Should I have even applied?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>MIT has the reputation (from what I have heard at least) of being immensely difficult to get into. Though I applied early, I am having second thoughts; will I even be taken seriously?</p>

<p>I know my test scores are within range, but I feel that my other factors are too mundane. Seeing other people post stats is making me feel really inadequate haha.</p>

<p>Be brutal please. thanks :)</p>

<p>NUMBERS:
GPA: 3.75ish unweighted, 4.58 weighted
Class Rank: School does not rank
ACT: 34 (36M 35E 33R 32S 9W)
SAT II: MathII: 800, Chemistry: 760, Physics: 770
SAT I: 690 Verbal, 740 Math, Writing 650 10E </p>

<hr>

<p>COURSELOAD:
Most difficult course load in the school.</p>

<p>APs: Calculus BC, Chemistry, US Government & Politics, Statistics, Microecon, Macroecon, Physics C Mechanics, Psychology- all 5s (4 sophomore year, 4 junior year)</p>

<h2>All IBs senior year (Full IB diploma student)</h2>

<p>CLASSES -
took calculus 3, differential equations, and linear algebra at my local community college and got A’s in all of them. (10th)</p>

<p>Took Organic Chemistry 1 (15 credits lab/discussion/lecture) at community college and got a B (11th)</p>

<h2>Taking a class at NIH grad school on Clinical Pharmacology.</h2>

<p>ECs -</p>

<p>Debate –(9-12th once a countywide finalist)
Ethics Club (Political Philosophy)- Founder, President (9-12)
Cricket Club- Founder, Captain (9-12)
Young Republicans (9,10 member) (11, 12 co president)
Student Government Representative (9th-11th)
Student Government Parliamentarian (12th)
National Honors Society (11th,12th)
Martial Arts– 10 years</p>

<h2>Tabla (Indian percussion) (7 years)</h2>

<p>AWARDS (not too many):
AP National Scholar
Maryland Distinguished Scholar Honorable Mention
National Merit Commended</p>

<h2>Few regional awards </h2>

<p>OTHER:</p>

<p>Summer Job at a paper collating factory (Colorworks Promotion Inc.) to fund extra classes (10th).</p>

<p>Research with National Cancer Institute this summer (250 hours) (11th grade summer)</p>

<p>Started a countywide student-run magazine (editor, manager, etc.)</p>

<p>280+ hours community service</p>

<p>Great essays and recommendations.</p>

<hr>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Edit: I am new at this, so please don't jump on me if I missed something.</p>

2

<p>You should not worry about your gpa. You took a crapload of hard classes and the most rigorous one. What most people DO worry about is the EC's for MIT. But any chance of raising it to a 3.8 by the end of the semester?
Anyhow don't worry. At least I believe you will only get deferred. I could be wrong but you don't seem like a weak candidate at all. But I hope you sent that ACT score in. Thats a very nice score.</p>

3

<p>You have a decent shot. Not sure if you are distinguished enough. Since your test scores arent the greatest on SAT I then I think you really may need something that they really crave. Like something that sets you apart</p>

4

<p>Sorry when i said deferred I meant "at the least". It may have come out wrong.</p>

5

<p>I was thinking of retaking SAT 1 this January. I know I can get at least 2300+ (I took my first SAT 1 last april and have improved much since then), but I thought it would be of no use since they will only consider ACT. Don't they take the best of SAT 1 or ACT?</p>

6

<p>IIRc its act. But you DID take it with writing right?</p>

7

<p>Yeah. I took ACT w/writing, 3 Sat 2s, and SAT 1</p>

8

<p>Look at it this way: now you won't go through your life wondering, "Would I have gotten into MIT?" Now that you've applied, all you can do is wait, take deep breaths, and hope for the best. (And btw, I don't think your "stats" look bad at all.)</p>

9

<p>The main thing is to realize that probably 85% of the crazy-amazing-how-did-you-do-that-when-you're-just-in-high-school people are on CC. So you really cannot compare yourself to CC people because it's an incredibly skewed representation of the applicant pool. At least, that's what I tell myself... But besides, MIT isn't entirely made up of people who've done research in high school! Therefore, we must stand a chance! :D</p>

10

<p>Fact is, <em>most</em> of the people admitted haven't done research!</p>