Do the admission officers review the Maker Portfolio?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

Do the admission officers who read the main application go through the maker portfolio?

I tried to avoid duplicating the information but this plan is going to backfire if the maker portfolio is not reviewed by the admission officers who read the main application. I understand that the maker portfolio is graded by experts but will the admission officers at least skim through it?

I have put the pictures and videos in my maker portfolio in chronological order with approximate dates. It lists all my achievements from the age of 8 till the age of 18 neatly. I haven’t mentioned most of these in my main application including the fact that I was programming at the age of 8. My application ‘implicitly’ hints that I was involved in CS activities from a very young age but I haven’t stated it directly.

I did write few lines about them in the February Updates and Notes Form but it isn’t complete.

It is probably obvious that the adcoms won’t go through the maker portfolio because it takes an awful lot of time to review it.

2

I would assume that they will go thru your Maker Portfolio but what kind of impression will it leave. From your description of it I am imagining a long drawn out thing with minutia blown out of proportion that would lead one to wonder (negatively) what kind of person I am dealing with.

I would recommend you review it, if you still can, and make sure that you keep it relative, concise and hitting the high points about you.

3

I had already removed all minutia out of the portfolio because the better parts imply that I must be having a load of minutia achievements. It has some good achievements such as maintaining compilers, running a game server, developing a hobby operating system, creating tutorial websites, etc.

The dates might actually give a big plus for my application. I started working on my OS at the age of 10, made the tutorial website about OS development at the age of 12, etc. And all these are backed up by decent evidence.

4

I guess that I would call any reference to what you did at the age of 10 as minutia. What I would be interested is what you are doing today.

I am not the one reviewing applications, so maybe it is just my way of thinking and not really relevant.

5

it is reviewed by experts and also added to the file we review

6

@MITChris, how much consideration does admissions give the Maker portfolio? My son (homeschooled) applied and submitted one. I know the admissions process is holistic, but I’m wondering if a well done portfolio only really helps if the prospective applicant is applying to a major in the area the portfolio showcases, or if it is of any significant value in reviewing the person as a whole. Does it weigh any more heavily for MIT’s homeschooled applicants? Thank you.

7

it can only help & never hurt the student. if/how it helps depends on that holistic review.