Objective:
SAT I superscore (breakdown): 620CR 780M 650W (2050)
ACT (breakdown): Didn't take
SAT II: 770 Math Level II 700 Chemistry 740 Physics 690 US History (All on transcript)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
Weighted GPA: 4.63
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/663 UW; 8/663 W
AP (place score in parentheses): Calculus AB (5) BC (5) Chemistry (5) Physics C (5,5) US History (4) Stats (3) English Language (3)
Senior load: very easy nothing to take
Number of other EA applicants in your school: IDK
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Questbridge Finalist, CTY Scholar, AIME qualifier 2009, 2011, Sports Awards
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Volunteering Club (president) Math Club (president) Varsity club (co-Captain)
Job/Work Experience: tutor
Volunteer/Community service: >200 hours
Other
Date Submitted App: September 30th (QuestBridge)
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: ~$40,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.) First generation, Questbridge?
Reflection
Strengths: Math
Weaknesses: essays, SAT
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Didn't want to share my family disaster
SAT I (breakdown): ok so this is really derpy, but SAT isn't big at all in my area and I only took it to qualify for National Merit and DID NOT SEND these to MIT (took it too late to do so anyway) M:690 CR:730 writing 650 2070
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):My school doesn't really do uw but I've gotten A's in everything except for 1 A- one semester of AP Calc and 1 A- one semester in AP US and an A- one sem of physics
Weighted GPA: 4.03-4.04
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):school doesn't rank, top 5% is the best estimation my school gives, but I was 1 of 2 national merit semifinalists at our school and the highest gpa in my class is 4.09.
AP (place score in parentheses): AP Calc AB:5 AP Chem:5 AP US:4
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Bio, AP Euro, AP Physics B, English self studying AP Lit and Physics C
Number of other EA applicants in your school: I think only 1 other
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
National Merit Semifinalist (so far), AP Scholar :P, I won a Physics olympics at our state University
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Ok I'm only going to put down the things I included on my app because that's all that is useful to you guys, I hate it when people list everything they've done because you get only a few places on the app to put ECs unless you attach an additional resume so, Theater, Music (guitar), creative writing, volunteer work with mentally disabled kids, and floor hockey
Job/Work Experience: lots of babysitting
Volunteer/Community service:
see above ^^ Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
overall I think my essays were good, I worked on them for a little more than 2 months and got feedback from my favorite teacher (not showing it to a million people, but to one person who knows me well so that only my voice would come across in the essay)
What You Do For Pleasure: talked about playing guitar, was my common app ec essay but tweaked a little for space (compared to my other essays this one was probably my worst mostly because of how short it had to be, but it did its purpose I think)
Department at MIT: Engineering, I talked about how the field would allow me to combine many of my passions (6 or 7, again because of length, I feel like I could have done a better job with 50 more words but I digress)
What Is Your Best Personality Trait: Talked about modesty (8 or 9)
World You Come From: Coming from a really poor and uneducated place to a college town and being inspired to become as educated as possible and work hard to be the best person I can be (8 or 9)
Significant Challenge:family problems and new responsibilities I had to take on 11th and 12th grade
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1: probably really good, I didn't see it, but he likes me a lot and I did really well in his Calc class, he knows how curious I am and how much of a math nerd I am.
Teacher Recommendation #2: My favorite teacher ever, he said I was one of the best students he had in his career and he talked about my personality and drive
Counselor Rec: didn't see, maybe generic but I'm not sure, they had us give them our essays so that they could supposedly mention things from them but idk
Additional Rec: My other Calc teacher wanted to write me a letter so she did, I think she talked about how I constantly come and ask her random theoretical math questions and pull math pranks occasionally with my friends at school
Interview: I think it went ok, it wasn't a disaster, my EC told me I seemed to be in good shape to get in, she said that she would also include in the report the context of where we lived, so hopefully that included that there isn't really any research around for high school students to do, and that big competitions aren't even heard of where I live like AMC, Olympiads or whatever.
Art Supplement:
nope
Other
Date Submitted App: idk, middle to late October
State (if domestic applicant): MI
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: public
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Income Bracket: 60k-70k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
maybe 1st gen, my mom is in grad school atm but hasn't graduated and doesn't have a BA or any other degree and my biological father never went to HS, idk if that counts though so whatever :P
Reflection
Strengths: My ACT was really good, the highest at my school, I took the hardest classes I could but not just to look good but because I wanted to learn, I though that that was something I conveyed well in my essays, is that I am really curious and want to learn.
