Few (important) questions about MIT.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>Well I'm considering applying to MIT, what with it being a great college and all the intelligent people you hear about there. I love working with intelligent people :D</p>

<p>Anyway, a few questions:
I'm an international student. Yes, that lowers my chances. First off though, financial aid:
Let's say combined parent's income is 65k per year (living here is generally less expensive than the States so it's more than adequate.) No savings, and ownership of a house that cost somewhere around 130k. I read somewhere that if your income is less than 75k you get a 100% scholarship, with work hours required though. True or not? If not, does this allow me some sort of scholarship? Also, I've got like 15-20k per year fully paid due to the benefits offered in my dad's line of work (college professor.)</p>

<p>Second question: If I have a 3.8+ average (A - but not sure how much on a 4.0 scale since it's international system), and let's say a 1500 on my SATs, as well as several ECAs, including People to People. Supposing my essay is good, and I ask for an interview with a representative. Chances?</p>

<p>Three: Would I even survive in there? I mean, I'm smart, but I'm not a prodigy. I don't have to be to enter and remain (however slightly) competitive - right?</p>

<p>Four: How are others' experiences there? Especially looking for opinions of those who attend or have attended.</p>

<p>Five: Is it worth traveling to go there, and sort of living all alone, (seriously, at 18 it won't be easy) for that kind of education? What are your opinions?</p>

<p>Six: Say I apply and am accepted. Then I decide I'd like to stay here because I don't want to leave everything behind just yet. If I later on apply for a Masters degree or a PhD program at MIT, would my decision not to go affect their decision of accepting me? (As in: "huh, he didn't want to come when we accepted him as undergrad? Despicable." <em>throws away PhD application</em>)</p>

<p>Small additional question: Is getting in as a graduate easier than getting in as an undergrad? Why?</p>

<p>Ok so maybe "few" was the wrong word to use in the title. But thanks :)</p>

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<p>Hi Jimmy!</p>

<p>I am also an International student so I’m in a similar situation as you. I recently got accepted as a transfer. </p>

<p>Your questions, in order:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>My family makes almost the same as yours. We also own a house worth about 130,000. I got a full ride. Yes, with a few work hours. How many? I don’t know yet. But not much as it adds up to very little. No loans though; just one giant scholarship.</p></li>
<li><p>Everyone who applies to MIT has those scores. Your chances are just like everyone elses. Which means you should put your heart into those essays really portray who you are. I had a 1470 SAT and a 3.76 GPA.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes. </p></li>
<li><p>Can’t answer that one as I will be there this fall. </p></li>
<li><p>ABSOLUTELY. Leaving your house and going away to live on your own to study is one of those things that will make you mature like nothing else can. </p></li>
<li><p>Not unless you explain your circumstances and why you turned them down.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Small additional question: Don’t know but don’t think so. A lot of MIT undergrads get don’t make it to the MIT grad schools. </p>

<p>Good luck! =)</p>

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<p>The assets your family own are also factored into the financial aid decisions. You will probably get quite generous financial aid, but I doubt it will cover 100% of tuition. The 15-20k you get as benefit from your dad’s work may be able to cover a good portion of it, however.</p>

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<p>I’ve never attended and will never get to attend MIT, but the people that I’ve talked to who have attended or are attending all spoke very highly of their experiences there. The consensus seems to be that for most people, it’s really hard the first few semesters as you’re trying to get used to the pace and the rigor of the curriculum, but after a while you catch up, get used to things, and will be really glad that you choose the place. The first semester is graded on pass/fail too, which is great.</p>

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<p>

No, it won’t be a factor. Graduate admissions are done by professors in individual departments, and they don’t really care about anything other than whether you’ll be a good graduate student.</p>

<p>

Not generally, no. Again, each department does admissions separately, but almost all of MIT’s master’s and PhD programs are tremendously competitive. It is generally easier to get into a graduate program at MIT if you were an undergraduate here, however.</p>

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<p>Another evidence to show that MIT is not all about numbers. Their grad school has over 2 thousands students more. More spots; narrower chance…</p>

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<ol>
<li>For international students, Financial aid is kind of iffy… I know that most of my friends with incomes in the 50K get financed really well (better than Harvard etc…), but talking about finances is not really tactful (well it’s not really your own business in the 1st place)</li>
<li>Your chances are about as good as anyone else. We really have no idea. I hear for internationals it’s harder, so get ready for the worst.</li>
<li><p>THere’s plenty of smart people here who survive, so yes. (that’s more the norm actually. Geniuses do exist, but most people are just normal smart and hardworking students). If you are smart, but want to surround yourself with smart people AND prodigies, then, MIT is the place.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s an awesome place. Amazing opportunities in science and math. The student body is eccentric, active, cool and super-active. But if you want to really benefit from the place, get ready to study and challenge yourself</p></li>
<li><p>Yes. Definitely (I’d even say ESPECIALLY. It’s good to diversify your education, be it cultural, academic or other.)</p></li>
<li><p>Grad school admission has very little to do with undergrad admission. No worries there. For undergrad admission, they are looking to build an interesting and strong student body. For graduate admission, they are looking for promising researchers who will contribute to the department and the field. Lot’s of difference there.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>

Okay, I’m not sure if I misunderstood, but it most certainly is my business, seeing as it’s one of the many factors that can decide whether I go or not. Anyway…</p>

<p>Many thanks for replying, I got a lot out of it :slight_smile: Just one question though: I know the education and traveling is worth it, but the only thing holding me back from going (considering I’m accepted) is that I’d leave all my friends and that behind. Anyone done this and thought it worth it? MIT life a lot funner and easy to meet people and stuff?
Thanks</p>

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<p>^ Everyone who goes off to college leaves their “friends and that behind.” These days, it’s easy to keep in touch with social networking media, but the main goal of leaving home is to set out in the world and make new friends, experience new environments, and grow and learn new things. As someone who grew up in the United States, I’ve never encountered anyone – not one person in my nearly 60 years of existence – who has ever said, “You know, I really wish I’d just stayed at home after high school and lived with my parents.”</p>

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<p>^ You do make an excellent point. However, I have to tell you: not all cultures are the same. For example, while it may be the norm in the US to move out at 18 and live without your friends and that, over here it’s not. I live in a relatively small country, where everyone I know is at most 1-2 hours away. Going to college here allows me to keep in touch with everyone, plus many of my friends will attend the same college I will. On top of that, the norm here is to reside with your parents until married or slightly before. At least until like 25, if you’re not traveling abroad to study. If you are, usually people do that for a Master’s/Ph.D degree. So it’s a bit difficult for me to leave it all behind - more so, I imagine, than people in the US - at 18. At 21, after finishing college, it seems feasible. </p>

<p>And while I’m SURE that the experience will be simply amazing, I’m just thinking that maybe it’s a bit early. Anyhow, I’ve got around a year to get to a decision, and that’s considering that I DO get accepted - and no one really has great chances on that front, at MIT.</p>

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<p>^It would probably be most helpful to you to talk with others from your own country who have studied at MIT. Here is a link to the international MIT alumni clubs: [International</a> Clubs | MIT Alumni Association’s Infinite Connection](<a href=“http://alum.mit.edu/networks/Clubs/international]International”>http://alum.mit.edu/networks/Clubs/international). If you contact a club close to your area, it might be possible to set up a meeting or at least have an email exchange in which you can address some of your concerns with someone else who has had the experience of traveling far from home to study abroad.</p>