FAQs, Hopefuls, etc.
I actually was just thinking about making this page lol!
Hi all. I was admitted to the MIT class of 2020. Here’s my advice for getting in: 1. do things because YOU WANT to do them, not because you think they will help you get into college. (I dropped an AP class after the first 3 weeks of senior year because it was way above my level and I consequently didn’t have any free time to do the things I wanted to do outside of school bc the homework was getting to be more of “how good is google” than “how much can I learn”)(YES, you should take the most challenging courses possible and I emphasize the word possible but not if it causes you severe emotional or physical distress. you don’t need that in high school, you’ll have all of MIT too feel overloaded:)) 2. don’t skip out on that disneyland trip with your family just because you want to take the ACT for the 4th time (2.5: don’t take the ACT four times! unless of course during every time you took it a wild tiger walked in and interrupted test taking- in which case I suggest moving to a different location)) 3. Don’t think you’re gpa is gonna make you or break you, nor your sat/act score.(I have around a 3.7ish or 6ish or 5ish unweighted I think, and a 4 weighted) An awesome personality and a few DEDICATED extra curriculars (its okay if its just soccer you don’t have to start a charity) will compensate for a B in AP Bio. 4. I think submitting a maker portfolio really helped my application, so if you did something (even if it was just like painting a water bottle really cooly it is still awesome and you should submit it) and this leads me to advice #4: TAKE PRIDE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!! no matter how small or insignificant you may feel it is compared to something else, the fact is you still did it and you are going to let the world know you did it and that is more helpful than any ap scholar award will ever show. (let it be known; im not saying ap scholar awards are bad. if you have one, SUPER COOL good for you, if you don’t THAT’s STILL ALRIGHT!). 6. don’t let those who underestimate you bring you down. Many people did not think I would get in and actually laughed when I said I wanted to come, but that didn’t matter to me. 7ish: everyone at MIT is special in their own ways. when I went to cpw I met chemists, linguistics*(is that what a linguistics person is called?), builders, physicists, people who may seem so much smarter than me at first (and some very well might be) but no matter what we are all people who share a common passion to create change. People here don’t want to “be” something when we graduate (i.e. be a lawyer, be a worker for that big tech company), people here want to DO something, and that is the greatest advice I can give you. Just considering applying means you’re already awesome!! so don’t stress out, have a wonderful summer (focus on enjoying your last summer of high school- its OKAY not to take that summer triple AP quantum physics/combined basket weaving class, and GOOD LUCK:) I hope to see you in the future. 
Thanks @lifeissogood lots of great advice. What types of things can go in the maker portfolio?
“projects that require creative insight, technical skill, and a ‘hands-on’ approach to learning by doing”
I think of them like inventions or programs or robots, but MIT has A LOT of portfolios. If you want to show them something you are doing, just choose the most appropriate portfolio.
Here are all the portfolios: http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/supplements
Hey, I will be applying for the class of 2021, but I haven’t decided where to spend my SCEA. MIT early action admit rate is marginally higher than its regular decision rate, and if I don’t apply early to MIT I will apply early to Princeton(which has a single choice policy, so no duel EA). Any specific tips on where to apply early, and does it even matter.
(I have no specific preference as to which school I hear from first, but my top choice has been pivoting between MIT and Princeton, “Potential theoretical math major”)
I think it is easier to get in early than regular; at the very least they look at you twice when you apply early (if you get deferred. If you get in early, then that was a good decision, right?).
Apply early to the one you think you want to go to the most. I think the biggest difference between MIT and Princeton is their culture and environment. Visit and see which one you like better!
Hi everyone! I’m a current high school senior (MIT class of 2020) who got in RD with a supplement. It’s still a little early, but if anyone wants another eye to read over their essays over the summer/after the first week of APs, I’d be happy to do so; CC honestly helped me so much throughout high school, and I have so much free time now, so why not give back?
PM me if you have questions/want me to read over drafts/just want to talk!
I would appreciate If you posted your scores and ec’s things like that. I would also like it if you posted the strong points of your application, maybe an essay you think resonated with the admissions team, maybe a really good recommendation that really caught the eyes of the officers. Weak points, mistakes, strong points, tips. Things like this, maybe a “how I got in” thread.
If you PM me, I’ll let you know. My ECs/essays were sorta different (not extremely odd, but I didn’t do, for example, biology research in a lab or anything like that), and I’m mainly just paranoid that someone irl will recognize me, haha.
So I mightn’t apply but any non pure/applied science majors internationals in the house?( is that correct?)
If yes, pm me!
For that “projects that require creative insight, technical skill, and a ‘hands-on’ approach to learning by doing” thing, I am making a blog site form scratch and am also using wordpress to make an online bakery where I will sell cookies and brownies. Does this meet the mark or do I need to do more?
@IndoAmerican If you are asking whether it meets the mark or if you need to do more, I don’t think you’re approaching the admissions question correctly.
@IndoAmerican that’s perfect! just make sure you show screenshots of your site AS WELL AS the link, and any snapchats of code you may have written good luck and also now I want cookies
@lifeissogood Thanks for the support. Do I have to post screenshots or can I just send them a link to my site? I’ll post a link here once I’ve completed the initial bit. @MITer94 I realize that that is probably a ‘wrong’ question, but MIT has been my dream college since like 8th grade and I want to do my best to be there.
@IndoAmerican There is a web-based application called Slideroom that the MIT application will ask you to use for things like that. Once the application opens, it will probably be obvious how to submit supplementary information.
@IndoAmerican If you haven’t already, you may want to read the following:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
It’s good that you are doing those activities; whether it is “enough” is a question that no one can answer except perhaps the admissions committee who will review your application when you apply.
@IndoAmerican yeah go to Ynotgo’s link. when you apply, you can submit a maker portfolio through SlideRoom (I think all portfolios are through slide room). Everything goes through there, you shouldn’t need to email them anything.
Thanks everyone for the support. Can’t wait for december…
There was an article in the newspaper published about my cooking promoting more kids to cook and stuff at least during the summer. It is in my regional language (malayalam). Can this also be submitted. If so, will I need to translate it?