Yep, it's THAT thread again. (Plus: A Strange Concern)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Here we go; I know what I’m probably going to hear (comes down to your essay, you interview, your recommendations, etc.), but I figure: why not, eh?</p>

<p>White Male
Jewish/Agnostic
Public High School</p>

<p>NUMBERS
SAT: 1540 old (M780/V760) / 2240 new
ACT: 34 composite (35/34/33)
GPA: 3.8 / 4.0 unweighted
SAT II: 790 Math II, 760 Chem
AP 5’s: English Lang, Calculus AB, Biology
AP 4’s: Statistics (10th grade), AP Euro (10th), AP US
AP taking: Calculus BC (online), English Lit, Government, Chemistry
Rank: unreleased at the moment</p>

<p>WORDS</p>

<p>Extracirriculars
Model Congress (debate club, General Chair)
Math Team (competitions, Varsity Captain)
It’s Academic (trivia club, “math question guy”)</p>

<p>Honors
Xerox scholarship to Rochester IT
CYLC alumni / GYLS nominee
Columbia U. Science Summer Invitational
AIME participant last year (forgot my index)</p>

<h2>Freelancer puzzle designer (long story)</h2>

<p>My interview was... strange. He seemed nice enough, but was deliberately trying to be... "un-read-able". I think he liked me (and what I had to offer), but I couldn't tell one way or the other. He also had this weird sticking point about me applying for Early Action... can't explain it. What's done is done, I do feel it went well, but anyone have ideas why he'd be so resistant to E.A.?</p>

2

<p>
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Jewish/Agnostic

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<p><em>trying not to laugh</em> I hate to tell you, or maybe this will be a plus to you in terms of fit with culture, but both of these attributes, or even the combination of them, are the opposite of unique at MIT. Jewish, Jewish/Agnostic, Jewish/Atheist, Agnostic, Atheist, probably covers the majority of my social group.</p>

<p>Your stats are more than good enough, but unless this changed since I applied, you need a third SAT II in a humanities subject.</p>

<p>Honestly, your ECs are pretty generic/blah at face value. Now, they might tell more about you, if one knows the details, than face value would indicate, which could come out in the essays or additional info, but I don't know from this. The honors look pretty decent and the freelance puzzle designer bit is sort of cool. But right now I'm not seeing anything to differentiate you from the standard-issue academically qualified applicant.</p>

3

<p>What do you mean by a humanities SAT II? As far as I know, MIT does not ask for other SATs than Math II and a science. I heard they don't even care of some other SAT IIs.</p>

4

<p>Yeeeeeeaaaaaaah, I know I'm almost about as diversity-challenged as it gets, but hey, that's life, innit? Can't let that stop me for going for my dreams.</p>

<p>And, as far as I can tell, these days they only ask for a Math and a Science SAT II. Of course, I did take humanities SAT IIs, and they're in the score report I sent, but didn't think it mattered much for the post. (In case you're wondering, though, 750 US, 670 Bio that I need to get an inquiry on. [I took M, but it came back graded with E!])</p>

<p>Anyway.</p>

<p>Not quite the words of encouragement I was hoping for, but honest criticism is better than nothing. The freelance puzzle thing I'll explain in the "creation" part of the app, but essentially I got paid by a British company for puzzle designs that were / will be printed on mass-produced collectible cards for an alternate reality game (Perplex City, in case anyone has heard of it). While it was still running, it was great, but the company's moved on to other IPs, so "my" cards are getting printed almost post-mortem.</p>

<p>I've done more EC's than just those 3, but those are the ones that are really dear to me. Math Team I've had to almost carry on my back and keep from dying, since we were in a serious draught of new blood after I joined. (I've also been the school high scorer since 9th grade, but that's just that.) Model Congress is a complete and total life-consumer as it is (think two-day debate-a-thons with food, friends, and overnights at other people's houses); that's the dominant force in my out-of-school life. It's Academic might be big, too, but we have a new adviser, so I can't say for sure where the club is going. Hopefully it will mean real trivia competitions, like on our local cable channel.</p>

<p>Those are the three that REALLY mean something to me. I'm technically in NHS, but it's pretty much compulsory here; my heart's not all that into it, and while I'm putting it in the app, and I have put in hours to projects I really do care about, I left it out here. I've been in other clubs, too, but those I've quit, so there's no point in bothering with them just on a forum post.</p>

