<p>Now that ldgirl is a UNC-CH alum, I’m wading back in here at CC on behalf of ldboy. He’s certain about his undergrad major…chemical engineering (with intentions to go biomedical at grad level) and has really only shown enthusiasm for a few schools. Locally, UT-Cockrell of course. MIT is another college he feels strongly about. However, I have my concerns. </p>
<p>Without going into the gory details he has solid scores (perfect math, near perfect others), solid grades (summa/top 3%), solid coursework (abt 10 APs). He qualifies as URM.</p>
<p>But his extracurriculars have nothing to do with math or science. He’s a drumline kid. Captain of his line, part of an extremely good 5A school fall marching and winter indoor drumline that has won state level competitions across Texas. These kids drill every day for several hours a day throughout the school year. In fact, they’ve been practicing for this season since late July. He is also a classical percussionist, very skilled in marimba and timpani and has made TMEA region bands, won scholarships and other individual accolades. Hopefully not jinxing things when I say I think he may be competitive for state band this year.</p>
<p>I’d love the MIT alums/adcoms and student peers to tell me what they think of applicants like this. He doesn’t have much time for other extracurriculars or a job. These drumline kids work hard and long at what they do. He does have community service through his two honor societies. But our school doesn’t have large math or science clubs. He hasn’t participated in math competitions, though I think he would probably do well. </p>
<p>He had wanted to apply EA, but the month of October is filled with weekend marching competitions, so he will have to postpone SAT subjects to November. Not sure if he should push for EA or chill and wait for RD. Not even sure if MIT is the school for him.</p>
<p>All input welcome. Don’t want to send him down this MIT path, if he is out of his element or league…so I’d love to hear some opinions.</p>
<p>I came from a similar science-lacking background - and while it can be a disadvantage, it definitely didn’t make MIT the wrong choice for me. It certainly adds an extra challenge, though.</p>
<p>Is lack-of-background your only concern, or is he not interested in science?</p>
<p>Actually he loves science and math…currently in AP Calc BC and AP Bio. He tried to add a second AP science, but his schedule is pretty inflexible because he has to be scheduled into percussion at a certain time and that time conflicts with the other AP science class times. I think his lack of math and science extracurriculars is primarily because, over the years, drumline and band just gobbled up more and more of his time. I just wondered if concentrated interest in one non-science/non-math extracurricular would make him a less competitive candidate.</p>
<p>Actually, most of my friends at MIT did non-math/science stuff for their main high school extracurriculars. My husband was a competitive freestyle mogul skiier, my best friend was heavily involved in food bank and soup kitchen volunteering, and my husband’s best friend played football and hockey. My ECs were marching band (flag corps), show choir, and theatre. (Incidentally, I applied RD for the same reason as your son – my marching band went to Macy’s that fall, and I was a lead in the fall play, and scheduling an interview and writing essays during that time was just a laughable proposition for me.)</p>
<p>There are a lot of MIT applicants who have math/science-related ECs, just because that’s a natural fit for many people in terms of interests. But there are many other applicants and admits who don’t have access to high-level math/science ECs, or who simply want to do something fun and unrelated to their college major while in high school.</p>
<p>There is a degree to which you have to show competence in science. If you don’t do science ECs, avoid science classes at all cost, score low on science standardized tests, etc… you’re not showing that you’d survive the GIRs at MIT.</p>
<p>(Also, MIT won’t hold lack of opportunity against you - you mentioned that there wasn’t much at his school.)</p>
<p>Showing dedication to something, though… I think that’s a quality Admissions likes ^^</p>
<p>Thanks piper and mollie…very encouraging words. ldboy seems convinced this school would be a good fit. He’s actually done the research and I’m just catching up. :-)</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback (and checking out the One and Only MIT band next). </p>
<p>MITChris: Regarding the URM terminology, you’ve caught me reverting to convenient shorthand. When I use the term URM, it’s more from the university’s demographic perspective than how ldboy would choose to self-identify. (I worked a few years in college admissions long ago so I tend to distill in that way.) But I like this evolution in the topic because my kids do sometimes encounter difficulty with the ‘self-identifying’ questions on college apps as I am sure do other CC users.</p>
<p>My husband is Mexican-American born in France (originally from a rural area on Southern CO/Northern NM border), first generation college. I am Anglo, 4th gen from the Rio Grande Valley, also first gen college. However, our life experiences are very different from those of our children. My kids hear Spanish (and French) in the homes of their grandparents, but not in our home. They feel connected culturally in different ways depending on their environment. Both have said it is hard to define themselves…especially my son who is a stickler for details and accuracy. Sometimes college applications just don’t permit the amount of elaboration he would like. I believe my son has started the MIT application, but I haven’t looked at it. And I’ll bet, if I do take a look, this is one of those sticky areas he has skipped over for now…lol.</p>
<p>oh…haha! Just opened the MIT band link. ldboy is going to get a kick out it. He has said he wants to continue music in college, but in a fun and relaxed way. (His Shepherd-educated private percussion instructor will probably cry though.)</p>
<p>We have a whole essay section devoted to “describe the world you come from”, which would be a great place to elaborate upon your son’s cosmopolitan background.</p>
(His Shepherd-educated private percussion instructor will probably cry though.)</p>