<p>This is mainly directed toward those that work with the MIT admissions office: I'm considering applying for MIT a year early and would like to know if MIT views early applications differently/separately from regular applications, i.e., would it be less likely for an early applicant to be accepted than a high school graduate with similar academic credentials? I'll be exhausting my school's math curriculum at the end of this year and plan on continuing my independent studies in math and physics until I graduate. For the most part my studies are centered around MIT undergraduate math courses in abstract algebra, number theory, combinatorics, and analysis, and in my opinion studying texts is an awful substitute for the MIT experience so I would much rather enter college after my junior year than continue studying this way for an additional year. Thanks in advance for any response :)</p>
<p>I’m not an MIT admissions officer, but the general consensus is that you will be expected to compare to applicant who are seniors. i.e. You should have just as impressive courses and ECs. There is no advantage or disadvantage to applying early. If you have exhausted your school’s resources, then why not try? If you aren’t accepted, you can always just remain in high school and reapply senior year, right?</p>
<p>I also wanted to point out that Harvey Mudd and CMU, also top of the line tech schools, seem to be particularly friendly to early applicants. There is also a CC poster going to Caltech after his/her junior year next year. Not sure of their username. Also, Harvey Mudd does not even require a high school diploma to matriculate, not sure about the others.</p>
<p>Your application will be read in the same process as senior year applicants, but the admissions officers will be looking for a little extra information:
From [this</a> blog entry](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/doogie_howser_et_al]this”>Doogie Howser, et al. | MIT Admissions).</p>
<p>Also not an admissions officer, but my son applied this year as a junior and was accepted at all 4 schools he applied to EA, including MIT, Caltech, Purdue (with almost a full ride) and Michigan (with a significant scholarship). I also have an older son who’s currently a freshman at MIT. Feel free to PM me any questions you have if you think I might be able to help and if I get a chance this afternoon, I’ll PM you with just some of my general thoughts on the process. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>