Hi guys,
Which extracurricular activities are appropriate when applying at MIT?
I am asking this because there might be students who have scored in maximum in SAT test and have all straight A+ in advanced science courses, but they don’t have any extracurricular activity.
The ones that you want, you should check the MIT blog, there is an post called “there’s no formula” I strongly recommend you to read it.
Pursue ECs that interest you, not ones that “look good” on college apps. You won’t regret it
You presume there’s some prescribed list of MIT extracurricular activities? Step back a little. That’s crazy thinking.
@lemanhotski - here is the blog post @Mrduque was referring to: [There Is No Formula](There Is No Formula | MIT Admissions)
ECS that you enjoy and can really get involved in, are the ones I recommend as well.
Also a very good read:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
Do the extracurricular activities that interest you, first and foremost.
.
I did golf because I liked it… I did tennis because I liked it.
I did figure skating because I loved gliding on the ice, balancing my spins and falling on my butt every time I tried jumping.
I rode horses because it was the most relaxing feeling in the world. Plus horses are cute.
I was on the math team, because I liked math and enjoyed the competition.
I was in student government because I enjoyed all the social interactions with my other classmates. Same with the school newspaper actually.
I was in the environmental club, collecting recyclables around school because I felt it was an important cause.
I was a volunteer math tutor, because I wanted to help my fellow high school students not feel frustrated by algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.
I was a hospital volunteer during summer breaks, because a family friend who worked at said hospital asked me to.
What I did not do was join said extracurricular activities in order to get into MIT.
Look at what activities your high school offers and see what appeals to you, not your high school resume.
Also, look outside of your school. My skating and horseback riding were non-school activities available in my town.
Let your activities be food for your soul, not a punch list.