MIT/Harvard

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Yeeah, I know, another one. But I think mine is a bit of a unique situation, and I want to see what you all think. Here’s my stuff:
First off, I’m a junior.
GPA: 4.0 weighted, I don’t know about unweighted(I know, not that high for these two, but keep reading)
SAT: 2350
SAT II Math II: 790
SAT II Physics and US History pending
APs: AP World History (10th grade), AP US, AP Computer Science A, AP Physics B, AP French Language, AP Calc BC. These are just about the most possible that I could be taking in my school. I am also taking IB Theory of Knowledge, and will most likely be taking 4 or 5 APs senior year.
Extracurriculars:
In school, revived Invisible Children club, started a Bible discussion group, captain of the Ultimate Frisbee club, Peer leader (I give presentations monthly to freshmen about bullying), Academic league
Outside of school: Teen group, probably about 5 hours a week, occaisionally giving lessons. Founder of Project Care, a homeless outreach project in Manhattan in which teens collect donations and bring them into the city. Currently in the process of starting H2O Haiti, a national group in which teens from all over start clubs in their schools to raise $20,000 by the end of the year to install a water purifier in Haiti. 2 week service project to Dallas in summer of '09, San Diego in '10. This summer, I am leading one of these in Dallas, getting trained in Philadelphia, and serving in Haiti (not related to H2O Haiti). I am also soon (most likely after AP’s) going to be organizing an event to fundraise for a hospital in Cambodia (long story there).
I also tutor in math twice a week. That’s my only work experience though.</p>

<p>So MIT would definitely be my number one choice. However, my science grades aren’t quite up there. I didn’t do too well in chem last year, and im probably averaging an A- in physics this year (although my test grades would easily say A+. It’s complicated). I’m doing Ok in calc, probably averaging an A-. And that’s why I have Harvard up there, because I feel like I would stand a better shot there. And US news says they have the number 1 physics program in the country (tied with MIT), and that’s a definite possible major for me. </p>

<p>So there I am, I hope I’m not forgetting anything. I know that nobody is ever guaranteed to get into either of them, but do you think I have any shot? I’m only posting this because I am getting a lot of mixed reports when I bring this up. I spoke to a Harvard student and he said that I definitely stood a shot, and an MIT student said likewise. Buth everyone I hear about getting accepted has some ridiculously good GPA, which I definitely do not.</p>

2

<p>You definitely have a chance, your ECs are amazing and I think that will really put you over the edge. Just make sure you have amazing ACT/SAT scores!</p>

3

<p>Wow thanks! Yeah, I’m not planning on taking the ACT’s based on my SAT score, but I will definitely put in the effort in the SAT II’s. Thank you!</p>

4

<p>4.0 W is very low assuming 5.0 scale. Standardized are good. EC’s very good. You clearly stand a shot at those schools, but you don’t have a clear sci/math focus, which is generally almost taken for granted at MIT. Both schools are a tossup at this point. I would consider them reaches for you. Will you be doing full IB next year?</p>

<p>Chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1120270-preemptive-chance.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1120270-preemptive-chance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Oh, sorry, 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. So, 4=A. No, no IB, I was just really interested in the class. I’m goin all AP though. Thank you!</p>

6

<p>MIT does nt weigh ECs with a social conscience too heavily (at least not when you read about their admittees). You do have a good chance in Harvard or other ivies but you do need a clear focus on how you organize and present them with a real EC theme focus. It is better to spend 500 hours working on a specific cause then spending 100 hours each on 5 causes with no specific end result (kind of makes you a volunteer).</p>

<p>Here is a story of a stanford student - she volunteered at a cancer ward where death was common place. Instead of just putting in her hours, she started using her art talent to draw portraits of dying patients and presented them to the families for keepsake. She published a book of these portraits after she joined Stanford.</p>

<p>This was the story provided a Stanford counselor when someone asked about the value of volunteering.</p>

7

<p>Hmm, that’s really interesting. So, using my own personal talents instead of just doing a bunch of stuff that anyone could do. I really like that, colleges aside. Thank you!</p>

8

<p>I would nt put it as using a talent. It is making a superior difference in regular volunteer position that stands out as being thoughtful but in this case it involved talent. She could have taken pictures and given them to the families and it would have been equally making a difference as opposed standing around in a hospital waiting to be called on to help and clocking volunteer hours.</p>

9

<p>Ohh I gotcha, yeah I definitely don’t want to just be a volunteer. Thanks for the input!</p>