Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither DH nor I attended an LAC so they are a bit of an exotic animal to us, but we wouldn't rule them out. I can see how they would be better for quality of instruction, but I am not sure how the students get research experience when the faculty are primarily teaching.

LAC faculty do research, but they prioritize teaching. They don't have grad students to assist with the research, so undergrads get those positions. In the best way, the research can be part of the professors' commitment to undergrad education.

+1 This is also true at the small engineering colleges mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Friends don't let friends transfer to MIT."

-WPI

Also good choice since she is into music as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Friends don't let friends transfer to MIT."

-WPI

Also good choice since she is into music as well.

Well, if you want to understand the science of music, acoustics, etc. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a school for a student who particularly excels at STEM but also wants a strong academic experience all around. Loves learning, loves a challenge, and possibly wants to go to grad school for academic research so undergrad research opportunities are important. She would love to be around other students who are enthusiastic and passionate about science. So far she has all A's, 1520 PSAT, will be maxed out on math/science courses at her school. Very involved in music oriented extracurriculars and would want to continue these in college for fun. If she could pick the school of her dreams, it would be MIT for sure, but she not have national/international level recognition or research experience. I am hoping to steer her towards schools with a similar "spirit" but which are less selective and more achievable. Any suggestions for schools to focus our search? We will likely be full pay. I think the school community and academic strength would be top priority for her rather than the setting of the school.

What has she invented?

If she wants a school with students who like going to class and doing homework, any school will do.

[Anonymous]

For a kid who has music talent and academically strong, try CMU’s BXA program. She will have to pass the audition into order to get into this program.

[Anonymous]

My high stats etc kid who wanted MIT but chose an ED option was interested in Stanford, Rice, Michigan, Harvey Mudd, Princeton, Cornell.

[Anonymous]

WPI

[Anonymous]

NCSU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a school for a student who particularly excels at STEM but also wants a strong academic experience all around. Loves learning, loves a challenge, and possibly wants to go to grad school for academic research so undergrad research opportunities are important. She would love to be around other students who are enthusiastic and passionate about science. So far she has all A's, 1520 PSAT, will be maxed out on math/science courses at her school. Very involved in music oriented extracurriculars and would want to continue these in college for fun. If she could pick the school of her dreams, it would be MIT for sure, but she not have national/international level recognition or research experience. I am hoping to steer her towards schools with a similar "spirit" but which are less selective and more achievable. Any suggestions for schools to focus our search? We will likely be full pay. I think the school community and academic strength would be top priority for her rather than the setting of the school.

I'm sorry. But there IS NOTHING in the US that is similar to MIT but less impossible. All the schools mentioned here are all good schools, but I'm sorry. They are no MIT.

My suggestion is to look overseas into Imperial College in London. It is widely regarded all over the world as being on par with MIT/Stanford in STEM fields. MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the little schools mentioned in this thread. With the plus being they care less about any Research or ECs done in high school. All they care about is High Grades on AP tests and SAT.

lol

What is the lol about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary
U Chicago
Harvey Mudd
Carleton
Cal Tech
Case Western
CMU
Georgia Tech
Embry Riddle
RPI

Caltech is equally as impossible as MIT. William & Mary and Carleton are good for science, but don't have engineering.

The ones that have that engineering/technical bent in things they do that come to mind are:

Georgia Tech
Purdue
RPI
RIT
CMU
Harvey Mudd
Colorado School of Mines
NJIT
Rose Hulman
Stevens
Virginia Tech

You do realize Georgia Tech is close to impossible to get into out of state don't you? Just checking in. Georgia Tech and CMU should not be with the others you have above. Just sayin.

Yep.
"Across the Regular Decision and Early Action applicant groups, almost 67,000 students applied for admission into Tech’s Fall 2025 first-year class, with more than 8,500 receiving admission offers. Overall, the Fall 2025 admit rate for Georgia residents is 30%; it is 9% for nonresidents." The acceptance rate for OOS students for Engineering is even lower around 6 percent.

“So you’re saying there’s a chance!”
Dumb and dumber. But unironically.

Someone is the 9% and 6%

[Anonymous]

This analysis placed Georgia Tech's overall selectivity at 41st nationally:

https://wallethub.com/edu/e/college-rankings/40750

For perspective, this placed it between U.Va., at #40, and Colgate, at #42.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This analysis placed Georgia Tech's overall selectivity at 41st nationally:

https://wallethub.com/edu/e/college-rankings/40750

For perspective, this placed it between U.Va., at #40, and Colgate, at #42.

wallethub. You are kidding right. lol. C'mon GT is a Top Engineering school. UVA and Colgate can't touch them for that. Take a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This analysis placed Georgia Tech's overall selectivity at 41st nationally:

https://wallethub.com/edu/e/college-rankings/40750

For perspective, this placed it between U.Va., at #40, and Colgate, at #42.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate?_sort=rank&_sortDirection=asc. Like the above post stated it's an Engineering school mainly (although their business school is also Top 20) and one of the top Engineering schools in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cal Poly SLO (like all the UC's) is getting much harder to get into out of state, but worth a shot. Rochester is great, but if money is an issue, they give very little, if any, merit.

But if money is not an issue, Rochester really seems like a great fit. The cluster system will allow her DD to focus on other areas than just her major, and if she's a LA major (STEM can be LA), you have the time to do 1-2 minors as well to support those interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This analysis placed Georgia Tech's overall selectivity at 41st nationally:

https://wallethub.com/edu/e/college-rankings/40750

For perspective, this placed it between U.Va., at #40, and Colgate, at #42.

wallethub. You are kidding right. lol. C'mon GT is a Top Engineering school. UVA and Colgate can't touch them for that. Take a break.

For those who know colleges, WalletHub's Selectivity Ranks generally align with intuition — Caltech at #1, MIT at #2, Harvard at #3, etc. The site also has the advantage of being an objective source. Nonetheless, no one should expect the analysis to be flawless. That noted, the "lol" crowd generally isn't receptive to perspectives with which they are unfamiliar, so it would be difficult to help you here.