<p>One thing I have notice when reading many "chances" threads and the like is the lack of applicants who are dedicated to a sport. I have played basketball since I could walk and have played on 2 or more teams each year since I was in 5th grade. I am currently the captain of the varsity team as well as the captain of my AAU Team (select team). I have not been recruited by MIT, just to make that clear. My question is will it help my application that I not only have good scores, GPA, etc. but I am also talented athletically as well?</p>
<p>If anything, it will probably hurt you.</p>
<p>kidding. I think you know the answer to this one already.</p>
<p>It will help, but not in the same way it helps at many other schools. Your academics must meet their requirements. Beyond those requirements, MIT is looking for a diverse, passionate group of freshmen. Being an accomplished basketball player distinguishes you and shows clear passion. I hope you contacted the coach though. Matt mentioned that in his blog earlier this month. If you haven't contacted the coach yet, do so now via the online recruit form. Good luck!</p>
<p>I take offense to the last reply. It sounds as if you are inferring that I do not have the academic requirements. I have equal test scores to everyone here. I'm 1/170 in my class with a 4.02 GPA. </p>
<p>I'm just wondering if it will help me stand out because I'm not the math nerd that many people with 800s are. I can walk and chew gum at the same time so to speak. I'm wondering if MIT is looking for a class full of math and science geeks or if they are interested in a more well rounded person. In my opinion, doing math and science every second of the day does not make one a well rounded person. A sport, especially a team sport, teaches things that can't be learned anywhere else.</p>
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I'm just wondering if it will help me stand out because I'm not the math nerd that many people with 800s are.
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<p>I take offense to this statement.</p>
<p>Why on earth would you take offense to that reply, williams22? It was completely factual and straightforward: first they'll look at an applicant's academic accomplishments to be sure the applicant could handle the work. Then they'll look for other qualities that make the applicant a good fit with MIT, and vice versa. The poster before you wasn't inferring anything about your academic qualifications, just stating the facts of MIT admissions. And that any accomplished athletes are encouraged to contact the coach in their sport, in addition to using the traditional application channels.</p>
<p>People at MIT are far more well-rounded than their (outdated) reputation implies. Visit for yourself, if you haven't already, and you'll see.</p>
<p>yeah mits rep is very outdated</p>
<p>Williams I thought you totally misunderstood the post which was in fact complimentary.</p>
<p>As an athlete you know the first thing a coach asks is about your grades.
The only change I would suggest is that after you fill out the recruiting form, e-mail the coach your bio and then call him. Leave nothing to chance. If the coach wants you he can add his recommendation to your folder. </p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>Ok let me try this again since I was misunderstood. My fault.</p>
<p>I do not believe that everyone at MIT is a math nerd. Not at all. I have visited twice, loved the campus and the people. I was simply using the word nerd to try to convey what I feel a well-rounded person is. I was asking if MIT will understand the importance of a person having a second dimension to their life other than simply schoolwork. Many applicants I have seen have a long list of math and science accolades but have no other interests. I was wondering if MIT is only concerned with one's achievements in these fields or if something like a sport adds a highly valued second dimension.</p>
<p>At my school there are two groups. the smart kids, and the athletes. The two do not mix. I am the only person in the school who plays a varisty sport and is in the top 10% of the class. In fact, I am captain of my basketball team and I am first in my class. I am hoping this will have some value to it.</p>
<p>PS- Let me add that I probably do not intend to try to play basketball in college. I may decide to tryout if I do get accepted, but I am probably not good enough to be recruited.</p>
<p>MIT has 41 varsity sports, plus a plethora of club sports and even more intramurals. Some absurd percentage of the school participates in organized athletics in some fashion. Regardless of how many applicants are one-dimensional, MIT students are rarely so. We're like freaking dodecahedrons over here.</p>
<p>Your multidimensionality is a good thing in the MIT application process, but you're probably not going to get an advantage because of it. MIT is looking to admit a diverse class, but that doesn't mean that someone who has athletic ECs is at an automatic advantage over someone who doesn't. In other words, a sport is a great EC, but it's not any better than any other EC.</p>
<p>Highly intelligent athletes may be rare in other segments of the population, but they're not here. Off the top of my head I can think of the Junior Olympic volleyball player who just got accepted to one of the top MD/PhD programs in the country, the football player who is currently doing his masters in electrical engineering at Stanford, and the cheerleader who was the first athlete in her high school to attend an elite undergraduate institution.</p>
<p>As for recruitment, you might as well give it a try. MIT is division III in most sports, so some of the teams take even people who didn't play the sport in high school. The basketball team is fairly good (so far they're 5-1 this year, I think?), but I don't know how stringent the tryouts are or anything. Recruitment form is [url=<a href="http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/varsity/recruit-me.html%5Dhere%5B/url">http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/varsity/recruit-me.html]here[/url</a>].</p>
<p>Yeah, best thing you can do is talk to the coach. He'll let you know where you stand... however, I'm sure he would expect you to play if you got in.</p>