How much does MIT value things such as extracurriculars and contacts?
I am working as an intern in the nanotech lab of an MIT alumn at Rice, who is also pretty famous… how much would this help in getting in?
<p>For ECs, MIT wants to see applicants involved with scientific research or particpation in science outside of school. Working with the alumnus/a will definitely help you and obtaining a letter from him/her about you would help your chances.</p>
<p>Doing research in high school is a great thing if you're interested in getting into MIT -- extracurriculars are some of the most important aspects of a successful application, and research definitely fits that bill, so long as it's something you're passionate about.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how much the contact would help (contacts like that might be a little more useful getting into graduate school rather than for undergrad -- I'm not sure that undergraduate admissions would differentiate between research in the lab of an MIT alum vs. a Harvard alum, for example), but it certainly can't hurt.</p>
<p>I also plan on applying to MIT. From what i've gathered together they look at your scores and EC's in a smaller context (they are still VERY important) than most competive schools. In my opinion they look more at your situation and what you have done with it. Passion and dedication especially for something like "science" (who would have thought) would be a very strong part of the app.</p>
<p><em>almost shameless self-promotion</em>
Anyone who's interested in applying to MIT might want to check out the student/admin blogs, which can be accessed from <a href="http://my.mit.edu%5B/url%5D">http://my.mit.edu</a> (the reason it's shameless is, of course, that one of the student blogs happens to be mine :))
<em>/almost shameless self-promotion</em></p>
<p>Well, in addition to mediocre grades (like a B+ avg), and 2280 sat (750 M 730 CR 800 W), and dedication to wrestling, I'm co-author on a paper on gene therapy being submitted to International Journal of Cancer, (through a different lab) and will get my name on a nanotechnology paper as well, (though I dont know who it will be submitted to), and hope to get a good rec from that professor at Rice.. my question is, would my EC's make up for my grades and SAT?</p>
<p>bump this crap</p>
<p>The SAT is fine.</p>
<p>I think that the lab experience and authorship would be very impressive to the admissions committee. My only warning would be that MIT admissions occasionally seems very random to the outside observer; my gut is to say that good research experience outweighs a not-so-stellar GPA, but that may or may not be true.</p>
<p>A good letter from him should really help if your stats are in line.</p>