<p>I sort of have to agree that MIT admissions have become a sort of joke, well, at least at my school. all top 5 students were deferred (they were girls, too)...so i know it's super hard. I've always wanted to go, but now i think more and more that applying to MIT early will automatically get me either deferred or rejected. what do you think?
honest appraisals of my chances at MIT (super reach, match, ya know the rest) would be appreciated, and also an opinion on whether i should even bother with EA or go with a university with a more predictable admissions?</p>
<p>Essential stats:
gender: girl race: south-azn
gpa: 4.0 rank: 1/600 something
SAT: 2400 (one-sitting) SAT II: 2400 (math, chem, phys)
math courses at local university since early junior year (all A's)</p>
<p>-Local newspaper reporter since 9th grade...dozens of student-related articles published
I really focus on disadvantaged kids in the neighborhood...plus I've gotten two articles in national magazines in my country, as well as larger local newspapers. And I also interviewed Dr. Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and got that published in front page.
-President, academic decathlon...county champion, etc. I pretty much started this at my school...18 medals. Also individual state top-scorer.
-Captain, math team...local champ (AIME and the regulars). Also ARML, Stanford tournament, MME, and other what-nots. MU Alpha Theta awards (regional).
-Only student on the local city council's Human Relations Commission, chosen out of over 4000 students. I organized a variety of contests for elementary school students.
-President of school's race-relations committee/climate committee
-CSF, Honor Society
-Science Research in Chemistry (I have two regional medals, one prestigious state medal (State Science Fair), Intel Scholar, regional science awards. One of my research was on nanoparticles, and I found a unique property regarding them that I am submitting to a research journal...in process of publishing. Very interested in chemistry. UNSChO semi-finalist. I want to major in chemistry, too.
-president, science olympiad (many, many awards)
-Volunteer for local hospital
-varsity golf -classical dance/singing (solo performances in my country)
-founder of an elementary school math club for students in my city (100 students so far)
-many math/science summer programs...planning to do Boston University internship this year or Stanford SIMR</p>
<p>So yes, in this impossible university, have i got a shot? My focus would be my interest in science research (since 9th grade) and also some community activities (like city council)</p>
<p>Honestly, you seem almost too perfect. In any case, it's not that MIT admissions are a joke, it's that they are looking for a class that will showcase many different sides.<br>
MIT admission is not impossible. I was not expecting to get in (nor that my best friend would also get in), but it happened. As for applying EA, as long as you are not more interested by a SCEA (Stanford, Yale, etc), it doesn't really hurt to apply. Your application is then looked at more than once (assuming deferral), which should only help.</p>
<p>To be honest, still apply to MIT EA...if you get deferred, you can send in a letter of interest, and that seems to help somewhat. I agree that MIT is kinda funky with admissions, so make sure you apply to ivies, caltech, etc. too.</p>
<p>Sometimes getting deferred by MIT when you think your profile is perfect is a real eye-opener. At least, it was for me.</p>
<p>not sure what made ppl think i'm a troll...but thanks for the advice, Arch. i may do caltech at the same time.
yeah mit makes nervous. a prestigious program they have, RSI, flat-out rejected me. I was kind of surprised, to be honest.</p>
<p>Peruse this forum and you should quickly realize that no one can give actual chances. If you are looking for some number like 5% or 8.52435892435%, no one can give it. Just apply and try as hard as you can.</p>
<p>I think you should apply to MIT, Caltech, and all the Ivies. The thing about MIT is that they love rejecting perfect applicant to show that they can. Other than that, you look great. I think that if MIT rejects you, you will end up somewhere great (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.)</p>
<p>Apply EA if you put the proper preparation into the EA application. Yes, EA acceptance is extremely tough; but overall chances including the RD round become slightly better. Same with doing the interview; chances get slightly better overall. Each of these steps presents an opportunity for you to show genuine interest in MIT, and for you to display your one true passion. An applicant can be really good in a lot of things, but MIT seems to want people who are truly outstanding in one displayed passion (from what I've read here).</p>
<p>Applying EA to MIT does not hurt you. There are some schools that reject outright in their EA round, but MIT passes about 80% of EA applicants to the RD round where they are treated just like the other applications. In that case, this gives you an opportunity to add to your application, which I feel is pretty much expected if you want to get admitted.</p>
<p>It's good that you already know how realistically tough MIT admissions are. Obviously you are smart enough to know you need alternatives and safeties that you like.</p>
<p>Dang, the things you listed seems so...awesome. I don't even come close to your stats...not even close (average scores, no awards, only one research internship), yet I got into MIT early. But make sure you try to showcase your "unique-ness" that will make you stand out from all of other applicants that more or less have similar stats to you. Don't forget to keep in mind when constructing your application is to "match" to MIT's culture/mission statements/etc.</p>
<p>Your stats are almost perfect, which are more than enough for MIT and any other Ivies. if you can write excellent essays, you will stand out of the crowd. my D got accepted by MIT EA (class of 2013) as we didn't expect. MIT is reachable. So just work on your essays that may be the most important for you now.</p>
<p>I think you should DEFINITELY apply, if not early then regular. My stats don't even match up to half of what you have there and I applied EA...got deferred, but at least it wasn't an outright rejection. MIT is improbable for many students, but it's never impossible. You just have to have a little bit of hope sometimes. That said, I doubt anyone can even be called a match for MIT, so if you simply want an assessment of your chances, then I'd say reach since it's a reach for everyone. But honestly, it seems you have a great chance. Apply. Take a gamble; you can't lose.</p>
<p>Go for it and apply. I know a girl who had very similar stats to you, and made it in. She may have had slightly more out-of-school commitments, however.</p>
<p>AKiss: sorry 'bout getting defensive and all...but I think in no way are my stats perfect, since I haven't gotten really big awards for anything. I also doubt I'll get my research published, but who cares? I'm submitting it to a journal, and they can **** themselves if it isn't published.
Anyways, I'm a low-income immigrant from Bangladesh, who moved here at a relatively late age. Not sure whether it'll give me an additional boost, but I'd rather get in b/c of my merits.
But thanks all!</p>