You'll need to be disciplined and work hard to compete with the other applicants. Many people think that since Stanford is an academic institution, it must care only about academics. Because so many people prep for the Math Olympiad, the field has changed so that a good part of doing well on it is having tons of practice so you'll know immediately which equations you need to pull out when you see a particular mathematical expression. MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. AP US History was not enough to quench my insatiable thirst for history I did AP Euro History and AP World History via self-study and proceeded to get 5s in all three subjects. You can learn a lot about what MIT is looking for in its students from the university's website: "The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation. A Comprehensive Guide. As you know, strong test scores are an important part of your Stanford application. It would suck to train hard for IMO to boost your chance of getting into a top school when the pay-off isn't as guaranteed as people like to make it seem. I never did anything for college, just pursued whatever seemed fun. Ha! In other words, 75% of admitted students score above a 1510 on the SAT. Not to mention that dilly-dallying in a big number of areas will make you look like a dilettante. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. You don't even need to be interested in STEM in general; Stanford is not MIT or Caltech! ), except MIT is simply more STEM-oriented than the other ones. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? For example, for enthusiasts of debate-type activities, there's Model UN, Junior State of America, governor's school, mock-trial, and nationwide debate. In fact, I myself during my early years of high school believed in this horrible assumption, even though I'd already done hundreds of hours of research at that point. MIT is one of the most selective schools in the world. If you're naturally talented at STEM and are taking the hardest courses, there's a high probability you'll get great grades; however, you want to turn that high probability into a certainty. The same skills you used to become good in quantitative subjects will be useful in mastering these standardized tests. This is called having a spike and helps you stand out more. As a result, math-related classes and extracurriculars are not the only things that matter when applying to Stanford. ), but I really have no better way to begin this so here goes: I love the humanities. To estimate prestige, first look at how many people participatethe more people who participate, the more impressive it'll be on your Stanford application. It doesn't accept the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal Application. But I dont know whether I would be content to live my whole life as a teacher/professor. I visited the campus twice before even applying, attended admissions sessions where I asked dozens of questions about what they were looking for, searched online and in bookstores, wrote an entirely separate essay for the Stanford application, and used a separate admissions strategy for Stanford alone. Stanford University is one of the most difficult colleges to get into, with an acceptance rate of only 4%. Conversely, if you're above the SAT/ACT Math threshold, you definitely will benefit from taking the USAMO series, even if it isn't your spike. r/ApplyingToCollege is the premier forum for college admissions questions, advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to SAT/ACT test prep, career guidance, and more. Your application will stand out even more if you take those interests and apply them to academic pursuits. If your high school doesn't do this competition, you should either aggressively petition them to do it or search for a neighboring high school that will accept you as a guest. Even if you're above the 50th percentile, if you haven't prepped at least a few dozen hours yet, you should aim for the 75th percentile to strengthen your application. If you show that positive contributions are a part of your modus operandi as a student, MIT will feel confident that you'll bring that attitude to its campus, too. You should take care to put enough effort into these subjects so you don't drop down to the middle of the pack. Im always like WHOOAAA! Our guide lists hundreds of extracurriculars, which you can use to brainstorm how you can build a diversified base. Answer (1 of 14): So I really think it depends on who you are so to speak. In either case, I hardly see the constructiveness of your comment at all. Check out our in-depth guide on how to apply to MIT. I'd say something in the 720-800 range on the SAT Math section or 32-36 on ACT Math will do. :). The Burchard Scholars program identifies a group of students strongly interested in the humanities and connects them with the humanities faculty and visiting scholars and speakers for speaker dinner series and other events. Want to build the best possible college application? But the school offers a wide range of other programs as well, ranging from business and humanities to public policy and gender studies. But if you're already focusing on a STEM area and plan on continuing to do so, skip on ahead to the section after for my most helpful tips. Think of it like this: whereas winning your high school's local science fair is like winning a 100-meter dash in your town, winning the ISEF is like winning the 100-meter dash in the Olympics. Be number one or number two on your school debate team. For example, if you started a theater club that has an impressive number of audience members or consistently do journal-quality academic research on Victorian English literature, you'd be well positioned for your spike. The mythical implication here is that the "Stanford scorecard" grades you based on your weakest area, so you want to eliminate all weaknesses. In fact, the 25th percentile score for the school is a 35 . haha. up to you. As you know, both Harvard and MIT are extremely hard to get into, with Harvard having a slightly lower acceptance rate; however, MIT has slightly higher test score averages, which means you will need to do even better on the SAT or ACT, especially on the Math section, to get in. MIT considers it as a Social Science so it fits in with our HASS requirement (humanities, arts, and social science). Also, if you followed the link, youll see that there are also language-specific awards given to students studying French and German. I worked there for six months, learning the valuable ins-and-outs of basic bio research like setting up a PCR, running a gel, and purifying DNA. This is where you really get to show off your STEM skills. Download it for free now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '688715d6-bf92-47d7-8526-4c53d1f5fe7d', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '03a85984-6dfd-4a19-93c8-5f46091f5e2b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. Six