<p>So I was one of the few who got rejected. I have decent stats (2350 superscore, most rigorous load...the usual) and decent, concentrated EC's although I barely had any science/math ones. I don't know about my recs but they should have been pretty good as well seeing as both teachers gladly agreed to write them. I don't know how to self-judge my essays but I did put significant time into them. One of my friends said one of the responses was a little "boring." </p>
<p>I just want to know what a rejection where the majority are deferred means. I don't want this to happen again in April. Quite honestly, I don't give a crap about going to MIT. I just want to fix my app so I get some nice acceptances in April. </p>
<p>You’ve probably heard this like 1000000 times, but try to make the essays unique. creative or unique often helps. And no matter what you write about, try to make them end positively or neutrally, never negatively. There’s nothing else you can really do now other than essays and getting good grades throughout senior year.</p>
<p>But even if my essays were mediocre, wouldn’t my stats and the rest of my app at least warrant a deferral? I see so many people with lower numbers and worse EC’s than me getting deferred and it irritates me.</p>
<p>Actually, it’s the attitude/personality that warrants a deferral. People who naturally have a good personality will have good stats. It’s not the other way around. Just because the people who get in have high stats doesn’t mean that high stats = acceptance. It’s more like passion/attitude/personal qualities -> high stats -> acceptance.</p>
<p>MIT is not a school for everyone. Your stats could’ve been there, you could be a great applicant for many schools (including HYPS), but you might not be a Match for MIT. MIT wants certain qualities besides brilliance - and these are not end-all-be-all qualities, only the qualities that MIT seeks for its own personal mission.</p>
<p>For other schools, I’d recommend going to their websites and figuring out what their admissions is looking for, to see if you’re a match for them. Otherwise, I guess the only thing I can recommend is ask some teachers to read over your essays to make the strongest application possible… and for you to keep things in perspective and keep going :)</p>
<p>I just don’t understand why people like us didn’t get at least a deferral. Mid 2300 SAT scores should already warrant that on top of good EC’s. It feels awful to be part of the bad minority. Seeing like 75% of people getting something you didn’t is heartbreaking.</p>
<p>Consider yourself in a larger context instead of just the MIT applicants. Even having the chance to apply to MIT means you’re already an amazing student and will most certainly do well in life.</p>
<p>Imagine rooms full of adcoms, busily poring over 5000 app folders. Assume most applicants to MIT have great stats, rigorous courses, some number of honors/awards and great ECs. Sometimes, what distunguishes one high-performing kid over another is essays, short answers and recommendations. I’ve been surprised at how many kids think “even if my essays were mediocre, wouldn’t my stats and the rest of my app at least warrant…?” </p>
<p>Adcoms don’t pick from the top stats down. They aim for a holistic picture of an applicant, measure it against what the U wants and the misc qualities they know will allow Student X to thrive at that school, academically and socially. </p>
<p>Sometimes, it’s unfair. There could be x kids with profiles similar to yours and only y could be admitted, z deferred and the rest had to be rejected. I am sorry, but the first step is to distance yourself from this loss. Not with “I don’t give a crap.” But, with the same analytical strengths that made you a top performer and led you to apply to MIT.</p>
<p>Two common pitfalls are ECs and writings. Did you let ECs show responsibility and leadership? Are they a balance of in-school, non-school AND out-of-your-comfort-zone experiences? Long-term committments or just variety? Think about it. Perhaps you will choose to revise. Likewise, take a hard look at the essay(s) and shorts. Dull is deadly. Mis-chosen topics can be a threat. Poor mechanics can make the wrong impression. Have an admissions-savvy adult review them. </p>
<p>The good news: you have this opportunity to regroup.<br>
Good luck.</p>
<p>my interviewer said that every year he sees so many great applicants that sometimes he thinks the admissions staff just picks out of a hat. i’d guess they don’t do that, but he just meant that there are so many good applicants with the same stats, there are a lot of times when you can’t tell why what happens happens.</p>
<p>lookingforward is correct. don’t take a Not Admitted personally. i know it’s hard to refrain from taking it personally, but remember, only like 9-10% of all applicants will ever get in. you’re in good, if disappointed, company.</p>
<p>runeblaster–I think what it means is that you probably wouldn’t have been happy at MIT. Your stats are incredible, so you know it has nothing to do with your ability. My brother got rejected from his “dream” school, yet got into another one RD that was equally competitive academically. He ended up going there and loves it! He said that somehow they (adcoms) knew this was his place. He even ended up changing his major to something his “dream school” didn’t really offer and is really happy and doing great.</p>
<p>I am sure this is disappointing but from my perspective you are hardly less than anyone else who applied (well maybe you’re “less” nerdy and that was the problem).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I’m just a little skeptical because, without sounding too arrogant, people with lesser numbers and EC’s than me got deferred.</p>
<p>^ Past a certain point, numbers don’t matter. I’m not sure how you’re gauging what a “lesser EC” would be, especially given context.</p>
<p>Remember, though, it’s not just about selecting excellent students with a promising future - MIT gets lots of those people applying. It’s about picking “the Match” within that body of really awesome people. You could be totally awesome in a completely different way. I bet you’ll shine wherever you go :)</p>
<p>Your SAT score is quite good. Your GPA is what it is with only half a year to improve it at all (and almost no opportunity before colleges make their selections).</p>
<p>So, if you want to fix your apps, then looking at your essays is where you have the most opportunity to upgrade. Look at your ECs. There are really not greater or lesser ECs. Just joining and putting it down on an app means nothing. It is what you put into the EC and what you got out of it that counts. It is that commitment that a school will look at. Write about one of your ECs; what it meant to you and how you improved that organization.</p>
<p>Runeblasgter234 - If this is the greatest disappointment in your life, then you will have lived charmed life indeed. Sometime in your future, you will face great adversity. It may be illness, the loss of a loved one, or great professional challenges. View this as a temporary setback. You do “give a crap”. You wouldn’t feel so hurt if you didn’t care.</p>
<p>Admission to the schools left on your list is daunting. Make sure that you have some safety schools on your list, and be sure that you would want to attend those schools should your other admission chances fade. Remember, you are very lucky indeed. You will get the chance to go to college. The vast majority of people in this country do not have a college degree. You clearly have much to offer, and use your god given talent wisely.</p>