Weaknesses: My ECs, however, hopefully they saw that in context, I really couldn't participate in many activities as with the before mentioned family problems, I basically became a mother for my 3 younger siblings.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected:
What would you have done differently?:
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: WHAAAAAA I am so excited and still in shock. Good luck to all deferred students and RD people!
ACT (breakdown):35; 35 English 35 Math 33 Reading 35 Science
ACT superscore (breakdown):
SAT II:710 Physics 780 Math
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):92
Weighted GPA:96
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):20/202
AP (place score in parentheses):World History (4) English Language (4) U.S History (4) Physics B (5)
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chemistry, AP English Literature, AP Macro/Micro Economics, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Physics C Mechanics and E & M
Number of other EA applicants in your school:0 (first student to apply to MIT from my school in over 5 years)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):None! I was my schools Rensselaer medalist, AMC 12 school winner, and all county band member though
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):Academic League 9-12 (Captain) Math League 9-12 (Captain) SOS, English Honor Society, National Honor Society, Concert Band, Jazz Band
Job/Work Experience: Cashier for almost 2 years
Volunteer/Community service: ~100 Hours at local church
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects): Haha don't remember any of them
What You Do For Pleasure: I Don't remember
Department at MIT: I Don't Remember
What You Do That's Creative?:I Don't Remember
World You Come From: I Don't Remember
Significant Challenge: I Don't Remember
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1:I Didn't read.
Teacher Recommendation #2:I Didn't read.
Counselor Rec:I Didn't read.
Additional Rec:
Interview: O.K I guess, the guy was weird...
Art Supplement:
Other
Date Submitted App: I Don't remember
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type:Public
Ethnicity:Filipino/White/Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~200,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
Reflection
Strengths:Test Scores, Course rigor
Weaknesses:Class rank, 0 major awards/honors
Why you think you were rejected:No national awards or recognition
What would you have done differently?:Nothing!
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: Not sad at all! I got into Cornell University in the College of Engineering so I'll be going there anyway! I applied to MIT almost for the hell of it. Congratulations to all who got in!
SAT I superscore (breakdown): Same as above (1 sitting)
ACT (breakdown): N/A
ACT superscore (breakdown): N/A
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Physics, 800 US History, 720 World History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 5.something
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn't rank
AP (place score in parentheses): Computer Science A (5), Physics B (5), Microeconomics (5), US History (5), Calculus BC (5), Env. Science (5), Music Theory (5), English Language (5), World History (4)
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: too lazy to type
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 3...?
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
MOP x 2
USAMO Qualifier x 4
ARML, PUMaC, HMMT Top 10 indivs
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Math team (captain), Speech and Debate (Head of Debate, but we aren't very good; I've never actually placed anywhere), Tae Kwon Do (3rd degree black belt, assistant instructor)
Job/Work Experience: Note Taker, Private tutor
Volunteer/Community service:
~150 hours
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: Music (I play in a band), 7
Department at MIT: Math, 8
Personality Attribute?: Optimism, 7
World You Come From: My school, 7
Significant Challenge: Piano, 7
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1: Physics; he is an MIT alum, 8-9
Teacher Recommendation #2: USH/ AP English Language teacher (sophomore year), 7-8
Counselor Rec: No clue, probably pretty good
Additional Rec: Research mentor, probably pretty good
Interview: Pretty good, we talked for 2+ hours (he normally does ~90-minute interviews). We talked about hacks for ~20 minutes XD
Art Supplement:
None
Other
Date Submitted App: 10/...30?/11
State (if domestic applicant): NC
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Magnet
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: High
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
None
Reflection
Strengths: MOP
Weaknesses: Forgot to sign the FERPA waiver on one of my recs XD. Also I'm not a great writer.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Math awards
What would you have done differently?:
Not forget to sign the FERPA waiver XD
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:
WOOO! Congratulations to everybody who got in! To those who didn't, I'm sure some college will see you for what you are worth. Best of luck in RD!
