L@@K at the Class of 2015 by Chris Peterson SM '13
profiles in greatness? a great profile? or both?
One thing you may have missed in the site switchover is the fact that we updated our admissions statistics and freshman class profile pages to the newest data from this past year’s admissions cycle.
We always try to provide as much data as we can to make our process as transparent as possible. But before you get to the numbers, here are just a few of the people who help make up the MIT Class of 2015:
- 3 of the 4 Gold Medalists at the 2011 International Biology Olympiad (all of them young women who rock science!)
- 2 of the 8 New York Times Scholars
- A student who was offered $100,000 to start her own company based on her research…and turned it down to come to MIT
- An ISEF Engineer Award Winner from rural Georgia who spent five years restoring an ancient VW Bus
- A Junior Olympic ski racing cork 720 throwing valedictorian from Lake Tahoe
- A web developer whose music search engine was featured on lifehacker
- The King of Potato Cannons, who is also an Athlete of the Year
- A high school inventor whose haptic feedback cane won the grand prize in the Popular Science National School Inventors Challenge
- An award winning Canadian filmmaker:
- a competitive yoyoist:
- and 1,115 other amazing individuals, each with their own story of greatness!
Keep reading to learn a little bit more about the MIT Class of 2015!
Gender
| Male | 55% |
| Female | 45% |
Citizenship & Ethnicity
| US Citizens & Permanent Residents Number of US states represented: 46 |
90% |
| African-American | 8% |
| Asian-American | 27% |
| Caucasian | 37% |
| Hispanic | 15% |
| Native-American | 1% |
| Other/No Response | 1% |
| International Citizens Number of countries represented: 59 |
10% |
Geography
| New England | 12% |
| Mid-Atlantic | 19% |
| South & Puerto Rico | 15% |
| Midwest & Plains States | 12% |
| Southwest & Mountain | 10% |
| West Coast, Alaska, & Hawaii | 20% |
| Abroad | 13% |
Schooling
| Public School | 67% |
| Private School | 17% |
| Religious School | 8% |
| Foreign School | 7% |
| Home School | 1% |
| Number of different high schools represented: 862 |
Just For Fun
| Most Popular Boy’s Name | Alexander |
| Most Popular Girl’s Name | Sarah |
| Greatest Distance Traveled | Melbourne AUS |
| Least Distance Traveled | Cambridge MA |
| Most Represented US State | California |
Looks like it’s gone from “hard” to “you need to be a demigod” to get into MIT. Sheesh.
No James! Remember: https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
So cool. I think I know one of the mentioned!
And yeah, recaptcha is bad. Should just ask “what is 2+2” or “what does MIT stand for” or something.
Sometimes I wonder… how did I get in again? These students are amazing. They also remind me to keep on going, and to never stop because I still have so much work to accomplish. I can’t wait to be their classmates in ~1.5 months!
Something that everyone has to remember is that every one of these wonderful, amazing MITers are people too. I personally know all four of the International Biology Olympiad gold medalists, and they are a true delight to be around.
And everyone can be a demigod in his/her own way. You don’t have to be scoring gold medals left and right, getting all sorts of awards, recognitions, or whatever. I haven’t really won anything in my four years of high school, nor gotten any exceptional distinction. But I made it. Positive thinking, guys.
PS. The captchas on this page are WAY too hard. Though not nearly as bad as this –> http://www.nerdnirvana.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/humping-grandchildren.jpg
The profiles surely are vibrant, illustrious and diverse – and again, go on to emphasize the fact that it doesn’t matter what you do, and where you do it – what matters is “how” you do it. Persistence is mission critical to success – and also, to come to a world-class institvte like MIT. And well, I’m a prospective applicant too for the Class Of 2016, but honestly, looking at such an awesome Class Of 2015 doesn’t make me skeptical – it makes me feel even more pumped about the challenge ahead. Afterall, everything amounts to what we derive from it – the notion of growth is supreme. And I guess the College Application process is sure gonna dole out tonnes of that, to everybody – admitted, or not! On that note, thanks for such an awesome post, Chris. Cheers!
I completely agree with James. I love how you’re always so sincere. You people are the reason we, the non gifted ones, try out. I was reading your famous “It’s More Than A Job” just last week!! And look at your blog now. Really, Chris. Really. How are we even suppose to be hopeful if these genius kids get picked? Let’s not forget your probably going lower than 9.6%.
Maybe you should open an admission pool like “Ye Are Gods” just for them. Hmm?
Will the 2011 blogger application be posted soon?
yep! probably next week!
Farah, I believe the admission process tries to look for students who have something more than just intellectual skills. It is more about what the student wants to do with his or her knowledge.
Those amazing kids had the opportunity to do grate things at a very young age. But maybe there are even more dazzling achievements waiting for you in the future, and MIT can help you !!! Give yourself the chance to be like them, or even better !!!
hey clara –
https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/blogger-application-2011
Yay! Thanks!
I am so extremely excited and honored to befriend, study, research, chill, party, discuss, etc. with these people. As far as I’ve found, everyone has something unique and intriguing to share, and I can’t wait to meet the rest of the 2015s! <3
<sigh> I couldn’t make it :'(
Congratulations to all those that got accepted. Best of luck, and enjoy everything at MIT. Try to do everything on your 101 list. Enjoy boston/cambridge and MIT. Study well; I hope you all succeed and become great people.
As for me, I’ll apply again next year, and if I’m destined to be a part of MIT, I’ll be accepted. (hopefully :D)
(The captcha’s are getting harder day by day)
Chris:
Why won’t you publish SES for these people?