<p>Reality check - 1) no one here has anything more than an opinion (including me). Note that I did not use the adjective “informed”. Caveat emptor.
2) By their overall admission statistics, your SAT scores are too low - see [Test</a> Requirements & Scores for Massachusetts Institute of Technology](<a href=“http://www.collegeview.com/schools/massachusetts-institute-of-technology/testscores]Test”>http://www.collegeview.com/schools/massachusetts-institute-of-technology/testscores).
3) Check with your HS guidance office on school and system-wide stats for students in general and particularly those of similar demographics as yours. The only authoritative opinion would be MIT’s admissions office, but they probably aren’t talking. I am confident, however, that regardless of how much on-campus diversity they seek (where diversity is defined internationally), they are looking for top-calibre students with a passion for science and technology. Who may be from the South Bronx as easily as, say, a private school in Westechseter or Connecticut.<br>
4) MIT is a reach school for EVERYONE. Admission is hyper-competitive (approaching single digit percentages) and even the students with 4.0+ GPA and 2300+ SATs are not shoe-ins. They look at much more than the raw numbers.
5) fd55 may or may not be ■■■■■■■■. However, an MIT education has been likened to trying to take a drink of water from a fire hydrant (or maybe the outflow from $NAME<em>OF</em>SOME<em>ENORMOUS</em>DAM). Aka “EVERYONE here is SMART!”. (Which does not mean it can’t be fun)
6) I can immediately think of several schools in NY State with strong science/engineering programs that I’d keep them in my “read more” pile if I was reviewing resumes for job candidates. If those tuition levels are tolerable, add some of the neighboring state’s flagship public sci/tech schools.<br>
7) Don’t underrate your in-state system. I am not familiar enough with SUNY to say if a particular campus is good bad or indifferent re: science and engineering. A strong undergraduate record there is a fine basis for future employment or graduate work (if that’s in your plans) at MIT or it’s peers.</p>
<p>It really comes down to your interest and level of passion in science/engineering. Only you can decide if it’s worth the shot. And don’t focus on one school, no matter what their reuptation. You can commence a rewarding career in the field with an education from any of many different schools - it’s more what you put into it than the name on the diploma (although the name will certainly help). MIT does not have a monopoly on a quality STEM education. Good luck.</p>