<p>I've got 3.9 unweighted and some junior year unweighted, but that doesn't overbalance the 3.0 I had freshman year, hence my respectively overall GPA being in the you know where.</p>
<p>My SATI is 670 reading, 640 math. I've taken AB calc junior year. I'm taking SATII's MathII and physics in october. 27 ACT. My scores aren't what is going to get me in anywhere I'm aiming. </p>
<p>What are my bargaining chips are my patents on cryogenic electronics cooling (one granted, and another pending), a patent pending on modular electronics cooling, the research I've been doing, and for related reasons I'm fairly competent at fluid dynamics w/ turbulence, programming in C++ and Python, and heat transfer. </p>
<p>Also taking decent AP's this year, including physics C both mechanics and electromagnetism, AP bio, AP econ, and am doing a year-long economics project, and a year long application programming project in two-project based classes. Finally, I co-write an editorial section (basically abstracts for new technologies in brazing and material science) in a professional society magazine. </p>
<p>Too bad my GPA is thumbs down. It'll be 3.7 and some overall at end of senior year I am projecting, but I would have allready been denied or admitted by that time. </p>
<p>Did I mention I also need a scholarship of the magnitude princeton or olin offer :( ?</p>
<p>get 800s on your two sat IIs, and in general, if any school is like this, MIT would be the place that would overlook your grades for the patents that seem to be pretty advanced. If you can, take sat or act again. Also it depends on what your math/science grades are not really your overall gpa.</p>
<p>You should apply. Try improving your SAT scores and tell the admission officers why your GPA in 9th grades was in your opinion, low. I believe admissions officers enjoy seeing an upward trend than a downward trend. By the information you posted above, it seems as if you are in that upward trend. I hope you are accepted into MIT and any of your other college choices! :)</p>
<p>Why wouldn't you apply? Wouldn't you always ask yourself "what would have happened if?" if you don't apply? If you go out to the MIT website you can find some demographics/statistics for the student "populations" who were accepted. Contrary to popular belief, all of their students do not have perfect 4.0 GPA's nor do they have 2400 SAT's. Granted MIT does turn away a huge number of applicants but, who knows, you might be the one who is accepted.</p>
<p>My S has been reading over (and I have too) the MIT viewbook (which arrived three days ago) and MIT touts that they are seeking diverse students with something unique to offer. It sure sounds like you would bring a great deal to the table.</p>
<p>So I will give you the same advice I am giving my son and tell you to go for it! Sure, you will spend some time filling out the application forms and writing an essay but in the grand scheme of things it will cost you only time (okay and maybe a plane ticket to Cambridge) and it just might result in getting the opportunity of a lifetime.</p>