Transfer from in-state school to MIT, or wait and apply my senior year of high school

Transfer Students
1

<p>okay, I know this is in the “transfer students” area of the forums but it seemed like the most reasonable place to put it.</p>

<p>Okay, currently I am a high school junior/senior with the ability to graduate this year if I wanted to. I am wondering what I should do: graduate high school early and take courses at Arizona State University and apply for transfer, or stay for my senior year of high school despite the lack of competent courses.</p>

<p>General Stats (as of now):
Sat I (700+ in all, 760 math)
Sat II (800 physics, high 700s math II)
Class Rank with Juniors: 1st out of 800ish
Class Rank with Seniors: 9th out of 800ish</p>

<p>Freshman Courses:

  1. Honors Biology 1-2
  2. Honors Algebra 3-4
  3. 3D Modeling and Animation
  4. Computer Applications (zero hour course)
  5. Latin 1-2
  6. Honors Freshman English 1-2
  7. Advanced PE</p>

<p>Summer: Honors Sophomore English</p>

<p>Sophomore Courses:

  1. Health (first semester) (zero hour course)
  2. AP Comp (Bs both semesters)
  3. Honors Chemistry (B/A)
  4. Honors Physics 1-2
  5. Honors Finite Math/Honors Brief Calculus
  6. Human Anatomy (B)/ Intro to Computer Graphic Design
  7. AP World History and Geography</p>

<p>Junior Courses:

  1. Advanced Composition (zero hour)
  2. Honors Physics 3-4
  3. AP Calculus BC
  4. Honors Linear Algebra
  5. AP US History
  6. AP Computer Programming 3-4
  7. AP Chemistry
  8. Adv Studies (Semiconductor Physics)</p>

<p>Decision Time…</p>

<p>if (grad early) {</p>

<p>test out of normal government and economics (already studying for AP test for both anyways)</p>

<p>college schedule would look something like this (I know this is a bit ridiculous but ive already taken some of these classes through various means):
Semester 1-
Ochem 1 (4)
Physics 1 (4)
Physics 2 (4)
Calc 3 (4)
QPhysics 1 (3)
Eng 101 (3)
Mathematical Methods in Physics 1 (3)
Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures (3)
Bio 340: Fundamentals of Genetics (3)</p>

<p>Semester 2-
Ochem 2 (4)
QPhysics 2 (3)
Eng 102 (3)
Diff EQ (3)
Lin Alg (3)
Mathematical Methods in Physics 2 (3)
Classical Particles, Fields and Matter I (3)
Discrete Mathematical Structures (3)
Physics 3 (4)</p>

<p>I would also do some research in a physics lab most likely (already know some professors up there).</p>

<p>}else{</p>

<p>Summer between Junior/Senior:

  1. AP Art History
  2. H. Economics/H. Gov</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:

  1. Honors Calc 3/Diff EQ
  2. Honors Organic Chemistry
  3. AP European History
  4. AP Latin: Vergil
  5. AP Environmental Studies
  6. Honors Computer Programming 5-6
  7. Adv Studies (Encryption)</p>

<p>}</p>

<p>If the grade was not posted in the schedule… i got an A.
Some other important factors? might include:
*secret level security clearance for internship in encryption as of the summer between sophomore and junior year
*Quizbowl National Qualifier as of December 2011
*AIME Qualifier my sophomore year
*31st place in Arizona State Math Contest as a sophomore (out of ~10000 - i think)
*Will most likely qualify for USAPhO semi-final test and possibly qualify for the camp…

  • AP World Score - 4, AP Comp Score - 3, AP Physics C: Mechanics Score - 5
    *AP tests taking junior year (all of which practice tests as of now show promise of 5s):
    Ap Econ Macro
    AP Econ Micro
    AP Calc
    AP Chem
    AP Euro
    AP Bio
    AP Stats
    AP Computer Science A
    AP us history
    AP Comp (retake)
    AP Physics C: E/M
    *Ac Dec President junior year (likely again if i stayed for my senior year)
    *Comp Science Club founder and president (founded my junior year)
    *Eagle Scout (Boy/Cub - Scouts since I was 5)</p>

<p>My goal is to optimize my chances at MIT. Please help! Thanks for your time!</p>

2

<p>sorry, your stats although impressive, but not of MIT quality.</p>

<p>First of all, MIT gets 1000’s apps with SAT M-800 and reject many, you are not even close with 760…
Second Taking those classes do not impress MIT, winning the IMO will, if you did, please say so.
Try to transfer is suicidal, a pie in the sky. If MIT frosh admit rate is 6%, Transfer admit rate must be lower than 2%, so there you are.</p>

3

<p>First, I would like to say thank you for replying so fast :).</p>

<p>Secondly, I actually applied EA this year and got deferred which means my stats must be of somewhat MIT quality? I just want to use next year as a way to push my deferral to acceptance.</p>

<p>Thirdly, You don’t have to win the IMO to have a chance at MIT… yes I agree you have to have something incredibly unique… but I believe I have that with several things… (e.g. security clearance for NSA encyption type stuff, passion for physics (as demonstrated in me taking upper level undergraduate courses in physics in high school (semiconductors course, etc)).</p>

<p>Lastly, I appreciate your opinion but does it really hurt to try, and for your information frosh admit rate is ~9% and transfer admit rate is ~4.7%. Also, the question was what do I do, go to college next year or go to high school for my senior year if I want to optimize my chances at MIT.</p>

<p>Thanks again for responding :).</p>

4

<p>I don’t know about your chances, but your college schedule is totally unrealistic. I can not imagine any school that would let you take physics 1 and 2 at the same time. Plus you are planning on taking about 30 credits in a semester which is insane (not to mention nearly impossible). I think you need to reevaluate some things.</p>

5

<p>If you want to get into MIT, take some classes at a CC but do your senior year regardless. Raise your GPA (I saw at least 3 Bs but you didn’t include an actual GPA) and then work on your ECs. As a poster already said, the transfer rate is lower than the frosh admit rate. You didn’t say what your math 2 score was. Maybe retake it for an 800.</p>

<p>You have a whole year. Don’t ruin your chances by graduating early.</p>

6

<p>If targeting MIT (and with the current admission rates, don’t ignore MIT’s peer competitors), stay in HS and see if you can boost any low SAT scores just to play the numbers game.</p>

<p>If you decide you are just “done” with high school, starting at ASU may make sense. They have some fine departments and if you plan on grad school, an impressive record there plus grad degree from a “name” school may make more sense and will save $$$. Caution - the maturity difference between HS and college can be significant, only you can decide if you are OK with it.</p>

<p>And congratulations on earning Eagle Scout. Years from, now, people will still care that you accomplished that.</p>

7

<p>For schools like MIT, transferring is very difficult, obviously.</p>

<p>And, not to rain on your parade, but MIT defers a lot of students (even some who don’t have a chance, realistically).</p>