<p>The OVERALL question is:
Can habitual B’s in math be forgiven by outstanding extracurricular math and science performance (independent and unique stuff, not like USAMO) and high test scores?</p>
<p>My brother is applying to college next year, and his dream school is MIT. He’s captained most all math/sci competitions at his school, has participated in all of them and has taught himself well beyond his curriculum. He has a youtube channel and a website where he teaches advanced math which isn’t covered by khan academy and the like (vector calculus and above). He’s done this all based on the MIT open course ware which is available online. He has a lot of unique math and logic events which he’s organized at his school.</p>
<p>Perhaps most importantly, he invented a device which is essentially like google glasses, which is also demonstrated on his youtube channel and website. It’s a really unique thing and I’ve never seen anything like it. It looks like a rough, promising device which could inspire future inventions and lead to things like it being put on the shelves in the near future (3 - 5 years).</p>
<p>He sincerely loves MIT, but the high school system just isn’t for him. His essay is a highly descriptive bit about his love and appreciation for math and science. He’s gotten systematic B’s in math, one B every first semester of a math class and I think he may have gotten a C as a freshman.</p>
<p>Would his luck change if he gets an A in the college chemistry course (his intended major) which he’s taking the 1st semester of senior year? Does it look good if he expresses his intent to take a chemistry class both semesters of senior year, even if they don’t get the grades for the second? </p>
<p>He has a 2310 SAT I (790 math). His SAT Math II was a 780 and his SAT Physics was a 780. His SAT Chemistry was an 800.</p>
<p>He also has the typical but great EC’s; an internship at JPL, a huge amount of comm. service + an award for that, etc.</p>
<p>Habitual B’s are rather concerning… what were the causes? I doubt it had anything to do with slacking off, seeing his amazingly accelerated courses. Yes the A in the college chemistry course is going to help his position–but then what won’t? If there is a special explanation for the B’s then I’d mention them, but if there isn’t, then try to balance it out with other accomplishments. Also, it would be helpful if you mentioned UW/W GPA. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if I would mention the Youtube video, but I’d try to show the breadth and depth of my knowledge somehow if he is so deeply learned in chemistry. Also, try patent the invention or something, or submit it in a science fair; make it recognized. That’s all the advice I could give.</p>
<p>Test scores are very decent btw. EC’s are also great. He has a great chance in my opinion, but keep in mind that it’s really a crapshoot for everyone.</p>
<p>He has a 3.83 UW GPA, as he had some B’s in English. We’re not sure about weighted GPA (not reported on our grade website) but he’s a full IB diploma candidate and also took AP classes that are mixed into the IB diploma at our school.</p>
<p>He had been diagnosed with depression in 9th grade due to a number of very serious addiction issues which our eldest brother had, in addition to the breast cancer which my mother developed and a divorce which was planned to happen but never did. The turmoil never really ended until a few months ago, around which time a panel of psychotherapists judged him to be neurotypical (no longer depressed). </p>
<p>He’s been talking to me about telling his Chemistry teacher how much the interest he held in the study has helped him overcome clinical depression, but wonders if it might be too personal to tell the teacher; they are supposed to have obligations to the state and if they heard about our older brother they might overreact and report it to the principal, which is the last thing my family needs right now. He will, of course, write about it in his essay.</p>
<p>The thing is, I’m not sure they’ll care when there are plenty of applicants who have been much worse off than we have been and have gotten better grades than my brother has. I’ve been told that the story of our eldest brother has seemed “too convenient” in that it more or less perfectly explains why my brother has gotten habitual B’s.</p>
<p>Sorry latitude, I’d rather not be identified. Look up “google glass” – it’s a prototype product by google. Now imagine that instead of the interface being voice controlled, it has a graphical user interface and is controlled by the movement of your eye.</p>
<p>That’s actually a valid explanation, but he really needs to show signs of improvement or other achievements or indications that demonstrate he has overcome it. I’m sorry for the harsh and unforgiving issues he had to deal with.</p>
<p>He could say that he had family and personal issues that lead to B’s, but later he can try to improve it somehow. Colleges do look at senior year course load and the grades students get in them. </p>
<p>Yes I’d encourage him to open up to his Chemistry teacher, don’t be shy about talking over personal things like that, it’ll help him/her give insight into his character and personality that could later be explained and elaborated in any recommendation letters he/she might write. This is of course assuming his Chemistry teacher is someone who cares for students.</p>
<p>Also, remember there are other great schools in sciences and in engineering. Research areas specific to his major, see how other schools compare. Hope everything goes well, and sorry for the rather tardy response!</p>