<p>Still, yeah, I'm not the kid who's doing intern work for labs and colleges over the summer and doing exchange programs in Oxford; I've been a landscaper for three years' summer work, and never left the continent. My personal life is... complex. I'd care to leave it at that, and say that I'm not quite as privy to all the freedoms of opportunity that many others are.</p>

<p>Hopefully, that's a little more clarity.</p>

<p>EDIT: As for the Early Action thing, maybe it has to do with the fact I'm NOT going Early Action anywhere else. I've been to MIT and seen the campus (no, REALLY seen it, i.e. off the tour, impromptu kind of deal), and I felt almost right at home. It really feels like the elusive "perfect fit". More than anywhere else I've seen by miles. This is, by no means, a "let's see if..." thing. MIT is, without a doubt, my #1 choice.</p>

<p>Better believe that even if I don't make it, you'll be seeing a Transfer Application once a year!</p>

5

<p>
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Math Team I've had to almost carry on my back and keep from dying, since we were in a serious draught of new blood after I joined.

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</p>

<p>See, this, this is useful. Tons of MIT applicants do some sort of Math Team. Most don't have to carry the team on their backs in order for it to survive, and the fact that you did so not only shows your discipline and perseverance, but that you really cared.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Those are the three that REALLY mean something to me. I'm technically in NHS, but it's pretty much compulsory here; my heart's not all that into it, and while I'm putting it in the app, and I have put in hours to projects I really do care about, I left it out here. I've been in other clubs, too, but those I've quit, so there's no point in bothering with them just on a forum post.

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<p>I think you have the right approach with this.</p>

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Model Congress is a complete and total life-consumer as it is (think two-day debate-a-thons with food, friends, and overnights at other people's houses); that's the dominant force in my out-of-school life.

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<p>I'd love to hear more about what you've gotten out of and contributed to Model Congress, and how you've developed as a person because of it. I think Admissions would too. ;)</p>

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I've been a landscaper for three years' summer work

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<p>I think this is both cool and definitely worth bringing up. It shows maturity and responsibility, and makes you stand out.</p>

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I'm not quite as privy to all the freedoms of opportunity that many others are.

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<p>And you know what, that's fine. I've known MIT students from pretty non-stereotypical-overachiever backgrounds - dirt-poor kids from destitute rural areas of the country, blue-collar kids who worked in factories during high school to help support their families, kids who have had to cope with chronic, life-threatening diseases, ghetto kids, kids who went to poor schools, kids who were horrifically abused by a parent...and lots and lots of poor or middle-class kids didn't overcome some enormous obstacle but whose families simply couldn't afford the opportunities that wealthier kids' families could, and first-gen college students whose families didn't know how to assist them. MIT takes the opportunities that you've had into account when it looks at your app.</p>

<p>I guess, if I'm making a point about the ECs with this comment, it's that an activity can look pretty blah by itself, but with the chance to expound upon it, that mediocre EC can turn into something pretty favorable. But the applicant has to show why it should. I did not mean to come off harshly before, but hopefully now you have a better idea. :)</p>

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<p>Also,</p>

<p>
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What do you mean by a humanities SAT II? As far as I know, MIT does not ask for other SATs than Math II and a science. I heard they don't even care of some other SAT IIs.

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<p>Hey, what do you know, they changed the requirement sometime in the last five years. I just looked it up, and you're correct, they only require two now, a math and a science. When I applied in 2002, they required three.</p>

7

<p>Since when is Columbia Summer Sci Invitational an honor? Are you seriously writing that? Science Honors Program at Columbia would be an honor, but the invitational.. not so much.</p>

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<p>
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middle-class kids didn't overcome some enormous obstacle but whose families simply couldn't afford the opportunities that wealthier kids' families could

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<p>This; I'm not in dire want of anything, have no fear, and life's good overall, but luxuries are a little thin at times. There's some other major things as well (I have to check a box next to a parent I wish I didn't have to), but that's basically the way it is. Hope you'll pardon me being cryptic about it, but I'm just after understanding more than I am sympathy.</p>

<p>The Invitational... eh, so it's there. I figured it was related.</p>

<p>Still, I had a feeling the details would be important. :D</p>