I went to a private school with no standard degree. Can I apply to MIT now ?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am an international student, and after high school I spent three years on a private school where I learned game development (so my main activity was programming, among other things in the "art" field). This school is not a college and is out of the standard system. I do have a diploma, but it has no "legal" value, it's more like a certificate.</p>

<p>Now I have finished this a few months ago, and I want to go to MIT. To keep the story short, I really regret not having any technical background and, while I am self-taught on many tech/science fields because I have been passionate about this for years, I really feel the need to go to MIT to learn all those things I missed and that I won't be able learn by myself.</p>

<p>While I have made many things during these three years (learned game development, worked in game dev studios, worked in freelance for clients, and created a startup), I was technically "out" of the standard scholar system.</p>

<p>So is it possible to apply to MIT as a freshman like I'm just out of high school?
PS: Thanks to being a year ahead, I'm still young (19 years old), so I still have the age of a freshman, don't know if it matters in any way though.
PSS: Is it too late for this year to apply? If so, wouldn't waiting another year ruin my chances ?</p>

<p>I hope someone have some answers here, I'm really lost on what I should do.</p>

2

<p>Contact the MIT admissions office. It all depends on how they classify the game development school you attended. I doubt anyone here could comment definitively.</p>

<p>It’s not too late to apply if you have taken the required standardized tests and you are eligible.</p>

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<p>Oh, didn’t think of directly contacting them. I will do that, thanks.</p>

<p>But about being too late, I finished my school recently, and didn’t consider until very recently the MIT, so I don’t have prepared any tests or anything yet. I saw a deadline on the website the 10/31 which is, well right now. I created my MIT account just in case, but I’m not sure it’s really possible to apply now, starting from scratch. Or is it ?</p>

<p>And in the case I couldn’t, what would be the best way to spend my next year while waiting for the next application round?</p>

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<p>Definitely not possible to apply for the Nov. 1 deadline - but international applicants have to do regular decision anyways! Your application would be due by January 1</p>