<p>Hi everybody,</p>
<p>at the risk of repeating a question already asked:
do international students <em>need</em> to have a state or national distinction? Do non-competitioners also get in (international applicants)? I know that it is definetely possible for US guys, what about non-US?</p>
<p>Thanks very much.</p>
<p>I think it would help. Though there aren't any set criteria pertaining to distinctions, anything that can separate you from the rest will help. I guess they want to see passion and interest in an area. Above even interest, they want to see action and initiative.</p>
<p>~Just my 2 cents</p>
<p>I could say that many people with national / international awards do not get in , as well as many without DO get in.
But certainly having national / international awards increases your chances.</p>
<p>Well, this is true for everybody, not only internationals, I guess.
The problem is that I only started participating in competitions recently. I thus only have regional distinctions (it might turn out that I'll have a state distinction, but it'll be too late to tell MIT). Anyway, my passion is mathematics and computer science. The essays show that. Go MIT! ;)</p>