Getting Into MIT, HARVARD, ect.?

Question

Well I have only just become a Freshman in highschool. The first marking period has almost passed nd I am starting to wonder more about what'll have to be of me in order to be able to get into top universities like MIT or HARVARD.

Grades, I can work hard on. I am in the best classes for Freshman, and actually, I have skipped a grade in math so I work with sophmores. I will definately play tennis and always do track... And I will do volunteering for things that I strongly am passionate about. I am in math, chess, debate, and a talanted/gifted club.

I do not know what is most important for these schools that I can work on to be admitted. It is indeed important that I display strong passion torwards something and provide a great sense of personality, but how? How important are grades?

I just don't know anything and it's troubling me~~

Answer 1

Just want to say (because I think it's important) that no matter what, you should not be discouraged from applying to a great university like Harvard or Yale, I have a friend who was really good but he chickened out because he saw that they only take a limited number of applicants!

Anyway...These universities really consider grades which means make sure that you do your best!!! They look at the last four years of high school work so you should work hard throughout!

They also like extracullicular activities. So all those things you do, keep doing them and take part in tournaments and such (nothing wrong with healthy competition). In the meantime, think about giving to your commmunity, maybe you can join a samaritan's program or something which helps out the elderly or children, (they really like that).

Finally, find out what you want to be or what degree you're interested in. They like it when students are passionate about what they are and will study. Make sure that you do outside reading and be curious about everything! This will let you make your own principles, beliefs and library of knowledge!

Of course, you shouldn't suck up (lol) but treat your teachers with the respect they deserve (I'm sure you already do), and take part in class discussions and ask questions!

All this will go in your application...Teacher's recommendations (really important), high school transcript(also vital) and so on and so forth.

I'd also like to point out...Always be yourself!! And don't put too much pressure on yourself, have fun and relax (you deserve it) but work hard in the meantime! Make a set of your own beliefs and principles (remember "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything"Malcolm X), and mention them in your application, show them who you are...an individual!

I hope i helped and didn't blab too much!!

Loads of luck and I hope you make it!

PS Find out which university you want to go to and make sure you know why! Mention in your application why you chose that particular university!

Answer 2

I graduated twice from MIT, and while I was at Tech I took a course at Harvard. At that time, anyone at MIT could take a class at Harvard if the class wasn't full and vice versa. I don't know how many people did so. Altogether, I spent six years in Cambridge. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

You certainly need a good head to get into either school, but even more important is a record of dedication, a push to succeed in whatever you undertake.

If you are a year ahead in math, do not fall into the trap of skipping math for a year in high school. A layoff is not the way to remember your math from one year to the next. Take an extra math course if you have one available.

There is nothing wrong with tennis, track, and other outside activities as long as you take them seriously without allowing them to become an obsession. I knew at least one student who became so immersed in chess that he failed his academic courses, so be warned about how addictive chess can become. [Been there, done that, but not while I was in college.]

Know what you want, strive for it, and you will be able to do it!

And don't let your school interfere with your education. Not everything you learn is taught in a classroom.

Answer 3

To qualify for these school you first must be in the top 10 percent of your class...not to hard since most high school students(like I was) dont try very hard. After that volunteer work is great but not too important but extra curricular activities are key....be in as many as you can. Dont forget to develop a personal life too cause good interpersonal skills are highly important when you start to graduate from college. Its very good your thinking about this as a HS freshman..I didnt start thinking about college until a few months b4 i graduated.

Answer 4

With whatever volunteer work you do, colleges would rather see that you have done a lot of work in one area and not a bunch of little jobs. And also, if you only start doing volunteer work in your junior or senior year, colleges will know that you're only doing the work for it to look good on applications. You should start something right away.

Answer 5

Buy/read the book A Is For Admission, written by a former admissions officer from Dartmouth. Very eye-opening and informative. Will help guide you throughout the rest of your high school years.

Best of luck!

Answer 6

To get into these schools, you will need a 3.8 unweighted GPA, lots of honors and AP classes, an SAT score above 2200, lots of extracurriculars, a great interview and a killer admissions essay.

Even then, you could get rejected. These schools reject four times as many QUALIFIED applicants as they accept/

Answer 7

i'm in the same position. maybe there's something on the internet. counselors? i'm sure there are adults at your school who could answer your question.