Hi,
Was just wondering if people knew what they asked for on the February update. (https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/february-updates-notes-form/)
The website mentions your first semester grades and “important updates”, but I was curious about what else they asked for- for example, what counts as an “important update”? is there more writing?
Thanks!
Aside from first semester grades, once you submit your application, AOs have absolutely everything they need to make their decision. Every applicant to a selective college will have accomplishments which occur after submission. AOs know that, but they don’t want to be inundated with minor updates from 22K applicants.
So does that mean that you should not submit updates? No. That’s not what I’m saying. But you need to be judicious. If it’s something that made the nationally-read papers like your Academy Award nomination (or similar prestigious achievement), include on the update. If it’s to tell them that you were elected softball captain (or anything at the school level), don’t.
Its your chance to tell MIT anything you like, but wait and see if you are deferred. If you get in EA, no reason to update them, except for your final official transcripts in the spring. MIT Admissions is different in that they actually read applications at least twice, (I mean two different admissions officers ) if you make the pile that are short listed, Many colleges, Ivies included, are not as well staffed in admissions as MIT is, to read everything you send. Many students send MIT reams of information. It can be overkill, so use your best judgement.
There isn’t more writing or essays on the Feb. update. It’s exactly what it says it is. From the time you submitted your app in October to February, has anything happened that you want them to know about? I disagree with skieruope, if you became softball captain, let them know. Why not tell them, they asked after all. My kid got in EA and won a bunch of county awards in December and he put them on there. They asked, he told.
Congrats to him, but he got in EA so he did not need to do a February update.
“Call me sometime, we’ll do lunch” does not mean that I really want you to call me, even though technically I asked. Obviously if you’re filling out the form, you can list something rather than nothing, but the whole laundry list of new “stuff” will not be, IMO, an application enhancer.
Everyone was required to submit the Feb. update whether you got in EA or not. Sorry ski, I still disagree. If my kid became captain of the softball team after her app was submitted, I would advise her to put it on there. Otherwise, they would just request updated grades.
Don’t send your laundry list to MIT. Write about what you love. Laundry lists do not work for MIT applications, no one cares about lists. What they care about is you. Do you really want to work hard? Do you want to study something MIT offers and why, Do you want an ultra urban campus with lots of busses and cars racing by? What excites you about MIT? Answer those questions well and you can get in. And yes, add stuff in February, as why not give yourself the best shot. But again no one cares about lists, NO ONE. Thats dull, a list. Write about YOU.
And yes, EA students do submit a final transcript, and MIT
really does want to know about their freshman class so they do ask!!!
, as they LOVE TO BRAG about students, such as @alwaysdriving’s kid.
MIT really does LOVE stats, so yes they ask, and ask and yes you should tell them what they are asking
as they use it to market the school.
MIT has the best marketing in the world, better than Harvard or Stanford, in my opinion, because THEY ASK
and students tell. Good job @alwaysdriving with your kid.
When they ask for new or updated information, that does not mean material that rehashes what was already sent, nor does it mean additional letters of recommendation. It means new and updated info.
@jasmine2000 from last year:
February Updates & Notes:-
a) List of subjects taken in final school year and Grades
checkboxes:-
b) Your Updates :- short notes/essay/jokes/… (if any).
The February update form is required. @skieurope
But the FUN document wasn’t a part of requirement for EA right? Just making sure cuz the box remains unticked on MyMIT.
The Feb update form doesn’t come out until January.
tell them stuff that you think will add to your application. You don’t have a ton of space, so as long as you don’t essentially write them a new essay, it’s ok to add 1-3 things that have happened.