There is apparently a “hack” that my son has told me about in which an applicant can remove “/status” add “/download” at the end of their portal URL to get their essays on a pdf file. I read that a few years ago Harvard rejected all grad applicants who viewed their files early. From a programmer’s view, if adding a /download is even considered hacking, then I would laugh my ass.
I am amazed that in 2021, anyone, much less an applicant to HYPSM, believes this works. And yet every year, we are inundated with those posts. 
If the “hack” is a way to download your MIT essays and NOT your decision, it would definitely be helpful. Unlike with the Common App, MIT’s application provides no way to save or view your application in total.
It did work, people who did it got to see their applications, but they removed it within the same day it was discovered.
Why does the son want to see his essays? Unless there is some problem like with the MIT application.