Objective:
• SAT I (breakdown): 2250 (CR 740, M 800, W 710)
• SAT I superscore (breakdown):1 sitting
• ACT (breakdown): No
• ACT superscore (breakdown): No
• SAT II: Math II 800, Chemistry 800,
• Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4
• Weighted GPA: No
• Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Its 1/80, but we don't rank
• AP (place score in parentheses): 5 Calc 2
• IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
• Senior Year Course Load: 3 APs, 2 College
• Number of other EA applicants in your school: 1, my best friend (deferred)
• Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:
• Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): math club (Pres) , NHS (Tres), Research chemistry, Robotics, English Club
• Job/Work Experience: No
• Volunteer/Community service:Tutoring, library
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
• Essays (Include Subjects):
o What You Do For Pleasure: 9 Magic: I LOVE MAGIC
o Department at MIT: 5 Math: I hated that one
o What is the attribute you're most proud of? 8 Friendliness and adaptablility: I moved a lot, and it was easy for me to make friends
o World You Come From: 7 Traveling: Experience the outside
o Significant Challenge: 10 Combat illness: this affected me A LOT
o Other:
• Teacher Recommendation #1: English: 10, the teacher is great. She teaches about life. (No read)
• Teacher Recommendation #2:Math: 7 She listed the awards rather than my personality, and I dislike that a lot (No read)
• Counselor Rec: 10: Principle is awesome, taught me too. (No read)
• Additional Rec: 7 Research (might have over-exaggerated a bit)
• Interview: 7: decent
• Art Supplement: Magic performance, and drama performance from English club
Other
• Date Submitted App: 10/30/2011
• State (if domestic applicant): [Need College Confidential Gold Plus® to view]
• Country (if international applicant):
• School Type: Private
• Ethnicity: Chinese
• Gender: Male
• Income Bracket: I never meddle with that crap
• Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Fun, happy person
Reflection
• Strengths: Rec letters, personality
• Weaknesses:
• Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: because of my strengths
• What would you have done differently?: fix errors. I tried my hardest to complete the application, and flailed on the last step
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:
Congratulations!
Volunteer/Community service: Various projects ~ 200 hrs
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: Trivia - 7
Department at MIT: Biology - 7
World You Come From: Parents - 10
Significant Challenge: Something involving my soccer team - 9
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1: I'm sure it was wonderful
Teacher Recommendation #2: I'm sure it was wonderful
Counselor Rec: Probably fine
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: It went pretty well
Art Supplement: n/a
Other
Date Submitted App: 10/30
State (if domestic applicant): RI
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: Middle
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
Reflection
Strengths: Grades, Essays
Weaknesses: Extracurriculars, Lower math scores
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I don't really stand out as an applicant
What would you have done differently?: Done Science Olympiad
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: Oh well, hopefully I'll get accepted in the spring, and I have UChicago to hope for for Monday! Congrats to everyone that got in!
SAT I superscore (breakdown): 2300, 710 Reading, 800 Math, 790 Writing
ACT (breakdown): 34, eh... I don't remember to be honest.
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 790 Chem
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.96
Weighted GPA: 4.40
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parentheses): 5s on Calc AB, Chem, European History, Calc BC, Comp Sci, Physics C E+M, Physics C Mech, Art History, US History
Senior Year Course Load: APEL, Advanced Choir, Multivariable Calculus, Honor Choir, Robotics, AP Government, Civics+Econ, AP Biology
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 4
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Jewish Youth Group (President of chapter and Vice President of region), FIRST Robotics (Vice president and webmaster), Humanities tutor, Jewish and Israeli Culture Club (president), Science Olympiad (event coach)
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: Watch Operas (7)
Department at MIT: Course 6-3! (8)
What You Do That's Creative?: Start a Programming/Web-design business (9)
World You Come From: Jewish History/History connecting to my world (10)
Significant Challenge: Keeping the Jewish Sabbath (9)
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1: Honors English, Humanities, and AP Art History teacher. I tutor her students and we are great friends.
Teacher Recommendation #2: AP Computer Science teacher and robotics coach. I excelled in her class.
Counselor Rec: She knows our family and thinks highly of me.
Additional Rec:
Interview: It went well. We talked pretty naturally about our lives and why we love MIT.
Art Supplement: Included link to a web page I made of my online portfolio. It included a little "easter egg" that the committee found.
Other
State (if domestic applicant): California
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Upper-middle class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
Reflection
Strengths: I thought my application was serious when it needed to be, but also funny and playful. I think I entertained the committee several times.