months later, satisfied with my experience, I embarked on finding another UROP this time in Anthropology (21A). How much did your lunch cost? He got one B and it was in freshman English, otherwise took the hardest STEM classes and laid off the challenging Humanities courses in our school. If you want to get a taste of what an easy problem looks like in the USAMO series, just look at the hardest problems on SAT Math or the hardest problems on the (now discontinued) Math Level 2 SAT Subject Test (the hardest problems usually appear last). Obviously, things like history etc., but how about subjects like art or economics? The point is that you should aim to develop one area in which you're super strong. Being a good humanities student, youre getting an education which would make you stand out from your other literary peers a rigorous scientific mindset and a keen eye for patterns, observations, and drawing conclusions. A moderately good score in your English class will do. Strong entrepreneurship focus, right next to Babson (#1 college of entrepreneurship). hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'c8b8e502-c285-4182-9589-5f8ae230e78a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. The picture of every undergrad goes on the departmental wall. You might also consider playing a sport. THIS, and the same applies to other selective schools (HYPS, ivies, top LAC's etc. I disagree with ISEF/USAMO/IMO being necessary. is it easier to get into mit for humanitiesanson county warrant list. If you're looking for test-prep tips, take a look at our expert guides to SAT prep and ACT prep. Since you're only targeting a 650 (or 28) or above on these sections, you don't need to stress as much about the last few problems and being careless. That means that you can apply to MIT and receive notification of your acceptance months before other students, but you don't have to commit to MIT if you're accepted. For example, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures (21F! This means that the vast majority (75%) of Stanford students get above these scores, and those attending with scores lower than these are superstars who make up for their scores in other (highly impressive!) =p. Check out our complete guide to Ivy League acceptance rates. Great post, Chris. Ive strengthened my Japanese and Spanish ability, leading to two utterly phenomenal IAPs in those aforementioned countries. The mythical implication here is that the "Stanford scorecard" grades you based on your weakest area, so you want to eliminate all weaknesses. Being interesting is the name of the ISEF game. =p I guess I have interests in too many areas=p, 1 Why? MIT allows students to apply early action. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? ), taking them and getting a 4 or 5 on the AP tests and an A/A- in the class will definitely benefit you in the end. I think one thing that cannot be overstated is kindness. , You have to be rigorous, but not nearly to the degree of professional science research. I love teachingactually. Whats with the counting? Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, school, community, city, or town). Also, be sure to play to your strengths: if you're more dexterous than strong, you might want to choose squash, for example. I promise I will stop philosophizing (aka. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. Stanford doesn't take the excuse "I'm just not a math person" (and, in fact, they're probably against the culture that makes such a phrase commonly acceptable in the first place). Show that your academic curiosity intersects with your passions. So, I've spent a lot of my high school life on the grind, chasing As, doing competitions, and taking hard classes. You can see the answer and a full explanation at AoPS Online. I really understand what you mean. On the side, I learned a ton about the genetics of C. elegans, an organism I didnt even know existed before coming to MIT. Is it easier to get into MIT for humanities? This doesn't mean you have to be great in the humanities, but it does mean you'll want to keep the Bs in the humanities to a minimum. You could discover a new protein with significance to medical research; there wouldn't necessarily be a competition for the discovery, but if the discovery is qualitatively stunning enough, it can count. There are many more STEM competitions besides the two above. Then check out our college admissions and test-prep guide designed specially for students like you! Todays availability of open-source tutorials, software and datasets opens the doors for anyone to learn at their own pace. Lilian worked on her project at her own desk and says others can do the same. , Lillian successfully forecasted 2020 crop yields for every country within Africa. Compete in many competitions - MIT demographics show that 10 to 12% of their approved petitions are from people that have some sort of achievement (ISEF, AIME, USPHO, IBO, etc.). A Comprehensive Guide. So what's a good enough baseline in SAT or ACT Math? Stanford is one of the most difficult universities to get into, as are UC Berkeley and Cornell. Unfortunately, an overly reactionary response to the above generates the worst myth. What is the probability that the chosen numbers are the side lengths of a triangle with positive area? The decision is largely based around whether or not your personality fits into a specific niche they want to fill. We've said it already and we'll say it again: MIT likes unique applicants. Starting your MIT application? Because if you're above these thresholds, your test score won't reveal your true math skills, which are likely off the SAT/ACT charts; you need to upgrade to the USAMO series to show off all your math skills, even if you don't perform amazingly. So I count art as humanities as well. Whats even more amazing that a sizable number of these labs are willing to take on people with little-to-none experience and take the time to train you to become a valuable intern! For example, the Department of Literature (21L) offers an exciting series of literature classes that are generally only a dozen students in size, providing great interaction between professors and students for knowledge exchange, relationship building, and lets face it recommendation letters. You can read about the competition's judging criteria and a real winner's experiences on the official website. MIT wants students who will succeed on their campusyou need to demonstrate that you're up to MIT's academic challenge. Also, good mentors with previous experience will know which problems can be done by students and which would be too complicated or time-consuming. Even from my school you need an absolute 4.0. Currently, MIT's acceptance rate is 4.1%, which means it only accepts around 4 applicants for every 100 people that apply. At MIT, you have the opportunity to do original research in almost any field conceivable here with amazing faculty and staff who are the vanguards in their respective fields. I firmly believe that being great quantitatively correlates with being smart in general. The USAMO series will be a definite spike for you if you manage to make it into the top 1,000 or 2,000 spots. You can do this yourself or take advantage of our online SAT/ACT prep program, which will automatically identify these weaknesses for you. MIT has a very low acceptance rate, so it's important that your application is as strong as possible to be considered. 