your friend, he found played the admissions game and, for the most part, won.</p>
<p>Admissions to the selective schools can be much akin to playing the lottery, however here's the thing you have to remember: Someone has to win. No matter how astronomical the odds truly are, it seems like at least one person has that winning ticket. </p>
<p>If you want to hear about unfair and unreasonable things, my good friend got into Harvard with a GPA a little below a 3.76, and a 35 ACT. Another kid from my school with a 36, 4.0, and eagle scout standing got rejected. The kid who got into harvard was then rejected by Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. </p>
<p>The game is odd, but someone has to win.</p>
<p>p.s. if you're still hounding around for someone to bash your friend, ask him to show you his acceptance letters, then please shut up and kill this thread.</p>
<p>^^
Well assuming the 3.76 wasnt weighted that is strong. And asking what other peoples thoughts on the incident is allowed, all right? Look at collegeboard to see how many students are below the top 25% of their class at the universities he was admitted to. So please shut up and kill yourself before thinking about posting comments like that on this thread. Good day!</p>
<p>but anyway, your really overplaying grades. just because he's getting an A- in AB calc doesn't mean colleges aren't going to consider him for admission.....neither is a C- going to kill him. Congrats to him on getting through, obviously that adcoms saw something in him. maybe it's that he's a genius who would flourish amongst other geniuses?</p>
<p>Why don't you mind your own business? Obviously this kid had something that those schools wanted that none of their other applicants had. It really doesn't concern you.</p>
<p>I am not saying rescind this guy's admission guys. Nor am I saying he doesn't deserve the admission, as long as he got it by honest means which he did. What I am saying, is this kind of result to be expected and is this kind of result fair?</p>