For those in college (preferrably engineering degree)

basilmarket.com forums : Chat | 13 posts archived

thread starter StuckIn1D Jul 25 2010 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Alright, I'm going into my senior year and I'm sure those of you in college or already applying know what I mean. So here's the thing, I'm getting a little worried. I'm most likely trying to come out of college with degrees that add up for me to start business in the mechatronics field ( mechanical, computer, robotic, electrical and a little aerospace I think). So anyway, I've been looking at some colleges lately and the part that's worrying me is this. According to my potential field of study and where I can go I need some good marks on my app. I kind of screwed myself over in junior year by taking AP chem. It killed my ranking, I went from 50/645 to 107/645.... So I need to know a few things 1) Does your class rank get totaled after the first two MP's of senior year? And if so is it based on your GPA every year? Or an avg of your class rank each year. 2) Does it look worse to have little to no in school activities OR not many in your first three years and a bunch in senior year? 3) I saw the acceptance rate for MIT was 10%, but how hard EXACTLY is it? I think overall I'm in my top 10%, and my SAT scores first time were pretty good. Sorry I know MIT is specific and not many people are in but any help is appreciated. Ok that's about it. Thanks a bunch. ~

My Characters: Enabled3D - 74 Bera Ranger

KewlEH 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

i'm going to apply for pre-med next year :~)

My Characters: Kiinkeh - 21 Khaini Beginner

IAmDoomsday + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

2) It's the same either way. If you have little to no school activities, it shows that you were not committed to an organization. If you have few in the first 3 years and a lot senior years, it's obvious that you did that for your college transcript. 3) Obviously it's very hard. 10% of the people who applied got accepted. That means that one out of ten smart people got accepted in. If you're 107/645, you have a very slim chance. It would also be nice if you told us your SAT scores.

My Characters: doomsday777 - 51 Bera Dawn Warrior

StuckIn1D 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] IAmDoomsday : 2) It's the same either way. If you have little to no school activities, it shows that you were not committed to an organization. If you have few in the first 3 years and a lot senior years, it's obvious that you did that for your college transcript. 3) Obviously it's very hard. 10% of the people who applied got accepted. That means that one out of ten smart people got accepted in. If you're 107/645, you have a very slim chance. It would also be nice if you told us your SAT scores. [/quote] Thanks for the optimism. Uhm but I meant 107/645 junior year. Overall I'm in the top 10%. But as for SAT scores, I'm not gonna get too personal there but I was 1800~ish and only took them once so far.

My Characters: Enabled3D - 74 Bera Ranger

squirrelAlDS + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

All that rank stuff varies from school to school. Your SATs however will be standardised making it easier for the university to make a decision, it does make it slightly more easier if you do IB in terms of admissions tutors weighing you up against other candidates - very few people manage to get 45 points in the world every year. Then again grades aren't the end all, as I know of someone who got rejected twice from Oxford with 45 points - my main point of advice would be to look at other universities and those abroad. There are quite a few universities that rival MIT so it won't be the end of the world in terms of your prestige-hunt.

IAmDoomsday 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] StuckIn1D : Thanks for the optimism. Uhm but I meant 107/645 junior year. Overall I'm in the top 10%. But as for SAT scores, I'm not gonna get too personal there but I was 1800~ish and only took them once so far. [/quote] I'm just being realistic here. Get that SAT score above 2000 and you'll have a decent chance. If you have some very good awards, some leadership positions, or A LOT of community service hours, you'd have a very good chance.

My Characters: doomsday777 - 51 Bera Dawn Warrior

l3lackHeart 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

SAT scores aren't everything when it comes to college admissions, but it will be extremely difficult to get into an a top college (i.e., MIT) unless you score 2200 plus.

My Characters: Melounx - 70 Mardia Crusader

StuckIn1D 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] IAmDoomsday : I'm just being realistic here. Get that SAT score above 2000 and you'll have a decent chance. If you have some very good awards, some leadership positions, or A LOT of community service hours, you'd have a very good chance. [/quote] Ok, yea right now I have a handful of leadership award stuff, a ridiculous amount of community service (which is why I don't do school activities), some pretty good awards for school. If I just focus this year I could push it. I know MIT is a hard reach but I figure if I push for that, even if I fail I can still get into a good college.

My Characters: Enabled3D - 74 Bera Ranger

IAmDoomsday + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] StuckIn1D : Ok, yea right now I have a handful of leadership award stuff, a ridiculous amount of community service (which is why I don't do school activities), some pretty good awards for school. If I just focus this year I could push it. I know MIT is a hard reach but I figure if I push for that, even if I fail I can still get into a good college. [/quote] How'd you do on your Math II and Science subject tests? Doing well on those is also going to be an important admission factor.

My Characters: doomsday777 - 51 Bera Dawn Warrior

StuckIn1D 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] IAmDoomsday : How'd you do on your Math II and Science subject tests? Doing well on those is also going to be an important admission factor. [/quote] Taking in September. So yea, I hope I do well.

My Characters: Enabled3D - 74 Bera Ranger

l3lackHeart 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Schools such as MIT and Cal Tech are more concerned with academia than extracurriculars. That's not to say that leadership and community service are extraneous; keep at those community service hours, prove your leadership, and you'll definitely bolster your application. I would suggest joining a math or science club that competes in state/national competitions. Recognition at those levels will certainly earn you some eyebrow raises from the admissions officers at MIT, Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, and the like.

My Characters: Melounx - 70 Mardia Crusader

brownone777 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Sorry to say this, but you are not getting into MIT. Most of the top schools like that, i.e. Ivies, Cal Tech, MIT, etc. would like to see high (2100+) SAT scores, involvement in extracurricular activities all 4 years, and a ton of volunteer work. For most of these schools, they wont even look at you unless you are in the top 1% at your school. Unless you are the next Nobel Prize winner, or unless you are at the top of everything in terms of academics, athletics, and volunteering, it would take a miracle for you to enter one of those schools.

My Characters: GuruAran - 75 Bera Aran in Misery

StuckIn1D 07/25/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Everyone I'm not really trying to hard to get into MIT, I just thought if I put my grades into that perspective it gives me an idea of where I can land. I'm actually trying to go to some other places based on engineering rankings in the US that I found desirable.

My Characters: Enabled3D - 74 Bera Ranger