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

<p>Hi all, I have a question regarding the word count for essays. Is it OK to exceed the word limit? If it is permissible, by how many words are we allowed to exceed the limit? While the application will give an error if we exceed the word limit, there is an option to “save the application anyway”. Does that mean that it is permissible to exceed the limit? Thanks.</p>

<p>okay so no chatting, but back to my question. </p>

<p>The application asks to list A levels/O levels taken or underway. There isn’t enough space to list all my exams, also by O levels they mean IGCSEs as well right?</p>

<p>^ well, i didnt list my IGCSE… and btw, whdo u mean by not enough space, I have 6 A levels and I fit it… unless u have 10… and that’s alot! :D</p>

<p>Lol, okay thank you. And no I was counting my A levels and IGs together… but if I’m only listing the A levels then its just 5. =) </p>

<p>Did you get accepted?</p>

<p>messi38 – you can save for later, that means they want you to cut it down. if you try to submit, it will not let you.</p>

<p>I was looking at the recommendation sheet and it says that any letters not typed on the school’s letterhead will not be accepted. Is this direction strict? My school is on break and my teacher placed the recommedation in the envelope and signed it without me seeing anything, therefore I don’t know whether or not she put it on a school letterhead.</p>

<p>I have a question on the specifics of section and hope I’m not asking for too much detail-</p>

<p>During selection committee, do you guys base your judgement on only the summary cards or with the summary cards and application in front of you? I’m asking as a deferred applicant since I’ve heard that the same summary cards are used in RD as in EA and if I submitted another essay, I want to make sure it will be looked at and considered as a part of my application during committee. </p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>^They have the entire application folder in front of them during selection. If you send in another essay, it will absolutely be read and considered with the rest of your application in the RD round.</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I would like to ask my university professor to write a recommendation for me, as he may be able to show a different side of me. I was wondering what recommendation form he should fill up. Should he fill up the one for Maths and Science teacher (He taught me Computer Science)?</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I was filling up the MIT application form today and I have a few questions. Firstly, the holiday system in my country is kinda different from that in the US I think. We have holidays speckled through the year, not just during summer (actually I live near the equator, so it’s summer all year round). So may I know if I can fill in activities that I did during my holidays?</p>

<p>Secondly, I entered some research programs that stretch across the whole year, but I did the bulk of the research during my holidays. Can I put those down as well?</p>

<p>Thank you very much!</p>

<p>

It will be fine – no need to worry.</p>

<p>

A supplemental letter of recommendation can use the math/science recommendation form, or it can just be a letter without the form. </p>

<p>

Yes, by “summer” activities, they mean those that are done during your holidays from school.</p>

<p>

Yes, of course.</p>

<p>Is MIT Chris getting an MIT diploma in 2012?</p>

<p>I have a question about responding to this question on the application:
Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (*) (100 words or fewer)</p>

<p>I am interested in fusing two unrelated subjects (major in one, minor in the other). Can I talk about both in my response or should I focus on only one? In my response, I was planning to talk about how I would combine the subjects to pursue my goal. However, I am realizing it just wants me to focus on one.</p>

<p>@texaspg - </p>

<p>Huh?</p>

<p>there was a chris’12 on a video…</p>

<p>That ain’t me. Chris M. '12 is a blogger</p>

<p>You should get a honorary diploma :D</p>

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I am have written an additional essay and a few other information in the additional info area and when I save it I get an “over the limit error”. However, when I tick the box to ignore the error the full text is saved and in the preview application no text is cut. </p>

<p>Should I delete a part of my essay or should I ignore this error.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I’m out of space for a few of the subjects, including the space in “Additional Classes” on Self-Reported Course Work on the application. To fit everything in the space provided, should I delete a class or two from 9th grade if it allows me to fit room for 12th grade class(es) for example?</p>

<p>Also, when I paste some of my essays into the online application, I receive ���� for certain characters, such as a dash and other random strings of letters. Is this something to worry about or will you guys still be able to see what I put without the ���?</p>

<p>

You should write your essays in a plaintext editor, or at least paste them through such an editor to remove formatted characters.</p>