13112221. This statement, while not MIT's formal mission statement (which is worth reading, too), tells a lot about what MIT is looking for in its applicants. The more unique you are, the better! I hope the rest of you will similarly find this useful. Todays availability of open-source tutorials, software and datasets opens the doors for anyone to learn at their own pace. Lilian worked on her project at her own desk and says others can do the same. I feel like this is something that I can never emphasize enough the awesomeness of MIT UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program). All rights reserved. Basically, superscoring means that MIT will consider your highest section scores across all the SAT test dates you submit. ik i need to learn what GPA means but im not from a country that works on GPA, doing a quick google search does a 3.65 GPA mean straight A student? This was also around the time that I had just moved into DPhiE and all my . The photo-heavy blogs take forever!! Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the worlds biggest challenges to being a good friend. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. They're difficult enough that getting a sufficiently high score signals you're in the 95th percentile or above in all the UScertainly enough to qualify as well rounded. If you're already in STEM, you'll want to strongly consider entering a prestigious math or science competition to show off the high degree of your skills. If you're not a native speaker and aren't fluent, I suggest you make this a priority, probably through immersion in an English-speaking country.). In fact, most early rounds are about recalling the text of Campbell Biology in a timed fashion. Run for student council and become the treasurer. MIT want students who break moldsthey're incredibly intelligent, but they also think outside of the box. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females. With 3.7 million high school seniors a year, this is about 37,000 studentsmany times larger than the roughly 2,300 students Stanford accepts each year. I got in. MIT wants to instill in us the confidence that after we leave the Institvte, we would be able to tackle whatever problems come our way, either through our own ability or with help from teammates. Ranking in the top 100 for the ISEF would definitely qualify as a spike for you. Then this section is for you! You can learn more about taking the ACT multiple times here. Ive been thinking about Brown vs. MIT for a while, since Humanities has always been just as if not more important than math and science to me. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. Equally, my other true love is History. Stanford cares about far more than just academics, so try to squeeze in some good extracurriculars and volunteer experience. Here's a quick overview of how they work. In this article, we'll break down exactly how to get into MIT, from the test scores you need to the tips and tricks that'll help your application stand out. If your scores are below these numbers, the most effective step you can take to raise your chances of admission is to study more for the SAT/ACT since the primary reason Stanford will reject you is based on scores alone. Think getting a pilot's license at age 12. College Admissions As such, scoring substantially below a perfect score on the SAT/ACT does actually signal to Stanford a lack of understanding of some rather standard areas of math. Think top-100 football player in California, or top-1,000 math competition student in the United States. Yet a 33 still puts about 1% of the high school population above you. Needless to say, he'll fit right in at MIT next year. MIT will completely revamp the way that you think about science. In short, it helps set you apart and makes you unique. Get good grades in high school, and make sure you're in at least the 50th percentile (for Stanford or whatever school you're applying to) on the SAT/ACT. I would find things that I really enjoyed; its like killing two birds with one stone if youre doing something that you enjoy, youre more likely to put your whole heart into it, and if you put your whole heart into something, youre more likely to outperform yourself and be awesome. ^ If you have any better way of writing about humanities at MIT without using personal examples, be my guest. I like to think with so many opportunities around us, why settle for something that you dont like? While you don't need to take any AP classes in the humanities (I didn't! You want one area to stand out above and beyond all the others; this spike will be one of the most important parts of your application. Note: If you've read our article on Harvard admissions, note that I will be covering similar material here. For your base diversity of extracurriculars, it helps to focus more on engineering and/or math; it also helps if your spike is in engineering or math. If your strong point is quantitative, then that's a great advantage. Fred is co-founder of PrepScholar. For a correct assessment of the difficulty it takes to get into MIT, do a quick Google search and you'll see that the chance of MIT having a double digit acceptance rate is lower than MIT acceptance rate going into the negatives so they'll start kicking out current students. While getting into Stanford is very tough, there are definite rules to Stanford admissions. (lets face it as great as Harvard is, you cant possibly take 1,000+ of their stellar humanities classes in 8 semesters. Once you get below a 700 on SAT Math or a 30 on ACT Math, Stanford will know you don't have a full command of standard concepts in math, such as factorizing variables or applying the Pythagorean theorem. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The most naive and prevalent myth is that getting into Stanford is all about academics. After you're above the 50th percentile, get to work on overcoming the first myth (which claims that grades are everything). Already got some great extracurriculars? MIT requires that you answer a few short questions, rather than write one long essay. 5. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible.
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