(MIT) Senior with B's second semester in both math classes

leedleloodlo
Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:48:34 +0000

Prospective high school student looking to apply to MIT, but am feeling unsure whether I should even apply [anymore].

I think I have some above-average stats beyond my grades: I have a 36 ACT, I am a national merit scholar, and I’ve had internships and job experience pertinent to my major. In addition, I think my interview went splendidly. But my achievement in the classroom is less than stunning.

Before senior year, I had a 4.44 GPA, 3.78 unweighted (not that great). I had received B’s and C’s in Algebra 2 as a freshman, but have shown an upward trend since then, ending junior year with an A+ in AP Calculus AB, and a 5 on the AP test. However, my senior year I wanted to challenge myself even more, so I decided to take two math classes (statistics and calculus BC, both AP). Unfortunately, I could not handle the rigor and ended up with a B in both of them.

I know senior year should be a reflection of your best work, the culmination of everything you’ve learned during high school. I fear that, by overextending myself at this final hurdle, I have reduced my chances of being admitted to a top school to 0 (and for MIT specifically, who emphasize mathematics and science grades, this would look especially bad).

What can I do now? What are my chances at this point? Should I even apply anymore?