So I’m looking through the accept/reject thread, and it seems that the accepted applicants tend to have awards from national contests and competitions in the US. Being a person with not much of a competitive spirit, I decided to stay true to who I am (as most admissions websites tend to tell you to do) and so I have not participated in any of these contests so far. But would it actually hurt my application for MIT? I do other things related to hardware and tech that can probably really only be proven by profound understanding of computers, programming, and electronics, but I have no real official awards or titles. Will admissions officer take my word for it that I have done these things/or I have gotten out of my way to fully understand these things without awards or certificates to show for it?
You can get into of course, but I do not understand this:
"(as most admissions websites tend to tell you to do) and so I have not participated in any of these contests so far. "
What do you mean by that? You had the opportunity to participate in national competitions, but you didn’t take them because Unis would think that they were only for embellishing your app? That is pretty weird.
I could only participate in 2 local math competitions and 1 debate competition during my entire high-school, and it does not mean that I had a competitive spirit. Anyway, I lost the three of them 
but I took those opportunities because you never know what could happen.
Just remember that there is no formula and hope the best to everyone applying to MIT this year :)>-
I’m just horribly averse to competition. But from what you say, it seems that simply participating is good enough? Might try for the Hong Kong Maths Olympiad
OP, admissions officers will not assume that you’re lying unless there are inconsistencies in your college application. However, it’s good to have your teacher and other recommenders back your claims up and talk about how great you are with tech and taking advantage of all opportunities available to you, etc.
I’d say if you don’t like academic competitions, don’t do them. They would not only make you miserable but also be a waste of your time because they wouldn’t show you in your best light. However, I can’t believe that you have nothing to show your passion for tech. Have you- built a project? make a website? programmed an app? Whatever it is that you’ve done, even if it’s taken a high-leveled course, there should be some evidence. And I think that admission officers believe you unless if clearly questionable.
@AthenasMight I’ve got around 9 built in projects, no websites yet, 1 tool for managing a certain game, planning on making a mobile app. Would that be enough?
@SerenePotato I honestly can’t judge whether or not it would be enough (I was the competition type) but it certainly sounds impressive to me, and you can show them all off in your maker profile: (http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/supplements) Why would anyone not believe? 
re op: yes, it is.
@MITChris Thanks for the reply! Is it common or uncommon for a student to get in without particularly flashy national/international awards?
To not get in is common. To not get in without particularly flashy national/international awards is also common. All you can (and should) do is to pursue what you love and hope for the best when the people behind the submit button are “fighting for you” during decision time.
I agree w/ Newdle.
I also agree w/ Newdle even though I’m not a credential voice. I’m actually glad that I only centered my life around only two clubs and two non-academic activities. I have so much to write about in my essays about my passion and role in those clubs and activities!!
Of course it is possible to get in without many competitions under your belt.
I knew a classmate who had SAT math and verbal scores quite a bit below the MIT average, and did not have competitions on her resume.
What she did have was a plethora of extracurricular activities under her belt. She truly was a social butterfly, did lots of volunteer work, and spoke several languages.