<p>I’m going to try it, at least. I’m going to be 100% honest so I hope that I can get some honest feedback too from all of you guys. I’m currently finishing up my sophomore year at Stern. I’ve taken all of the business core requirements, Corporate Finance, CS 101 and then Data Structures, two semesters of Japanese, and a game design course.</p>
<p>I know MIT really wants to see 1 year of calculus in college and one semester of physics, but I haven’t done any of that since I came to college.</p>
<p>I’d want to transfer to MIT to go to the Comparative Media Studies program. Basically, after some heavy reflection I’ve decided I really don’t want to study finance. What I really am interested in is video game design/culture/thinking about games, and then statistics, and then East Asian studies. I’m interested in statistics, but there’s no point to stay in Stern unless I’m going to be doing finance anyway. I might just transfer to Sloan if it’s easier to get in that way…</p>
<p>The reason this is possible is that I’m taking academic leave for the upcoming academic semester (probably year) to do intensive Japanese language and culture studies through a program in Japan. This is what lets me apply to transfer in as a Junior.</p>
<p>There’s very few schools that offer a combination of Stats, EAS, and Game Studies. Basically, it’s just USC and MIT, and I would prioritize MIT for several (what I think are compelling) reasons. Here’s the info:</p>
<p>College GPA: 3.87/4.00</p>
<p>College recommendations: Only problem here is the freaking math/science professor recommendation because I haven’t taken any courses in the subjects. </p>
<p>Essays: Lots of motivation to go to MIT. They have a real games program while letting me still studies Stats and EAS. At Stern, I could just do only Stats but honestly that’s complete bs and everyone knows it. Stern is pointless without finance, but if I transfer out then I can’t do statistics at all. I refuse to settle for less and I know MIT can offer exactly what I’m looking for. The CMS program at MIT is actually really unique in the way they focus on games and the media courses they offer: compare to MCC at Steinhardt and you’ll realize the focus in completely different. And other schools just don’t even have CMS at all >.> Also, Boston is AMAZING for Melee. </p>
<p>High school record: My unweighted GPA in high school is something around a 3.68. I took 12 AP courses and got mostly 5s. AP Scholar with Distinction. </p>
<p>Test scores ALL FROM HIGH SCHOOL (SAT/ACT):
National Merit Scholarship Winner
SAT: 760/780/800 M/R/W total 2340
Math I: 750
Chemistry: 750
Physics: 740</p>
<p>ECs/outside work experience:
Summer 2013: Morgan Stanley, Global Wealth Management Intern (40 hrs/wk)
Fall 2013: Small TMT investment bank internship (16 hrs/wk)
Spring 2014: Asset management firm internship (16 hrs/wk)
Summer 2014: Staying at the asset management firm (40 hrs/wk) UNLESS I get an internship at a gaming company like Take-Two.
I’m a competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee player. Like, very seriously so. I travel all over the place, including internationally. I’m really passionate about Melee and started an initiative for Smash on campus as well. We’re parterning with the NYU Game Center and hosting tournaments etc.
I’m on executive board of a volunteer club at NYU Stern, and been so since Freshman Spring. We had over 3,000 service hours last year and I’ve been on several positions, organizing a lot of different events and running stuff behind the scenes.</p>