<p>Based on the Official Class of 2012, it seems that there are issues regarding the admissions policy. What do you think or see in admitted applicants that rejected or waitlisted applicants don't have or have?</p>
<p>Hm, it seems to me , I might be wrong though, but I think that the debate helps a loooooot. It is weird, because they're a science school, but based on some personal stories and profiles put here, they valued ppl with a debate competitions a lot this year..
A piece of advice for the class of '13. If anyone can join or make a debate club in his/her school, this little step could be difference from accepted/rejected.</p>
<p>On average, admitted applicants have higher SAT scores, grade point averages, and class ranks than applicants who were not admitted, and on a fuzzier level, probably have more/better extracurricular activities and awards.</p>
<p>On an individual level, it's much more difficult to discern a difference -- the admit pool overlaps to a huge degree with the pool of students who were not admitted, because all applicants are so highly qualified.</p>
<p>If you look at a Naviance scattergram for any elite college at any reasonably strong high school, the thing that become apparent immediately is that grades and SAT scores, those touchstones of "chances", are not significant determinants of which applicants get accepted and which don't. Obviously, few if any students who are far from the upper right hand corner of the field get accepted, but within that upper right hand corner the pattern never looks anything other than random.</p>
<p>That's not to say it IS random, but whatever factors are being used to distinguish among a fairly broad group of strong students aren't grades or test scores.</p>
<p>I haven't been trolling through the boards as much as usual; is the debate comment based on some sort of statistic or a random sampling? It's interesting though, because if it were true, it would very partially explain why someone from my school got accepted into MIT EA last year, and I did also this year. We both do model UN... but I think an observation like that is extremely unfounded, and I'm not sure if it can be supported by much.</p>
<p>After decisions came out yesterday, I learned that one of my friends didn't get in, and in everything science-related, he's definitely better according to award, scores, etc. I think my research during the summers made a difference though, because I was interested and passionate about doing something that went beyond high school level, and I stuck with it for three summers, Monday through Friday, 8-5. I learned a lot from it too, and I used that as sort of the center of my application, so my essays spun off from it, and I'm definitely thinking of heading down that path while at MIT. </p>
<p>You'll never know for sure, heck, I don't know why I was admitted and my friend wasn't if we're simply going by achievement. But I really think MIT makes an effort in looking at you as an individual, someone who can make use of the school's brilliant opportunities, someone who loves being around people that share the same dreams and goals, and someone who isn't afraid to show that curiosity and passion on paper. With that said, there are so many qualified applicants who would fit everything, and it sounds really vague and impossible, but you just have to find your own unique spark. In the end, your voice that comes out on paper trumps scores, activities, etc. every time. YOU have to believe that you're a good fit for MIT before any admission officer will believe you.</p>
<p>Just my two cents :)</p>
<p>well it's not on statistics but let's put it like this:</p>
<p>from my country 5 people applied to MIT. we are all very qualified students. first student that got in had: SAT 1900 (toefl 106), IphO, silver on some international debate competition, perfect grades, some kind of science camp since 3rd grade (engineering), a lot of GREAT physics awards on national level, and some awards in math
other student that got in had: SAT near 2100? (toefl 109),silver on some international debate competition, almost perfect grades, some kind of science camp since 3rd grade (biology), some awards on national in math/programming competition
the student that got waitlisted had: SAT near 2100 (toelf 105-110 not sure really), competed on some international debate competition, a lot of A's but B's too in grades, he's not so good on competitions usually, but he has some awards from physics i think.. and two years of the science camp (programming)..
now, i go to the same school with them three.. and have almost the same statistics: SAT 1960 (toefl 113), competed on IAO (intl astronomy olympiad), winner for our country in "Physics Talent Search" (internationally recognized), been in the same science camp from 1st grade (two years on physics, one year on molecular biomedicine), perfect grades, awards on national in physics/programming/astronomy/math
yet i'm rejected
also my friend (which doesn't go to the same school as us four, but yet a very competitive school that has the same math orientated program as ours):
SAT 2000 (toefl 113), she was last year one of the 15 best students in programming for all four generations (nearly got into IOI team!), perfect grades, awards (very good) on national level in programming and physics</p>
<p>so basically when i look at all our profiles, the only thing i see us two are lacking is debate competition? (and no, it's not because of the essays, because with the almost the same essays I got waitlisted on caltech, while others were rejected..)</p>
<p>i'm not really stressed because of the MIT rejection, I love caltech <3333 , but my friend reaaaaaaaaaaaally loves MIT, she almost knows when someone is going to bathroom there, yet she was rejected, because of something stupid like, dunno, debate?</p>
<p>Sexiest applicants only.</p>
<p>well, foo182, it's a bit hard to make the generalization of debate helps you get into MIT when you only have a sample size of 5 applicants..</p>
<p>lol i agree with Olo</p>
<p>you really can't analyze this, its different for each applicant, depending on so many factors</p>