| The student athlete I know going to MIT is both exceptionally smart and athletic. It is wild but probably would have gone to MIT without the sport. |
To me, a hook is something out of your control. We all know the rules of the game - athletes, exceptional ones who also have top grade sand scores - can get priority. Some people choose to play the game and are very good at it. That is not a hook. |
Private high school, athlete or URM? |
Women get in at twice the rate. |
My son got in. Never participated in any national awards. No APs and no IB. He scored 1600 on the SAT in one seating and 36 on the ACT in one seating. ZERO ECs or National awards… |
Race? |
White, high income area in the south. |
Why does it matter? A child who scores 1600 on the SAT in one seating is definitely a stellar student regardless of their race. |
Institutional priorities of the tippy top schools include geographic diversity. MIT only accepts kids they know for certain can handle the academic rigor (high stats) but after that IP are considered. Everyone knows it’s harder to get into the T5. Probably T25 as well if your kid is from overrepresented areas with many highly qualified applicants - DMV, NYC, Bay Area etc. |
So why do you think he got in? Congratulations. |
Can you share how your DS approached the application? Like essays, and such? What do you think got him into MIT? Congrats! |
The Hayfield football player going had 15-something on SATs and high GPa. |
Despite not participating on any national awards or competition, he is a bit of a math savant and they saw that. He took Multivariable Calculus at the local college as a Junior. He is taking Abstract Algebra at the local college as a Senior. His school tops out at the equivalent of AP Calculus BC. He doesnt have any APs. He maxed out on Oxford’s MAT test and has maxed out on EMC tests (European Math Cup) taken under supervision here. |
Nobody would care since those who know MIT know that outside of a few mega donor kids, you have to be well-qualified to get recruited to MIT. |
Most of their rejects are qualified academically. Even at less self-selecting pools than MIT the rejects are typically “in the range” to have bothered applying. |