MIT FAQ for application year 2013-2014

<p>

I don’t think there’s a required way that the readers go through the application – probably each reader reads the application a little differently. But the application is certainly read as a whole, so if your reader sees the essay first and the activity description later, he or she will probably go back to the essay if necessary.</p>

<p>

It’s not unusual for updates to take a week or two. The MyMIT updates are, AFAIK, updated by a real human being, so it takes a little time to retrieve the documents and match them with your folder. </p>

<p>In general, you should assume all of your application components have arrived safely at MIT until two or three weeks after the EA or RD deadline. If you’re missing an application component after MIT has gone through all the mail and email, they’ll notify you and give you a chance to send another copy of your missing material. Until then, it’s not really worth worrying about.</p>

<p>Strange, it appears they still haven’t archived/purged their database for reapplicants. With the interview scheduling deadline in 11 days, should this be concerning?</p>

<p>Mollie, we need help!</p>

<p>Today we found out that one of my son’s teachers who is writing evaluations for a couple of other schools (but NOT for MIT) accidentally sent her evaluation to MIT. she was uploading her evaluation to Naviance for the other schools and probably applied the evaluation to all schools, including MIT. What can we do now? Can we request MIT to purge that evaluation? Thanks.</p>

<p>IntoTheWoods, you should contact MIT Admissions.</p>

<p>Will do. Thank you, Piper.</p>

<p>Hello, I’m applying this fall and I had a few questions about some of my hobbies. Recently (as in the past few months to two years) I’ve spent my leisure time on both fashion and dance. Aside from writing about my interests in the short answer about free time, would it be worthwhile to submit a dance routine or an album of outfits (if I didn’t make the clothes) either as part of a Maker portfolio or in the additional information section?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>As I was looking at the MyMIT testing section, I didn’t immediately notice any way to self-report additional SAT II scores in any subject (Math, Science, History, etc.). Are we just supposed to have CB send them to you or… is there a space to self-report that I overlooked? Thanks!</p>

<p>

If something is important to you, it’s always worthwhile to include in the application. </p>

<p>

There’s no need either to self-report or to send them, unless you want to. MIT only considers the two best scores that fit their criteria (one math and one science).</p>

<ol>
<li>Is an internship work, or should I put it under extracurriculars?</li>
<li>Should I actually put down summer activities even if I didn’t do anything worthwhile (ie relaxing, watching tv etc)?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you, mollie!</p>

<p>I submitted Part 1 of my MIT application a couple weeks ago. Then, my dad was still employed so that’s what I put on the application, but now he is not anymore. He probably won’t have a job for a couple of months, or perhaps an entire year…
So my question is: should I contact the MIT admissions people to have them change my Dad’s information to show that he is unemployed? I am applying early action, so do I need to be doing this now?</p>

<p>

I would say it’s work, but there shouldn’t be any issue if you’d prefer to put it under extracurriculars, either. Many things in the application could fall into two or more categories, and it’s okay to use your best judgment to classify them.</p>

<p>

It’s up to you. In a practical sense, I don’t think that writing nothing will be different for your application than writing that you relaxed and watched TV – I don’t think either situation hurts you, although neither helps, either.</p>

<p>

There’s no need to update them, unless you feel that this is an important piece of context for your application. In terms of unemployment and its effect on financial aid, the financial aid forms won’t be due until February, and your parents will be able to explain to the financial aid office if their income for 2013 will be significantly different from their income reported on their 2012 tax returns.</p>

<p>I’d prefer to put it under work actually because I have other extracurriculars I’d rather put down. Thanks!</p>

<p>I am applying to MIT via questbridge. Is it okay if my recommendation letters came from my math and physics teachers? I know you are supposed to have a math/science teacher and a humanities teacher, but it didn’t say so on questbridge.</p>

<p>If it’s okay for the QB application, then it’s okay. If you’re not matched or admitted EA, though, I’d consider sending a humanities recommendation before the RD round.</p>

<p>Hypothetical Situation:</p>

<p>SAT I (first time): M: 200, CR: 300, W: 400
SAT I (second time): M:250,CR:350,W:380</p>

<p>Lets say I want to use ScoreChoice to only send the second test. Then on the MyMIT application where it says “highest score” do I put the 400 or 380 for writing?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Also, how should I send an official transcript of courses that I’ve taken at a University?</p>

<p>Mollie/Piper,</p>

<p>After my initial post last week, per Piper’s suggestion, we wrote to MIT admissions about the wrong teacher rec having been sent to MIT, but we have not received a response yet. How long does it usually take for them to get back? We are a little nervous about this. Thanks.</p>

<p>

380 – they’re asking for the highest score you’re reporting. Personally speaking, I wouldn’t use score choice for MIT. They will only use the best section scores to evaluate you, and won’t consider lower scores. There’s no advantage to using score choice, because MIT chooses to use only your highest scores anyway.</p>

<p>

You can either give it to your guidance counselor for him/her to send along with your high school transcript, or you can mail it to MIT yourself (or have the university mail it) to the address at the bottom of the admissions webpage.</p>

<p>

Personally, I’d give them a call. They do a good job responding to emails, but in my experience, it’s harder for something to fall through the cracks over the phone.</p>

<p>Alternately, if possible (I’m not familiar with the nuances of the Naviance system), could you just have the desired teachers submit their recommendations, and then just mail a note to MIT asking for teachers X and Y to be the eval A and B teachers?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>From my experience, they usually email back within two days. If you call them, make sure to call between 9 and 5 or else there won’t be anyone there. Actually, it would be better to call towards the middle of that range, since I called at 4:40 PM once and got a message saying their office was closed.</p>