<p>In this thread, we'll try to organize the questions that appear very often. Do not hesitate to recommend past posts by posting links. </p>
<p>I'll start with a few:</p>
<p>*How many SATIIs? With the new SATI, how many SATIIs are required? *
See link to MIT:Testing</a> Requirements </p>
<p>"For entry year 2006: SAT I (either the old version or the new version, available beginning March 2005) or the ACT (with or without the optional writing test). In addition, we require three SAT II Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 (Ic) or 2 (IIc)), one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m), and the third in any area of your choosing.</p>
<p>"For entry year 2007 and beyond: SAT I or the ACT with the writing test. In addition, we require two SAT II Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 (Ic) or 2 (IIc)), one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).</p>
<p>"For non-native English speakers (for entry year 2006 and beyond): You have two options: 1) take the tests required for native English speakers (see above), or 2) you may take the TOEFL and two SAT II Subject Tests, one in math (level 1 (Ic) or 2 (IIc)) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m)." </p>
<p>SAT I (either the old version or the new version, available beginning March 2005) or the ACT (with or without the optional writing test). In addition, we require three SAT II Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 (Ic) or 2 (IIc)), one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m), and the third in any area of your choosing. See Matt McGann's blog at MIT:<br>
<a href="http://matt.mitblogs.com/archives/2005/08/testing_require.html%5B/url%5D">http://matt.mitblogs.com/archives/2005/08/testing_require.html</a></p>
<p>** Where do I find the MIT admission's blogs? **
... there's an article about them in today's The Tech online. You can access the blogs through the MyMIT portal, or directly by name (e.g. <a href="http://ben.mitblogs.com%5B/url%5D">http://ben.mitblogs.com</a> or <a href="http://matt.mitblogs.com%5B/url%5D">http://matt.mitblogs.com</a> or <a href="http://nance.mitblogs.com%5B/url%5D">http://nance.mitblogs.com</a> for the Admissions officers' blogs). Often, a topic of concern to prospective students on CC has already been discussed by Admissions officers on their blogs (a good case in point is the question of what supplemental materials could be submitted with an application, and how to do so, which Matt McGann covered in an entry just this past week). And visiting the student blogs (also linked from the right-hand columns of the Admissions folks' blogs listed above) gives you a great idea of what student life is really like. Plus they all accept (and welcome!) questions and comments! Visiting the blogs regularly is highly encouraged. :)</p>
<p>How many recommendations are needed? **
MIT requests 2 teacher recommendations, one from a math/science teacher ("Evaluation A"), and one from a humanities teacher ("Evaluation B"). Additionally, the "Secondary School Report" form should be filled out by your guidance counselor or principal. Regarding further recommendations, see Matt McGann's recent Admissions blog entry on the subject of supplemental materials:
[quote]
**Extra recommendations. If you feel an extra recommendation would show an important additional side of you not already covered, you may send in an additional letter of recommendation. This in general would not need to be on an MIT recommendation form from the application; a separate sheet of paper is most common. In general, third recommendations from a teachers do not provide much additional insight; the most helpful supplemental recommendations come from people who know you well outside the classroom. Some helpful extra recommendations I've seen have come from research mentors, youth group leaders, coaches, and bosses. If you decide a third recommendation is necessary, have your recommender send this via US Mail to MIT Admissions, and be sure your full name and date of birth are included.
[/quote]
I trust this answers your questions. I recommend Matt's blog for lots of information on the application and admissions process: you can also link from there to the blogs of other admissions folks and current MIT students, for a very good sense of what the admissions process, and student life, is like.</p>
<p>*When is it appropriate to visit? *
My son also visited as a junior (although in March). We took a tour, had the info session (detailed schedule available here), and checked what classes were available</a> for sitting in. There are definitely classes held on Fridays, but check the list to see if there are any in your departments of interest. The "Campus Tours and Information Sessions" page in the Undergrad Admissions website has lots of useful links. (But it's hard to link here: go through MyMIT for easiest access.) There is also a page there on the "Overnight Program" which notes:
[quote]
From October through February, any high school junior or senior may arrange an overnight visit.
[/quote]
so you could surely arrange this in Nov. as a junior if you wanted to. There is a link to the "Overnight Visit Registration Form" on that "Overnight Visits" page.</p>
<p>Our visit to Caltech showed us that it was not for my son either, by the way. He seems quite happy at MIT.</p>
<p>Does MIT accept rush reports
Ben Jones says: We do. No worries.</p>
<p>How much time is spent on an application? And do know any good jokes?
Ben Jones wrote: Do you mean on your end or on our end? My guess is that significantly more time is spent on your end. :-) Sorry, bad joke.</p>
<p>Well, let's do the math. First a senior staff person will do a quick read to make sure there aren't a bunch of D's or combined 400 on the SAT. This takes about 10 minutes tops. Any application that has even a remote chance of making it through selection committee will make it past this stage. This is just to make sure we're not wasting time doing full reads on people who aren't competitive (and by that I mean <em>really</em> not competitive).</p>
<p>After than, 2 readers will read everything in your folder (yes, everything) and write individual summaries. Figure 25-45 minutes per reader, depending on the speed and experience of the reader and the size of the app.</p>
<p>Then selection committee, where different groups (each generally comprised of 2-3 admissions officers and sometimes a faculty member) will discuss the app for ~10 minutes each, guided by the two summaries (but able to access anything in the folder they want). If it's a clear admit, sometimes the group can admit, but generally an admitted app is seen by at least 2 groups and usually more like 3, even 4.</p>
<p>Then Marilee (Dean of Admissions) will personally review each and every admit (I don't know how long, prob 5-10 minutes) before approving the final decision.</p>
<p>So I'm not sure if your question meant just reading, or the whole process - but either way, you can figure it out from the info above.</p>
<p>Does MIT mix and match ACT and SAT?
Mootmom wrote: While they ask you to list on your application your scores for your best single-sitting composite score <em>OR</em> for the date on which you received your best math score, they will use the official score report you have sent to them and (as Timur says regularly) look at whatever scores make you look best. If your best scores came from two different test dates, they will notice that and proceed accordingly. They will use whatever makes you look best.</p>