I worked on a project with a senior friend (I’m currently a Junior) which I had the idea for/did most of the work for. However, He applied to MIT this year and added the project as his own idea with no mention of it being a team effort. How do I apply to MIT and add the project without seeming like a copy cat. Or better yet, how do I make it clear to the admissions board that it was my idea which he stole credit for.
You apply to MIT and list the your contribution to the project on your application.
Nope. Not better.
You don’t. You’ll come off as whiny. Unless you were sitting next to him when he clicked submit, you have no idea what his application said. Your application and recs and (potentially) maker portfolio should all speak to your work on the project. If in the unlikely event that MIT feels the need to untangle “who did what,” then they will do so. But you should take the high road.
When you apply, be sure to give him credit: “Undertook Project x (with fellow student John Doe), which examined blah blah blah.” The reviewers should appreciate your acknowledgment of collaborators, and if they remember or admitted John Doe and his project (unlikely), it will reflect poorly on him, not you. Though truthfully, I doubt they will remember unless it was something truly groundbreaking.
I wouldn’t worry about trying to point out that it was your idea and he stole credit. What’s done is done on his part and it will make you look petty or cutthroat. Take the high road here.
I don’t think you should list the other student by name. But be sure you describe your role clearly in your app, and that you worked with one or more other students on the project. Maybe have a chat with your GC in the fall (without sounding defensive and whiny) laying out your role vs the other student’s role. Take a charitable tone - say you are not sure how the other student portrayed it, but you just want to make sure your role is understood in case MIT happens to notice that you both listed the project and has questions. Then describe your role accurately. Then stop talking.
Did he get into MIT or he’s waiting to see? He may not get in. And sorry, but you may not, either, if your own ducks don’t line up properly, your full application. Or even if you’re perfect.
We know nothing about this project, so can’t even weigh in on its value to any college or to your app. Or if it’s even memorable. But you simply state you co-worked on this. No need to name him.
Far more important is taking MIT out of the dream stage and learning what does matter to them. It’s not just stats and some project. Hope you found their blogs.
MIT Admissions officers will probably not notice something from a full year ago. But, the MIT professor reviewer of the project might, if you submit a portfolio and your friend also did, and they both end up on the same desk. MIT uses Boston alumni and professors to review portfolios. Since so few applicants submit research portfolios, it may go to the same exact reviewer as your friend’s portfolio did, and it may not. But did your friend even submit a portfolio? MIT will not care that much, in the end, its not likely to get you in, unless you already published the results. An idea does not get you into MIT. A publication might, a filed patent may help, but that takes two full years to get through the USPTO, and many thousands, so I do not suggest that route for any student. If you have a national award in any area, music, dance, art, science fair win, debate win, that may help, or may not. Applications to MIT are complicated and no way to chance or know if you have all your ducks in a row, including good activities in the summer, good recommendations, and FIT TO MIT. Fit matters most. That means passion for learning, and aligned with MIT goals, go read them.