Ok, so, I recently started my 9th grade year, and it actually started kind of badly because I was on vacation whenever I was supposed to get registered for school, and I even had to leave early in order to get registered on time - meaning Astronomy was already filled up, so I was placed in 3D Art which was one of the three or four classes left I could take.
Anyways, after looking at others’ 9th grade schedules on this site it made my schedule look absolutely terrible. It turns out my school doesn’t offer that many honors classes, and I don’t really know how they deal with AP classes. So there’s one problem.
And that is such a bad problem because my lifelong goal is to get into MIT. Yeah, you’re probably rolling your eyes right now because I seem like one of those people who know they have such low chances yet still make it their goal anyways, but I’m being completely serious. I’ve done a ton of research on the university, and have an idea of the major I’d take there (computer engineering).
I’m new to the whole “take this take that class” sort of thing, and I didn’t even know what the difference was between and undergrad school and a graduate school until a few weeks ago.
So, I have one request: I need help. I don’t really know what to do, and provided I made above a 95 for nearly every subject in middle school (with the exception of 6th grade literature) and was invited to take the ACT in seventh grade (though I got a measly 20, still fretting over that), I want to know what steps I should take to get into a computer and engineering-focused college such as MIT, and if my high school not having a plethora of rigorous classes such as honors chemistry in 9th grade makes a huge difference when it comes to applying for a college.
FWIW I’m not rolling my eyes over your MIT dream. I can totally relate to the whole “I’m blown away by everybody else, I’m not going to make it” mentality. This girl who’s in Science Bowl with me took the SAT last year and scored pretty well in addition to getting a 4 on the APCS exam. She was in eighth grade…
Colleges won’t fault you for not taking honors classes that aren’t offered, so you’re fine on that front. Just study your math and science, but know your English, foreign language, and current events as well. Get involved in what interests you.
Everybody else on this site seems infatuated with “How to be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport, so read it? (idk, I’ve never read it). The MIT Admissions Blogs and admissions website have a ton of great info on what to do in high school, but don’t make high school all about college.
Best of luck, and there’s a Class of 2019 thread with a ton of other freshmen if you’re interested.
Speaking as a current MIT student, you shouldn’t tailor your courses/ECs/activities just for possible admission into MIT. You should take a rigorous courseload (note: this doesn’t mean take 20/20 APs) and pick activities/ECs that you think you’d enjoy. And have fun while doing so.
In terms of course rigor, you will be evaluated based on what your HS offers. For example, if your school offers 20 APs and you didn’t take a single one, that might count against you. If they don’t offer any, then you’re not really expected to take them.
If you wish to major in course 6, having some prior programming background (as well as a strong math background) can help.
^ I have some programming knowledge, namely Java (and OO languages in general) and luckily I’m the type of person where math just “clicks” with me, and it’s always been pretty easy - so I think I’m good there
I don’t know why, but my browser (or the site)'s being glitchy and won’t let me reply (or I’m missing something)…
Anyways, awesomepolyglot, thanks for the response, and math and science have always been my two best subjects, and for the first semester of 8th grade I had a 99 average in science but it unfortunately got bumped down to a 98 by the end of the year. And in math, my algebra teacher recognizes me as a good student, and told me she noticed the current material I am being taught is really easy, and now gives me the worksheet for the period to do while the class takes notes so I can do other things (I’ve gotten 100 on most of the tests so far).
I think you are fine, by far. From a sophomore, you’ve been thinking about your future at least two years before I even started thinking about mine. For me, I sort of blossomed in 9th grade. All those grades turned out something, and it will definitely work out for you too; with time already put in your interests, you will craft something special(according to the people on the thread I started… they are wiser than I). You’ve seemed to spent many hours more than I have on anything worthwhile, with impeccable grades.
Yeah, everyone seems to be recommending Newport; I bought the ebook today and he’s already made me change my mind about high school. He’ll talk about the importance of a deep interest, and since you already have one, its easy(according to others)!
*I don’t want to mislead you, and I’m just posting my interpretation of the responses on my thread…