Weaknesses: I probably could have made my essays a bit longer. They were all within the word limit.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I had 2 great jokes in the app and I think they helped bring my personality out. The essays themselves I think conveyed my passions very well.
What would you have done differently?: Nothing.
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: MIT '16!!! I can't wait to be at MIT next year for school! Make sure your app stands out. Everyone is special in some way, so make that "specialness" bleed out of the paper. To those of you who weren't happy with their decision: Don't worry. You are all still great students and will end up going to a great school.
My daughter got accepted
SAT1: 700 CR, 760 Math, 770 writing
SAT subject: math 2 740, chemistry 670, us history 750
Unweighted GPA: 3.93
weighted GPA : 4.12
AP statistics 4, AP world history 5 , AP us history 5, AP chemisty 3
Senior year AP courses: AP biology, AP calculus BC, AP psychology, AP human geography
Special academic awards:
national merit semifinalist, society of women engineers book award, AP scholar with honor
Athletic (tennis)awards:
most valuable player, most honorable player, 3 time all conference player, 5th in state
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:
I would complete the rest but I think it's irrelevant. Honestly the reason why I got in is because I set myself apart from other people, I had a great interview and I was memorable. Emphasize things you do that are unorthodox. They don't want yet another president of chess club, make your app stand out by doing things that are really unique (doesn't have to be a prodigy violinist or w/e) and emphasize how devoted you are to them.
SAT I (breakdown): 2310 Math: 780, CR: 770, Writing: 760
SAT I superscore (breakdown): Same as above
ACT (breakdown): N/A
ACT superscore (breakdown):
SAT II: Math II: 800, Physics: 730
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.959
Weighted GPA: 4.76
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn't do it.
AP (place score in parentheses): Not offered
IB (place score in parentheses): Not offered
Senior Year Course Load: Set curriculum
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 1
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):National Merit Commendation, NFL Distinction
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Student Government (redid the entire system), Science Bowl (captain/founder), Mentor, Tutor, Student Senator (before we changed the student gov. system), SPAM club (research club), Research at World-Class lab on a massive intercollegiate project, Choir that performed in Carnegie Hall, etc., more choir, Math research project, Key Club (founder), Drama
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service:Library, Temple, School Drama Set Building, helping on odd tasks around the city. probably over 100 hrs.
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: Friends (My life is defined by them) 7
Department at MIT: UROP (8)
What You Do That's Creative?: ??? This wasn't on the app was it?
World You Come From: Tiny, New Liberal Arts School (9)
Counselor Rec: 9. We know each other very well, small school.
Additional Rec: Research mentor (7-8)
Interview: Went very well, conversation flowed. She said MIT and every other school would be lucky to have me. I didn't even realize where time went.
Art Supplement:
Other
Date Submitted App: 10/28?
State (if domestic applicant): AZ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Small, charter
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: negative.
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
Reflection
Strengths: SATs, ECs, personality
Weaknesses: Essays, ECs, idk...
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I don't know. Wasn't right for the beginning of the climb when put together with the rest of the EA applicants.
What would you have done differently?: I ca't
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: I think Anna from the MIT blog said it best: Bow your head, steel your nerves, and remember that above all you are NOT in any way defined by the school you attend - quite the opposite. MIT is great, but only because of the people who come here; it's just a bunch of empty (kind of ugly) buildings otherwise. It is physically impossible to fit every student that the admissions office would like to fit. Therefore, some of you will go elsewhere. But that makes MIT less great, not you - and it makes other schools greater, as you sling your hard work and thoughtfulness and energy over your shoulder and bring them elsewhere, doing the things you would have done if you were here: namely, taking advantage of every resource at hand.
In the meantime, no fear. "Some things you can't control. If you fear them, then those things control you."-Jacen Solo
Last edited by molliebatmit; 12-18-2011 at 10:20 AM.
Reason: Fixed formatting.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Not ranked, but I'd guess top 5% of 400ish
AP (place score in parentheses): US Government (5), Spanish Language (3), Calculus BC (TBD), Microeconomics (TBD), Macroeconomics (TBD), Physics C (TBD)
Number of other EA applicants in your school: I think around 5
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Eagle Scout w/ bronze palm, various athletic-academic awards
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): NHS 2 yrs., Swimming 6 yrs., Water Polo 4 yrs., Track 2 yrs., Boy Scouts 7 yrs. (Asst. Patrol leader, Patrol Leader, Scribe, Bugler, Asst. Senior Patrol leader, Senior Patrol Leader), Marching Band 3 yrs., Concert Band 6 yrs.
