<p>Just for the benefit of future applicants, I post my stats too.</p>
<p>Decision: Rejected
SAT:1st take - CR690/M800/W680, 2nd take - CR740/M800/W730
SAT IIs:Math II 800/Physics800/Chemistry800
GPA: not calculated
Rank:1 of 110
Essays: the long one - about how the International Mathematical Olympiad was like almost something I didn’t even dare to dream when I began highschool, but then I sort of said ‘why not?’ and gave it a go, and built up to it for years, ended up getting a bronze medal, but I didn’t feel ecstatic or whatever, so how it was kind of disappointing, but then realised it was because I just really enjoyed the people I met along the way and the maths I got to learn and the experience of travelling, blah blah, so I was ‘content’ rather than really really happy that I got a medal, then sort of drawing an analogy to MIT and whether or not I can handle, sort of finishing with ‘why not?’. I guess it was kind of corny, people thought it was alright though.
The short ones - Just about piano playing, and how I just taught myself because I was kind of lonely when I immigrated to New Zealand, and how it’s meaningful to me, blah blah. The other one just about my academic ambitions/interests and how MIT is suitable for it. They weren’t that good, I didn’t spend too much time on them.
Teacher Recs: Sent in three. My physics teacher wrote things along the lines of “in the right environment, Eric will be able to significantly add to humanity’s understanding of the Universe”, which I thought was a big call. A university professor wrote things like “I would dearly like Eric to attend this university, but we cannot offer enough to fulfil his potentials”, my English teacher who I also know personally wrote pretty much how great a guy she thinks I am. So they were pretty good I thought.
Counselor Rec: Pretty good too, pretty much “the best in my career, best in the history of the school”, “he will do exceptionally well wherever HE CHOOSES to attend”…
Hook/other achievements: I guess the IMO bronze medal? Obviously not big enough. Have taken university papers in 1st year accelerated maths, 1st year theology, 2nd year accelerated linear algebra, 2nd year quantum physics, 2nd year electromagnetism (during highschool), currently taking 3rd year group theory, 3rd year thermal,statistical,particle physics, 3rd/4th year quantum mechanics, and 3rd/4th year classical mechanics papers (incidentally, this paper uses the same book that the most advanced undergraduate classical mechanics paper at MIT uses as well) [In New Zealand, school year starts in February and finishes in November]. One of eight to receive the Premier award (the highest award possible) in the New Zealand scholarship exams, first in the country in maths in various competitions/exams, other various national level scholarships, NZ representative in selective programmes, such as to The Hague International Model UN or the USA International Space Camp, working on the diploma of Associate of Trinity College of London in Piano Recital, member of the school senior A debating team for 3 years, regional rep at the nationals for debating, coach of the debating team in my final year of highschool, various best speaker awards, other random things like playing rugby for the school, entering short story competitions, composing a school song, running quite a few scholarship classes at school, tutoring, school prefect, etc.
Country: New Zealand
Ethnicity: Korean
School type: Integrated (religious, but sort of public and sort of private)
Gender: Male
Other Factors: Not sure, they couldn’t interview me, cuz they didn’t have anybody in New Zealand, appied for fin.aid. although I don’t think that matters in admission, what other factors are there?</p>
<p>Hopefully someone next year would find that helpful in some way.
I’m not like bitter about it or whatever, although it might sound like it a little.
I know there are a lot of good applicants, and it’s quite hard for internationals.
I’d be somewhat interested to hear people’s opinions on why I got rejected though.
Not saying that I shouldn’t have been rejected, nothing like it.
Just curious to see what people think.
Anyways, good luck to those of you who have been accepted.
For the rest of us, hopefully we’ll get in somewhere where we will enjoy just as much.</p>
<p>Regards
Eric</p>