<p>I was just thinking about whether or not MIT would want someone is looking to major in something like English lol. Like imagine your typical engineer candidate student. Now take the complete opposite. If said interest expressed interest, had good recs, and the typical stuff, I think MIT would want someone like that (probably because so few of such people apply to MIT)</p>
<p>Am I completely off base here?</p>
<p>There are actually a surprisingly large number of applicants who are strong in literature and the arts. (Just look at the thriving music and theatre and art scene on campus!) MIT does not evaluate applicants based on any particular department or major so that is unlikely to be a major contributing factor.</p>
<p>What <em>will</em> matter is that if an applicant is "the complete opposite" of a "typical engineer candidate", they would probably not be happy at MIT (and hence would be seen as not a good "fit"). All undergrads have to complete the General Institute Requirements (GIRs) which involve a whopping bunch of calculus, physics, chem, and biology. And it <em>is</em> an institute of <em>technology</em> after all, so students with little or no interest in engineering or math or the sciences are unlikely to be happy there. The Admissions folks are likely to see that, and unlikely to accept someone who is likely to be unhappy or unsuccessful at MIT.</p>
<p>I was sort of completely out of the norm, and I got in (still shocked). I'm waaaay into art and languages, and I want to study linguistics at MIT. However, I'm also really good at math and I've taken a lot of AP/IB science. I stressed in my application my love of languages and my artsiness. I think if you can demonstrate that you are able and willing to take tough math/science, despite wanting to major in English, it can't hurt...</p>