MIT FAQ for application year 2011-2012 (with answers by MITChris)

<p>^Ok. I just called the number listed for the EC and it is not available/out of service. I am very worried. Please answer soon! I need help!</p>

<p>you should email the admissions office</p>

<p>Hi again,
My school uses sends teacher recommendations and such through Naviance; Do my teachers still have to fill out the first part of the MIT recommendation forms? I asked one of my recommending teachers about it and he said it wasn’t necessary. We get around 10 admits a year and several more applicants, so I’m fairly certain he’s experienced in writing recommendation letters as far as MIT goes. I’m not sure if I’m just being overly worried or if this is legitimately a point of concern.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Thanks Chris.</p>

<p>Does not getting into NHS look bad for a top ranked student? It’s not that I lack ECs but that I did not fill out the form properly…</p>

<p>NHS is not something that we pay particular attention to, because it is not sufficiently differentiating among our students. it’s a nice thing to have, but it’s not going to really help or hurt you in the process.</p>

<p>Hi, I’m applying EA but I am taking the November SAT. Will the admissions officers wait for my November SAT scores to come in (at the end of Nov) before reading my application because I will not have them by Nov 1?</p>

<p>1) In my application, I constantly use a keyword that means a lot to me. However the word is somewhat vague, and I cannot find space to define it until in one of the later essays. Is there any part of the application that the reader will read first? (or can I put a note somewhere on the application to define the word I’m using throughout?)</p>

<p>2) I have a tip for a few people out there. I’m on a Windows 7 computer with Office 2010 using Google Chrome to access the application.</p>

<p>When writing an essay in Microsoft Word, the word count will give you a different value than the word count the MIT application does. If you go to [Word</a> Count Tool - Free Tool to Count Number of Words. Word counter!](<a href=“http://wordcounttool.com%5DWord”>http://wordcounttool.com) and paste in a paragraph from Microsoft Word, you’ll notice an increased number of words than what MS Word tells you.</p>

<p>The increased number comes from the use of contractions. For example in Microsoft Word, the word “it’s” is one word. If you manually type in “it’s” into the wordcounttool or the MIT app, it will also be one word. HOWEVEr, if you copy and paste from Word 2010, it will count as two words.</p>

<p>Notice the difference of the ’ :
From MS Word: It’s
Manual: It’s</p>

<p>Yes, I’ve noticed that too! My essay is 246 words and the MIT app says it exceeds the word limit…does that mean it’ll be cut off if I submit it?</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I audited two graduate level courses at a local college. Can I list those courses on my application in the “Additional Classes” area, even though I did not receive credit for those classes, and have no record of them on a transcript?</p>

<p>Hi MITChris,</p>

<p>Does admissions look into who a supplemental recommendation letter is from? For example, would it benefit us to submit a letter for a MIT alum or a famous professor in a certain field?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>@oncloud, delete all the single quotation marks (within the MIT application) and retype them. Save again and it shouldn’t give you the error.</p>

<p>@skepticidal thanks! it worked.</p>

<p>I have a question: let’s say sat scores are an issue (low ones), but I am doing research on a lab right now (lab is affiliated to Caltech), and last summer conducted research as well (lab was involved on a patent). Is it wise for me to apply early (MIT is my dream school), but my sats are not good? I am just nervous about it. I made my research and see in MIT a place were there is the academics of a great institute and the life-changing experience of its atmosphere? Will it be better if I wait? </p>

<p>Thanks for responding!</p>

<p>Hi MITChris,</p>

<p>You said, "Actually, we prefer faxing, which is no envelopes!! "</p>

<p>For faxing, should we label every page with name? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Are the word limits at MIT enforced? Or is it okay if you go over 250 words? Or 100 words for the short answers?</p>

<p>

I would list them under “anything else you want to tell us” – I wouldn’t list classes in the additional class section unless you can support them with a transcript. </p>

<p>

It could help, but only if the letter provides helpful information about why you would be a good fit for MIT. It’s not an automatic bonus.</p>

<p>

It doesn’t matter whether you apply early or regular – the standards are the same for both rounds, and if you are rejected early, you would not have been admitted regular. The only way in which waiting would be advisable would be if your SATs really are very poor, and you are confident that you will improve them in December or January. </p>

<p>

The fax machine turns faxes into PDF, so it should only be necessary to label the first page. But if it were me, I’d label every page – not much extra work, but potentially useful in the event of a mix-up!</p>

<p>

If you go over the word limit, your answer will be printed on the application in a smaller font, which is more difficult to read.</p>

<p>Do you still want our first marking period grades for Early Action?</p>

<p>My school’s grades do not get released until late November/early December. </p>

<p>I may be able to find out my grades for my courses from the individual teachers, but a report card will not be available (and only end of year grades are shown on transcript). </p>

<p>How would I convey my first MP grades to admissions, or is this a necessary piece at all? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>How much difference do international Olympiad medals make?
Can that compensate for other things?</p>

<p>^ Especially for an international student</p>