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

<p>normally how long does it take for international students to receive their admission packets?</p>

<p>what is the last date to update MIT on recent accomplishments for RD and for them to consider it? Thank you.</p>

<p>^Early February is about the latest you can reliably send updates. The admissions office generally goes into selection committee around Feb 15.</p>

<p>So I’m expecting to get some significant awards around like Feb 24. Lets say I send them in then and the adcoms have already reviewed my application and I was either waitlisted or rejected, would it get me another look possible or would they ignore it?</p>

<p>There won’t be a final decision on your application at that time – the final decisions are made around the second week of March. But the admissions officers may not be able to see your updates, since they will be away from phone/internet/fax/smoke signal/pony express contact while in committee.</p>

<p>Thank you! And sorry for pushing the question, but when you say “may not be able to see your updates,” what factors would that rely on? Would you say it is likely or unlikely? =D</p>

<p>How does MIT police cheaters applying from China?</p>

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<p>Hi Chris/Mollie,</p>

<p>I’m an international student doing Math HL in IB. However, I intend to ask my teacher if I can study for and write the Further Math paper in addition. Since it isn’t actually offered at my school and wouldn’t be part of my official courseload/transcript, can I still send predicted grades for it?
If not, could I in any other way (e.g. uploading a sample marked paper) substantiate my pursuit of an additional challenge in Further Math on my application?</p>

<p>There’s a space on the application for “anything else you feel we should know”, so you can explain the situation there. This would also be something you could consider asking your teacher to write in his/her recommendation, if that particular teacher will be writing one of your letters.</p>

<p>I am asking this question on behalf of my son. He just finished 9th grade and took SAT II math test this year. He already completed Calculus I at local flagship, so he should know all the concepts.</p>

<p>He got 750. Should he retake, given that next year he will be taking SAT II Chemistry and maybe US History, and therefore will need to simultaneously prepare for at least 1 more test? </p>

<p>One caveat. He has ADHD and is prone to self destruction. As result he is not a straight A student. He will be lucky to have 3.5 unweighted gpa by the time he is done with HS, which will be that high only because he got credit for 4 years of HS math he took in middle school for which he received all As. He also will be getting extra credit for at least 3 Calculus courses which will probably be all As too. If he did not have all these extra As, he probably would graduate with 3.3 gpa maximum. </p>

<p>He does take the hardest workload in terms of AP and Honors course at his HS and in fact takes more than full time credits because of his math studies at the local flagship.
My son really wants to go to MIT and, not having stellar gpa, he needs to have high test scores. </p>

<p>He was quite overwhelmed at the end of this year with AP Music Theory test and final tests at school and the U and literally only spent 2 days preparing for SAT II math test, so I am confident with the right preparation he can do much better than 750. The question is, is it worth the effort?</p>

<p>

Probably not. </p>

<p>From Matt McGann, the director of admissions, [here](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/whats_the_big_deal_about_402]here[/url]:”>What’s the big deal about 40^2? | MIT Admissions):</a>

</p>

<p>Haha I’m having the same problem with the Math II. I would have been happier with a 650 than 750 because then at least it would have been easier to retake :stuck_out_tongue:
I have a question for mollie or Chris. I am very fortunate and go to a very advanced public school. Because of this I was able to take high school courses in middle school. Unfortunately during this time I was happier to play hockey or watch tv than to study. So up until sophomore year my grades are definitely below average, at least for MIT. I have matured since then and have achieved a 4.0 since second semester sophomore year, however my overall gpa will probably end up as a 3.68. I have the most rigorous course load in my class, I’m just afraid that my gpa will scare away the admission officers and the rest of my application wont get another look. How should I best present this information to let the officers know that I have learned from my problems and become a better student because of them? Thanks! (sorry for the long message)</p>

<p>Hello,
I am interested in the PhD in Economics program and have been wondering when would applications be available. I have registered an online ID and password but was not able to access any application online. Do you have an idea when would applications be available? Thank you for your time</p>