Welding and MIT

Colleges & Universities Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>After meeting with my counselor today to get my schedule, classes, books, and other things, I’ve found to my great displeasure that my senior regiment is nothing less than an unmitigated disaster. Funding at my school has gone lower than I had thought possible (certainly explains why they basically rotated the entire administration out), and key classes got nixed. To elaborate, classes that I assume to be critical, or at least very desirable to have been taken before entering MIT such as AP Physics and AP Calculus BC got wiped off of the selection list. Luckily, I’m taking Physics 101 at the local college, so the former is mostly saved, but I am without assistance for Calculus. I remember a CC member suggesting Stanford’s EPGY program, but the $5,000 is simply unaffordable to me.</p>

<p>Well, qualms aside, I guess my main question is, because Calc BC no longer exists, is Welding considered a “cop-out” class that shows admissions officers that I just want to have a stressless senior year (well, apart from the three other APs)? I wonder this because there is a single alternative, one that I dearly do not want to take: AP Art History. For one, it has no relation whatsoever to my major. Secondly, the class is simply unappealing to me; I don’t have the fine sense of appreciation for buildings and paintings that others do. Not to mention that paying $86 for a test I don’t want to take is painful…</p>

<p>On the other hand, Welding falls perfectly into my major’s purview (engineering), not to mention that it’s very intensive and engaging (and has a pretty good teacher who netted several trophies, to boot). However, I wonder about the lack of an “AP” label on Welding and how it looks on my transcript. If I took Welding, would I really be taking “the most challenging courses” available that MIT and other top-tier universities seek? In name only, AP Art History seems to trump Welding just because of the Advanced Placement label. I really don’t want to have the mentality of “not enough APs” and just grab anything available, no matter how averse to the topics I am.</p>

<p>Thanks for the time to read my question and tread through what probably seems like teenage angst and other stuff.</p>

<p>PS. If I were to take Math 190 (Calc II) at the college in the spring (got waitlisted, failed to get in for the fall session), could I mention it in my “additional things” section, or is there a part of the application where classes that are to be taken can be listed? I know that I could just submit the transcript after the class is done, but I do want to point out to admissions that, if given the choice, I would take a higher-level course.</p>

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<p>I know you’re anxious about the situation, but you’ve got the right idea with:</p>

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<p>So my vote is for taking Welding instead of AP Art. It sounds to me like you’ve taken a hard courseload and are continuing to do so through senior year - having welding instead of taking that one last AP your school offers isn’t going to make a difference. So if you enjoy Welding, do it. (I’m jealous, by the way. I keep wanting to get into the Welding IAP class but I’ve always been waitlisted :P)</p>

<p>If you intend to take the spring class, I’d list it. I’m fairly certain that Admissions will understand if you are waitlisted and can’t get in again.</p>

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Well, I haven’t taken a hard courseload per CC standards (I hear 20 APs and a 2400 is the norm?), but I’m taking the most advanced schedule that I could piece together (disregarding AP Art History).</p>

<p>However, another concern’s arisen: our school awards extra GPA points to an A in an AP class, and as salutatorian, I’m more than certain that the “regularness” of Welding can drag me down a bit (not farther than 10, hopefully not less than 5). How does MIT judge class rankings in this regard? Is being #2 or #1 (ugh I’m so close) seen as being superior to, say, #5, #6, or top 5% (my school does strict numbers but I’m aware that there are many other schools that rank just by percentages).</p>

<p>I know I am going entirely based on numbers, which I understand to be a foolish thing to do, considering the human factor in ECs and essays, but numbers are my best shot; I’ve not been afforded access to a lot of ECs that are considered “standard” for MIT (some crazy score on the AMC/AIME, Intel Finalist, etc.). </p>

<p>Or is it treasonous that I’m assuming what other competitors might have listed down on their application?</p>

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<p>No, they take everything in context. Those few extra ranks just because of one class isn’t much at all and they’d rather you take welding than an AP class you completely hate.</p>

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<p>CC is just weird and far too numbers-focused. But you’re probably aware of that :P</p>

<p>I had a similar situation with GPA (I took Spanish III, which was not offered as honors, when not taking it meant a higher GPA). I explained it somewhere on the application.</p>

<p>What ECs have you been involved in?</p>

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<p>Man I wish I could be welding but my school is too worried about the liability issues. We aren’t even allowed to use a rip saw in our theater crew class. </p>

<p>IMO, welding sounds WAY more fun than AP Art history which is more important during senior year especially second semester.</p>

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Yeah, I got caught in the same dilemma. So basically, if I get nerfed somewhere on GPA, I’m allowed to explain it in “additional comments”?</p>

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That’s where everything goes to hell for me. I’ve done Level Advanced Piano (who here hasn’t), a four-week research/dorm thing (COSMOS) at UC Irvine (got shot down by both TASP and YESS; didn’t try RSI because I didn’t want to throw away $50), got National Merit Semifinalist (hoping for the Finalist position), been president of a few clubs, did 200 hours of generic volunteering stuff (I can’t get an internship for the life of me), planning to start a College Club (our college counselor retired, and admin. doesn’t really plan to reinstate him; it’s wreaking hell on the regular counselors because they have to learn a whole new battery of stuff), three years participating at a local summer science camp and a year of volunteering there after my last year… hmm, I think that’s really the best I’ve got (no state/national awards, unfortunately, though I am sure hoping like crazy that Intel funds a research proposal I entered in a contest). </p>

<p>Then after reflecting on what I’ve accomplished so far, I take a visit to the MIT EA/RD thread and weep as I read it. (not really) </p>

<p>(who the hell am I kidding of course I do)</p>

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Yeah, this is another motivator (albeit one that <em>really</em> shouldn’t be one): the fun factor. I would take using a blowtorch to melt stuff over looking at slide after slide any day of the week.</p>

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Definitely not. At least a few years ago, Ben Jones (one of the former admissions officers) said on CC that most applicants take about 2 APs per year on average. And, of course, you can see the SAT stats for yourself on the MIT admissions webpage.</p>

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<p>Just a few things -</p>

<p>EPGY isn’t that expensive, it’s only like 500 per 3 months I believe, and you would be able to finish Calc BC in 6 months if necessary. You might also want to check out this class - [Calculus</a> Course](<a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/courseinfo.php?course_id=calculus]Calculus”>http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/courseinfo.php?course_id=calculus) which is only 500 overall.</p>

<p>Also, I had the same issue with GPA where the only reason my rank wasn’t 1 or 2 was because I had unweighted classes and stuff. I didn’t explain it at all, and everything turned out fine.</p>

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<p>DS has a BS Mechanical and MS Computer Sci at peer colleges to MIT. Also works at a top engineering university in robotics:</p>

<p>This summer he is taking Welding and human form Sculpture. Paying out of pocket. Probably better instructors than any from MIT. He learned machining from his undergrad job and from university engineering staff. He’s taking these courses for his job, for his hobby, and hopefully because it keeps him out of trouble as a bachelor. :)</p>

<p>He took one term of humanform drawing as an undergrad. I figured it cost about $2000 based on cost per credit. Its way cheaper to take private or CC lessons and get better instruction too.</p>

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<p>DS took the equivalent to AP calc in Internl Bacc. Got good scores in IB, got 4 of AP exam, but had to take calc for engineers because the school has their own math placement exam.</p>

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<p>Yeah, though in retrospect, I don’t think it made a huge difference in my application :)</p>

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<p>It’s not like all MIT students come in with state/national awards. It sounds like you’ve done quite a lot. (I suppose the question is if it’ll be worthwhile to your application or if you were laundry-listing, which I obviously don’t know ^^)</p>