A Few ?s

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Alright soo..</p>

<p>After looking through a couple topics in this forum, I'm wondering where these awards, contests, camps, etc. many MIT applicants are involved in - are coming from. I've heard of almost none of them, and they all have acronyms as if they're commonplace. I figure it's the fact my school is tiny compared to most (60-70 in my class) that these things aren't very well known.</p>

<p>Now, I feel not being involved in these kind of things is pretty limiting on an application (not necessarily to MIT). I'm a junior now, so I still have a year where I can get involved in more of these activities, but not like I could if I'd known them a few years ago. And the APs: I'm taking all of them offered at my school (5) and the most difficult courses possible (not a lot of opportunity there), and it doesn't compare with students at other schools.</p>

<p>So, do these kind of factors limit the strength of an application? Or will the context of a situation like mine be taken into account?</p>

<p>Also what contests, camps, etc. would be good to try out?</p>

<p>Oh, and what exactly is the 'research' many people are involved in? Like doing research at a university (which I don't see how one gets started in) or doing research on something at home?</p>

<p>I'm more curious than anything, and trying to see what others are doing that I might be interested in.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>

Yes, absolutely.</p>

<p>Don’t be deceived by the general clued-in-ness of CC posters – not everybody who applies to MIT has these kinds of awards. They’re great, for sure, but are definitely not a requirement to be admitted to MIT.</p>

<p>

Either or both, depending on the field. In some fields, it’s relatively easier to carry out experiments or build things on your own – my husband put together a science fair project based on rockets he’d built in his backyard. But in some fields, the really cool stuff is mostly done with expensive lab equipment, so people might email professors at a local university, or else use connections with family friends or relatives to get a position.</p>