Job/Work Experience: Mowing lawns (not really official job), Election inspector for local township 5 yrs.
Volunteer/Community service: Countless hours between tutoring, local community things, local government, church, school, etc., although the only thing I mentioned on my app was my Eagle Project (~400 man-hours).
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: I host LAN parties. (Maybe I should have chosen something I do on a more regular basis, but I liked the idea.)
Department at MIT: Electrical Engineering/Computer Science
What You Do That's Creative?:
World You Come From: isolated by sports teams for liking computers and not fitting the stereo-typical "jock" mentality.
Significant Challenge: Finishing my Eagle Scout project for a deadline. (~80 hours of work in 1 week).
I would say that my essays were pretty solid. I think my ideas behind them were fairly original, although my writing and eloquence was probably average for MIT. They felt good at the time of writing them, but of course now that I look back I feel like I could have tweaked them (as I'm sure most deferees do). Numerically, I'd say 7/10 for essays overall.
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1: Physics (Honors for junior year & AP for senior). I'd say that the teacher knows me very well academically and will probably vouch for me in that aspect, but not all that well personally. I gave her an extremely detailed list of examples to pull from to write the letter before school started in September, but she took until November to write it, and I did not get to see it.
Teacher Recommendation #2: English (H. American Lit. sophomore, composition and readings in Lit. for junior). I'd say that the teacher also knows me very well academically, and decently well personally. I also gave her an extremely detailed list of examples to pull from to write the letter before school started in September. I did not get to see this letter either.
Counselor Rec: She knows me only through grades. I have no idea what kind of letter she wrote, but like my teacher rec's, I gave her a detailed list of examples.
Additional Rec: None (although maybe I should have)
Interview: I'd say it went well, although it was extremely short. He asked me a list of questions that he had written down and took shorthand notes of some of the things I said. I asked him some questions back, but I don't feel like we truly got into any back-and-forth conversation. Looking back, I REALLY wish that I had brought up some other personal things that the interviews are really for, like that I built my own computer or that I had taught myself some simple programming languages. I don't think that I even said anywhere that I have scoliosis, despite being active year-round in sports.
Art Supplement: Nope.
Other
Date Submitted App: 10/21/11
State (if domestic applicant): MI
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public, well-known in the area and pretty competitive
Ethnicity: While
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Upper class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None. Probably a big downfall in that respect.
Reflection
Strengths: Essay Topics, Extra-curriculars, Course load, and GPA.
Weaknesses: Test scores, no prestigious competitions, Essay writing.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: It could be a lot of things, and I really wish I knew. My test scores are obviously not quite on-par, my EC interview probably did not have enough of the tidbits that I wanted to pass-on, I don't know what my teachers and counselor wrote in their letters of rec, and even though I tried to involve passion into my essays, I feel like I didn't do a very good job now that I look back.
What would you have done differently?: I jumped in the college admissions process late. I did not know what the NMSQT was, so I didn't so it. I should have started taking the ACT earlier so I could have gotten a better feel for it and done better. I could have even studied for the SAT IIs a little more so that I could have gotten 800/800 instead of 780/770. As for my essays, I don't know. I feel like it was really the best job I could have done on the topics provided, but I also think that I should have used the "additional information" section to write some more about myself.
Other Factors: none.
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: I really wanted to get into MIT. In fact, I was abhorring the entire college admissions process until this summer when my family and I by chance took a tour of MIT while we were in Boston. This was the point when my jaw dropped and I finally knew where I wanted to go. (in fact, Chris was a huge part in my inspiration because of his admissions presentation). It pains me deeply that I got deferred, even though I knew I had an astronomically low chance of getting in. I am going to try to put all of the things listed here in my mid-year report, as well as try to better demonstrate my innovation for RA. After that, I guess all I can do is hope and pray.
