For the first essay about how E2/MITES/MOSTEC would help you attain goals, are you specifically talking about MITES, or is it supposed to be a more general essay that could be applied to all three?
@mrhappy2016 It’s up to you. I know people from MITES that made it more general. I made mine MITES specific.
@mrhappy2016 I specifically talked about how MITES would help me and used specific MITES details.
Alright, yeah I think Im going to make mine MITES specific
Hello! I’m also going to be applying this year. Does anyone have any suggestions for writing the essays? I’m finding it a bit difficult to get started 
I’m applying too. Just started writing some and my best advice is to spend a day or two brainstorming all of your ideas. However, sometimes it’s best just to start writing without a plan to “throw-up” all your various thoughts in your head. For the race and ethnicity essay I talked to my parents about our ethnicity(Nigerian) for inspiration.
Thank you! How would you recommend formatting them?
I believe that these should be formatted very much like a college admittance essay. Should be under 300 words, to the point, but somehow makes you stand out.
The struggle is real.
What challenges do people usually write about? I don’t really have a huge life changing challenge to talk about…
And does anybody know what they ask recommenders?
Thank you!!!
Good luck to everyone applying!! I’m not going to, but I heard it’s a GREAT program!! 
Is anyone finding it hard to start the essays? I’m really stuck on how to start the first essay about what my career goals are. Should I talk about college and a future job, or just the job? And should it be specific to MITES, or to all the MIT summer programs in general?
@DancingwithStars Don’t make it specific to MITES because it’s an application to all of their diversity programs except WTP.
What are some examples of a challenge? I can’t think of any that are unique enough
@umdiddle Some good advice I was given was that the challenge doesn’t necessarily have to be unique, but you have to make sure that it is truly important to you and it affected you in a real way. You don’t have to have gone on a life-changing adventure overcoming the obstacles of losing your legs to a shark; anything from failing a class that you cared about or losing a dog or whatever might be considered “normal” is fine to talk about if it was important to you.
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Does anyone know if your EC dont have to be STEM related? I have a few ones I would like to list that are not, but i’m unsure if I should
How are everyone’s essays coming along btw? I haven’t started mine yet, cause of other summer programs but I plan on focusing more on them this month (lol, as if I had any other time to)
I’m applying as well and I want to get to to mites so badly. My stats are pretty good but my extracurriculars aren’t all stem based. It’s a very empty thread so hoping it livens up a little. Good luck to everyone applying!
What are the average standardized test scores like usually? Are there a bunch of people with perfect PSATs/ACT/SAT, or is it more based on diversity and essays/extracurriculars. Will my 35 ACT be somewhat of a boost compared to a lower score, or does it really even matter?
Has anyone written the sixth essay? I’m kind of confused because whenever they say its an “optional” essay, its implied that you should fill it out, but I don’t know what to write about…
@mrhappy2016 It’s optional lol. Also, is your username related to Chance the Rapper’s short film? His acting was impressive!