Official MIT Class of 2016 RD Discussion Thread

sbjdorlo
Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:03:56 +0000

iceui2,

I would really go by what MITChris said.

My son has never entered a research science competition. He did not get into RSI. He did begin graduate level optics research the summer after his junior year at the local state univ. The progress has been really slow because of the equipment but they are finally beginning to roll this spring. We’ll see how far he gets before heading off to college in the fall.

His prof/mentor at the univ. wrote an incredible letter of recommendation based on my son’s being the top student in two senior level physics classes, as well as his optics research. My son was also a tutor for a senior level physics class at the university.

My son feels very fortunate to have been able to do all this for free (he audited the classes at the university). He had no connections to the univ. The professor was just kind enough to let my son come and audit the courses after contacting him. Since my son is homeschooled and had taken all the physics classes at the local community college by first semester sophomore year, he was looking to find some other interesting physics classes for his last two years of high school.

My son was admitted to MIT. I don’t know whether he’s “among the best” of students. I do know he’s a lover of learning, he’s curious, he likes to try many different things, and he’s been successful at a national level in several ways. No, he didn’t ever enter research in a competition, so I’m glad colleges look at many different factors when admitting students.