What are my chances to get into MIT and UMich?!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a white male from CT</p>

<p>SAT I: 2240 (780 Math, 720 Reading, 740 Writing)</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests: 800 Math II, 800 Physics, 710 U.S. History</p>

<p>GPA: Unweighted: 4.0 (1 A- in a half year Honors Physics Course, so its actually 3.98)
Weighted: 4.4 (on a 5.0 scale. This is above an A in Honors below an A in AP course)</p>

<p>Class Rank: Around 5/250 but my school doesnt report that. (Top Decile)</p>

<p>APs: 5s on Comp Sci., Physics B, Calc AB, U.S. History, European History
Taking Calc BC, both Physics C tests, Italian, Gov., Chem. this year</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Mu Alpha Theta (Math Team/Math Honors Society) - I placed 3rd in State Competition out of all Juniors in attendance</p>

<p>National Honors Society Member - I tutor Math and Physics. Probably Chem later in the year.</p>

<p>Boy Scouts - Eagle Scout, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Bronze Palm, I was Senior Patrol Leader in the past (alot of leadership basically)</p>

<p>School Theatre - I do the lights for all the plays and shows at my School</p>

<p>Varsity Swimming - I hold a school record in the Relays, I made it to States among some other honors </p>

<p>Model U.N. - Nothing special here, I just go to the meanings and I went to the Cornell meet once</p>

<p>G.E. Computer Science Competition - I placed 9th in State Competition and wrote a maze solver program</p>

<p>Academic Decathalon - Just started this year</p>

<p>Science Olympiads - Just started this year</p>

<p>Volunteer Experience:</p>

<p>Boy Scouts - There are a lot of scout projects that I go to and other volunteer time (like 20 hours a year), My eagle project was about 200 hours (I built a bench and cabinet for the swim team, its alot cooler than it sounds) </p>

<p>National Honors Society - Tutor</p>

<p>Lighting -I do all of the Business students' shows for no profit so thats community service right?</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>Swimming Records</p>

<p>All those placings I mentioned</p>

<p>AP Scholar with Distinction</p>

<p>Hooks:</p>

<p>I will just use this to explain more of whats in my essays and stuff</p>

<p>I want to be an Astronaut through Aerospace Engineering degrees</p>

<p>I have expressed interest in MIT, talked to a student for a day and had a personal tour. Going again this fall in preparation for the department essay</p>

2

<p>MIT: High Reach
UMich: Low Reach</p>

<p>I can’t see your getting into MIT at all unless there is a lot you’re not telling. Sorry. :frowning:
You’re a year or two behind in math and physics compared to most people you would be competing with in the MIT pool—you’re not National AP Scholar yet and not on track for IB Diploma.
There is no engineering focus in your ECs.
Mu Alpha Theta is okay, but do you have AMC, AIME, and USAMO scores?
Not having 800 Math as unhooked applicant will hurt, and your other sections aren’t the best either.</p>

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<p>^Completely false. Many schools don’t offer calculus or AP sciences until senior year, so you’re right on track, and MANY students don’t have the time or resources to do Intel or Siemens or have national awards. You have just as good a shot as any other highly competitive applicant, honestly.</p>

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<p>I struggle to see how having a 780 compared to an 800 on math would be so critical. I got one wrong on the test it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t think even MIT would care. But I’m the one asking you for advice so thanks. The other stuff you mentioned seems logical</p>

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<p>@Thebeatlestoday That is why many people go out of their way over summers to do research and take classes to catch up with students in other schools in the subjects their interested in. And do you really think that college admissions boards have a clear idea of your geography and circumstances? No, they want clear demonstation of achievement and passion. </p>

<p>780 vs. 800 isn’t a big deal, but the thing is that most MIT students have 800s and that is only because that is the ceiling.</p>

6

<p>

Yes, yes I do. I haven’t talked to a single admissions officer from a top-30 school who hasn’t said that their college’s adcoms study high schools in every region of the US. Also, each high school counselor will send out a school report which shows what kinds of classes the school offers, so if this person couldn’t take Calc BC until senior year at their school, adcoms will know. Obviously we’re all just speaking from experience here, and my experience is–based on talking to admissions officers and 8 people I know who have been accepted to MIT in the last 5 years–that you don’t have to do research, or special STEM classes outside of school; obviously that all helps, but colleges know that as a student, your #1 priority is school, so it is NOT EXPECTED OF YOU to take outside classes to “catch up” to other college applicants. </p>

<p>Bottom line, OP: don’t worry too much. If you demonstrate passion for STEM subjects (through essays, ECs, etc.), MIT might very well accept you :)</p>

7

<p>Not sure if DoingThings is playing dumb or is actually stupid.</p>

<p>That being said, good chance as any for MIT, likely into UMich, if you were in state I’d say guarantee.</p>

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<p>Don’t you think representing a small state would help me? That’s a genuine question</p>

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<p>If anything, because CT is smaller (and thus probably fewer people from your state will apply to MIT than from larger states like CA or TX), you’ll have a harder chance. </p>

<p>But don’t focus on that. MIT cares more about you than your home state.</p>

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<p>Oh yeah I understand that for MIT considering CT borders MA, but for UMich.</p>

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<p>Ohhh, I see, sorry :o I’m not sure about UMich’s policy on being in-state vs OOS, but either way, I think it’s a mid match for you, so no worries :)</p>

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<p>Haha, looks like DoingThings got rejected from MIT. Either that or hes trolling. MIT says they dont distinguish too much any scores above 700. So i doubt there is any difference between a 780 and 800. Could even be due to a careless error.
Other than that, u have a great chance. As good as anyone but MIT is still a high reach as it is for anyone, simpl because its MIT.</p>

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<p>I actually agree with DoingThings about the 800/780 issue and his ratings.</p>

<p>The problem with SAT 2 math is that 800 is 91 percentile. 780 = 87 percentile. That actually gives some clout the point DoingThings is making with the noticeable, albeit minor, difference between 780 and 800. </p>

<p>I would revise it to:
MIT: High Reach
UMich: Low Reach/High Match</p>

<p>(due to lacking standout extracurriculars and a weak SAT I score).</p>

<p>I like to be blunt, and I apologize for any perceived harshness.</p>

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<p>Just when is a 2240 considered a weak SAT score?? Check the score band for MIT on collegeboard. OP is well within the band for all sections</p>

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<p>MIT gives consideration for people who are from underrepresented states, but Harvey Mudd, Caltech and MIT just do not play the game you think they do.</p>

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<p>I just looked at the test performance charts of the SAT I test I took and it says I’m in the 98 percentile for Math. I’m not sure if this is for this specific test or overall, but its better than 87% regardless.</p>

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<p>It means u scored better than 98% of the kids who also took the test on the same day that u did</p>

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<p>Okay, so the OP got a 780 on the SAT I (98th percentile) and 800 on the SAT II (highest you can get). I don’t see how much improvement is needed.</p>

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<p>Oh woops sorry.</p>

<p>I thought he meant 780 SAT 2.</p>

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<p>It’s alright, thanks for the input regardless! Keep them coming guys. Anything that I should elaborate on when I have my MIT interview?</p>