Chance Me: MIT and Cornell - Space Sciences (NASA SEES Intern, Rocketry Team, MA Public School, 4.0 GPA)

Chance Me / Match Me
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1

Demographics

  • US domestic
  • State/Location of residency: MA
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public
    • My school never shows us any out-of-school opportunities to pursue our interests so I had to find my own opportunities

Intended Major

  • MIT: Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
  • Cornell: Probably Astronomy

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.915/5.3
  • Class Rank: 12/261 (top 4%)
  • ACT/SAT Scores:
    • SAT: 700 English, 780 Math
    • ACT: 35 English, 33 Reading, 34 Science, 31 Math (but I am retaking in Oct to get at least a 35)

HS coursework

  • English: Honors grades 9-10, AP Lang grade 11, Honors Poetry grade 12
  • Math: Honors grades 9-11, AP BC Calc grade 12 (that’s the highest my school offers)
  • Science: Biology Honors, Chemistry Honors, AP Chemistry, AP Physics C: Mechanics
  • History and social studies: CP 9-11, Honors 11 (US and World History)
  • Language other than English: Honors Spanish 9-11, AP Spanish V grade 12
  • Visual or performing arts: Theatrical Set Design, Jazz Choir
  • Other academic courses: AP Comp Sci Principles, AP Comp Sci A, Comp Sci II, Intro to Comp Sci, Engineering Honors, Emergency Medical Responder, gym classes

Awards

  • St. Lawrence University Book Award
  • AP Scholar
  • College Board Top School Recognition Award
  • 2023 DECA Districts 6th Place on Hotel and Lodging Management
  • 2024 DECA Districts 1st Place on Hotel and Lodging Management
  • 2023 Girls Tennis Division II Champions

Extracurriculars

  • NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) Internship 2025, Moon and Moon-to-Mars Team
    • Chosen 82/3000. Designed long-term lunar research habitat, successful lunar regolith seed growth; AGU conference ‘25; research paper
  • Student Leader & Advocate, Youth Action Advisory Board
    • Attended statehouse meetings; reduced school substance use by 10%; presented youth health survey findings to community; organize school mental health events.
  • Co-Captain, Girls Tennis Team, Division II
    • 2023 State Champs; Varsity Letter '25; direct summer youth clinic for 20+ kids; undefeated 2023 & 24.
  • Organizer of a Rocket Science STEM Program for Local Elementary Schoolers
    • Taught rockets, STEM challenges, hydroponics & teamwork
  • Treasurer & Data Manager, Rocketry Club
    • Participate in the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC), built & launched 30+ rockets; manage team budget for purchase/deposits and launch data
  • Co-President, Math & Chemistry Tutor, Peer Tutoring Program
    • Improved tutee scores by 135%; organized group studies for AP & Honors classes
  • Mathematics Team
    • Placed 4th out of ~15 on team; ranked top 5 in Division; competed in monthly meets
  • Science Team
    • 1st place in Nuclear Chem; ranked top 5 in league

Essays/LORs/Other

  • LOR: Precalc Teacher, AP Lang Teacher, Research Mentor from NASA SEES (Scientist with PhD from NASA)
  • Personal Statement: Paper cranes and how they made me confident with belonging to a new school
  • MIT short responses:
    • Education question: Going to a school in a different country for one semester in 8th grade for family reasons
    • Collaboration question: Theater (might change it though but I am a theater kid)
    • Challenge question: When I had to step in for a Varsity position as a JV player
    • Pleasure question: Paper cranes or calligraphy because I am crafty but I might do theater if I switch the other response

Schools

  • MIT: EA
  • Cornell: RD
2

Great record - two higher REA he’s. The 35 ACT is great but he’s a higher math can help. Still both are reaches - just because they are for all.

If you want large schools, CU Boulder and U Arizona are top shelf in planetary science - they’d be great safeties for you. ASU as well.

U Rochester and Florida Texh would make great private school safeties - although not as reputed in the field as the large publics - in case you need more.

I agree - you need a higher test But your 780 Math is strong. I might take the SAT in hopes of boosting English too. I say that because 780 is the 25th percentile at MIT while a 35 is on the ACT That will be a hard lift from a 31 .

Also, you didn’t mention cost. Have you run the NPCs ? These are $400k schools for - I’d check career outcomes. Cornell has a robust dashboard but even over multiple years doesn’t have enough data to say.

I assume you’ll go grad school…but I found a salary on Purdue’s table - had none for 2024 but $52K in 2023 - so - just so you see a potential outcome vs. investment if you are full pay.

Take your shot - but I think Cornell is your better odds but given they have no career data, how robust is their astronomy program? I might research more - and make sure you can afford - and what to afford these schools. Lots of great programs in this arena.

I’d say MIT is a no - as of now - and Cornell - hard to say but you never know. You’ll be in range I think - but yes, your test is low in one area on each and that might be what keeps you out.

Best of luck to you.

3

Cornell is very strong in astronomy and astrophysics. They have their own observatory and a very robust offering of courses.

OP -
Fun fact - Carl Sagan was a professor at Cornell for nearly 30 years. I got to hear him lecture when I was a student before he passed away.

For career information you can email: as_careers@cornell.edu