Difficulty of getting into top colleges

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the difficulty of gaining admission to top colleges such as MIT and Harvard for graduate studies in engineering or physics. Participants explore the acceptance rates and the implications of applying to these institutions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that gaining admission to MIT or Harvard is hard, without elaborating further.
  • Another participant cites acceptance rates from gradschoolshopper.com, noting MIT's acceptance rate is 9.87% and Harvard's is 11.3%, suggesting that only top students apply.
  • A repeated point emphasizes that if one does not apply, their acceptance rate is effectively 0%, introducing a humorous perspective on the application process.
  • One participant advises that at 17 years old, it may be premature to stress about graduate school and suggests focusing on undergraduate studies first.
  • A participant mentions they have been accepted to AUB and expresses gratitude for the advice given.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of admission to top colleges, but there is no consensus on the best approach to take regarding applications or the timing of concerns about graduate school.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about how to quantify the difficulty of admission beyond acceptance rates and emphasize the importance of undergraduate experience before considering graduate studies.

jamalkoiyess
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Hello PF,
Can anyone tell me how hard it is for anyone to join MIT or Harvard for exemple in engineering or physics for graduate studies?
 
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Hard. (Not sure what else to say)
 
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According to gradschoolshopper.com, which is a resource for physics graduate schools, MIT's acceptance rate is 9.87%, and Harvard's is 11.3%, and also consider that only the top students apply (presumably). I don't know how else to quantify "how hard it is".
 
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Dishsoap said:
According to gradschoolshopper.com, which is a resource for physics graduate schools, MIT's acceptance rate is 9.87%, and Harvard's is 11.3%, and also consider that only the top students apply (presumably). I don't know how else to quantify "how hard it is".
So fast answer : don't even try . Right ?
 
If you don't apply, your "acceptance rate" is 0%, right? :biggrin:

However, considering you're only 17 (according to your profile), I think it is way too early to start stressing out over graduate school. First get into a university for undergraduate physics and see if you still even like physics after studying at that level for a couple of years.
 
jtbell said:
If you don't apply, your "acceptance rate" is 0%, right? :biggrin:

Yeah, but applying also costs money :frown:
 
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jtbell said:
If you don't apply, your "acceptance rate" is 0%, right? :biggrin:

However, considering you're only 17 (according to your profile), I think it is way too early to start stressing out over graduate school. First get into a university for undergraduate physics and see if you still even like physics after studying at that level for a couple of years.
I have been accepted to AUB and will do what u said thanks
 

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