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Chemistry, 800 Physics (First try, all the same day. Didn't put physics on application, but submitted)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9 (B's in Freshman year)
Weighted GPA: 4.9
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): ~30/560
AP (place score in parentheses): Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Physics B - 5, English Language and Composition - 3
Senior Year Course Load: AP Psychology, Biology, Environmental Science, Statistics, and English Literature, and other graduation requirements
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 1, also deferred.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Academic Excellence in Calculus, Intro to Engineering, Physics, and AP Chemistry (School award given to an exemplary student), 2nd place in a local math competition, Best Dressed
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
In School: Science Club (President), NHS (Tutoring Coordinator), Mu Alpha Theta (Sergeant at Arms)
Own Activities: Build lasers, Compose techno music, Play recreational soccer
Job/Work Experience: Research & Design associate for local Solar Thermal Business
Volunteer/Community service: 200+ hours volunteering as camp counselor, 30+ hours tutoring students
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: Play my synthesizer - 8
Department at MIT: Materials Science - 9
Aspect of Personality: Curiosity - 7
World You Come From: Giving and taking - 7
Significant Challenge: Building my first laser - 9
Other: Short paragraph on why I can't dual-enroll, and included links to my blog, which details many of my projects, and my Soundcloud, which has my techno compositions.
Teacher Recommendation #1: Physics teacher. I was his favorite student, but English isn't his native language.
Teacher Recommendation #2: French teacher. She offered to write the letter!
Counselor Rec: Didn't know counselor before asking for letter, but she ended up loving my activities, interests, and personality.
Additional Rec: Counselor submitted a rap song about apartheid I made for a project.
Interview: Wasn't really an interview. Talked for an hour, and he had me answer interview questions via email.
Other
Date Submitted App: 10/31 (10/30 past midnight)
State (if domestic applicant): Florida
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large (2500 students)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$60,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Dad went to MIT, but I doubt this played any role in the decision.
Reflection
Strengths: Extra curricular activities, diversity of interests
Weaknesses: Definitely my reading SAT score. I have not a reading disability, but an eye disorder which makes it difficult to read, hence the low reading score. This was mentioned in my counselor's recommendation.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: No idea.
What would you have done differently?: Perhaps make my essays more passionate, they seemed pedantic.
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: Many in my school regard me to be the quintessential MIT guy, the smartest person in the school. I basically taught myself how to solder and build circuits in the 7th grade, and with that I became very experienced with practical engineering. I know this sounds egotistic, but it's difficult to put in perspective how someone could be a better applicant since I have never met a student my age who is smarter than I am. Regardless, I respect MIT's decision, congratulate everyone who got accepted, and hope for the best for everyone else
SAT I superscore (breakdown): 2080 (only took it once)
ACT (breakdown): Didn't take
ACT superscore (breakdown)idn't take
SAT II: Physics 770 Math 2 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.78
Weighted GPA: 3.98
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Definitely top 10% probably top 5%, school doesn't report
AP (place score in parentheses): Different system in Israel, I took the most rigorous math, physics, English and electronics possible
IB (place score in parentheses): not offered in Israel
Senior Year Course Load: tough I guess
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 0. I think I'm the first student from my school to be admitted into MIT
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
none
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Sports Boarding school, national volleyball team (captain),
Job/Work Experience: 3 years military service, 4 years playing in premier volleyball league, tutored math and English, other various work experience.
Volunteer/Community service:
none I guess...
Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
Essays (Include Subjects):
What You Do For Pleasure: Wrote about reading, what a weird prompt, this was the weakest essay of mine
Department at MIT: Aero/Astro, wrote about planes being a life-long passion, solid essay (7.5)
What You Do That's Creative?: I wrote about leadership on a volleyball team.(8)
World You Come From: Israel- growing up through two wars (9)
Significant Challenge: playing volleyball for a Palestinian team (10) my best essay
Other:
Teacher Recommendation #1: Physics teacher- I'm sure it was good
Teacher Recommendation #2: History teacher- must have been amazing
Counselor Rec: short note from the principal
Additional Rec: My commander in the military. Excellent rec
Interview: Went very well I think
Art Supplement:
Other
Date Submitted App: 10/31
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Israel
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
recruited athlete, older applicant (21),
Reflection
Strengths: Being older I had a lot of work and life experience which I emphasized. good essays, I couldn't have improved them any more.
Weaknesses: scores weren't amazing for MIT.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Probably because of the volleyball and the uniqueness of my application.
What would you have done differently?:
nothing!
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:
I'm on top of the world. I couldn't be any happier. I was sure that at best I would be deferred. I wish all the deferees and rejectees the best of luck, I'm sure you're apps were just as good if not better.
)
idn't take
