Avogadro101

Hey,


I am an 18 yr old Indian from Dubai. Currently majoring in Aerospace Engineering in my second Semester. I have a 3.8 GPA and 2250 on the SAT.
I plan to apply as a transfer to MIT for the 4th Semester in the same Major.

I am also a pianist with the a symphony Orchestra.

My interests are varied, but tend to revolve around Music, Math and Planes.

Since transfer admissions are known to be extremely competent, what could I possibly do to put myself in a better light?

I do not really have a lot of " opportunities" for research and stuff like that in the UAE.

Where do I stand ??

AKiss20

Transfer admissions at MIT are notoriously difficult (I think current rate is like 5-6%?, don't quote me on that) and international transfers even more so. Transferring for aerospace for your 4th semester is also difficult in that one of the core classes for Aerospace is Unified Engineering which counts as two classes each semester for your entire sophomore year (aka it counts as 4 classes in total). Transferring for 4th would have you missing the first half of Unified, and I don't think MIT would accept many courses as a substitute.

If you want to try to transfer, I would say try and go for it after the end of this semester for next fall (although they might be closed already, not sure).

My 2 very worthless cents

Avogadro101

Hey Akiss20,

it says on the MIT website, that for transfer students, actual credit transfer will only be " discussed" once a decision has been made.

So, basically does that mean I would have to repeat those courses? Actually I would not mind repeating them as long as I get into the college !

Thanks for your reply. Its appreciated.

P.S. I could have applied this fall... but MIT admissions clearly states that they need you to finish atleast 3 semesters at your first institution before you can transfer. So no point in me applying for the 3rd sem. The 4th is the earliest I can apply.

AKiss20

Well I am not a student at MIT yet (start this fall) but my guess is that your best plan for an aero/astro degree from them is to try and get in for not this fall, but fall after that. You need unified engineering as a whole to get the degree, and since unified is a highly specialized course to the MIT curriculum, I doubt you can get credit to place out of it, but I am not really sure. You can't start unified in the 4th term as you need 16.001 and 16.002 (the first half of the year-long unified course) to take 16.003/16.004 (the second half).

I don't think youd be able to graduate with a degree in aero/astro in under 5 years of total undergrad because while you can transfer most GIR credit probably (I am not sure how transfer HASS credit works) I doubt any credit towards the actual degree will be transferable and Aero/astro requires the most units of any major to graduate. Even on the traditional 4-yr degree track it requires a few semesters of 5 classes, so my guess is you'd be looking at graduating with the class of 2013.

Interestingly, if this is actually what happens, you will be in my unified class as I am going for aero/astro and am class of 2013

Again, all this could be completely false, this is what I think is true, I dont know any of this.

Mollie, does Adam know how this works?

Avogadro101

First a little background about my current college.

We are not required to take courses that would seem similar to MIT's GIR's.
NO CHEM and BIO for me ... SO I would probably have to repeat them too. Im currently doing Courses like Engineering Thermodynamics, Mechancics of Flight, Applied mechanics, Multivariable calculus...

Would be great to see you in MIT and I would not mind an extra year at MIT. ( Infact I would love it ! )

Although Im really worried about things like the essays etc... I think Im gonna follow Cristen C ( frm the admissions blog ) and really put my heart into my essay.

Hey btw... Congratualtions on getting accepted. You must be one brilliant mind !!

Would be great if you could give me some advice.

AKiss20

Hey sorry for late reply, using this as a break from writing umpteen European History essays (grr, some spring break).

Those courses may or may not get credit at MIT, I really don't know. Best bet would to be call the admissions office and/or registrar to see what is transferable or not.

Who wouldn't want an extra year at MIT (apart from the price tag ha) <g>

About the essays, I felt that of my application they were the only things that I could really change at that point. All my ECs and what not had already been decided, my scores, my grades etc. I really tried my best with my essays and chose to both write about very personal topics as well as showing my passion and curiosity. The essays are one last way that MIT admissions can get to know you, use them to your advantage.

And thanks! Hope to see you in unified! If you have any questions, PM me and I'll try to answer them to whatever extent I can. Mind you, I am still an ignorant prefrosh who knows nothing

Cheers mate!

Avogadro101

Hey !

I sent you a message... Im not sure if you received it !

Incase you have not ... tell me .. I will resend it.

I just hope you received it .. cuz like a lot of writing went into that message...

But I can write again !