<p>If you had to guess what do you guys think MIT Values more? Please list from most important to least important.</p>
<p>(In no particular order)
Interest in MIT
GPA
Class Rank
Passion for subject such as math etc. etc.
Difficulty of Classes Taken
Extra Curricular Activities
Recomendations</p>
<p>I hope I didn't leave anything out!</p>
<p>Cephalization Quotient / Brain-Body Ratio
Evidence of Superpowers
Ability to interface with machines
GPA / Rank / Test Scores</p>
<p>you left off: summer programs (see website)
and national awards</p>
<p>You also left off:</p>
<p>Personality
Sense of Humor
Ability to fit in well at MIT</p>
<p>Don't try to find a formula for admissions, it's like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or the plot in "Madagascar."</p>
<p>Are interviews important in admissions, as well?</p>
<p>This is pretty helpful:
<a href="http://web.mit.edu/ir/cds/2007/c.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/ir/cds/2007/c.html</a></p>
<p>On the common</a> data set, MIT lists the following qualities as "important":
Rigor of secondary school record
Class rank
Academic GPA
Standardized test scores
Recommendation
Interview
Extracurricular activities
Talent/ability</p>
<p>Character/personal qualities is the only factor listed as "very important."</p>
<p>The following qualities are listed as "considered":
Application essay
First generation
Alumni/ae relation
Geographical residence
Racial/ethnic status
Volunteer work
Work experience
Level of applicant's interest</p>
<p>EDIT: Oops, cross-post! :)</p>
<p>Thanks for answering. The information really helped!</p>
<p>Why is the essay considered? Isn't that supposed to be the most important of all in the MIT app?</p>
<p>no, but it does distinguish between two almost identical applicants in terms of scores and such</p>
<p>I think essay is important in determining teh personal characteristics deemed very important. However, the ability to which writing ability is shown through the essay is probably only considered (as opposed to somewhere like Princeton, I'd assume, where how well-written the essay is is probably more important)</p>
<p>I remember hearing that the interview was very important. The local interviewer told both me and my friend last year that he thought we would probably get in, and we both did. However, he had submitted the form by the time I left his office and got home, so I was just very surprised at first b/c I didn't know whether completing that thing in half an hour was good or bad.</p>
<p>In all seriousness, the interview is VERY critical. I don't think necessarily that an interviewer's evaluation has much weight/importance, just that it's basically a requirement.</p>
<p>I was told that I got deferred EA for not doing one, and sure enough, after scheduling and having one, I got in RD. It says "optional", but really, it's not.</p>
<p>I never had an interview (because I missed the deadline), but I was admitted to MIT RD. However, before I found out the decision, I was extremely nervous because everyone kept telling me that my shot at MIT was slim to none because I didn't have an interview. So now I'm not entirely sure how much weight an interview actually has in admissions.</p>
<p>The interview is apparently the difference between like 6% chance and 15% chance.</p>
<p>That means you were very lucky or just outstanding. ;)</p>
<p>I always wonder why ppl ask about which factors are most important to a college. At MIT's caliber, EVERY factor is important. </p>
<p>For example, even if it doesn't put much impo on an essay, you still should write the absolutely best essay you can, because you're competing against some of the best students. (Note: just an example, essays are impo). </p>
<p>So, apply, do the best you can on EVERY section. And don't worry about details like how they rank each section.</p>
<p>Most folks who apply to MIT have the grades and scores needed to make us confident that they will thrive academically here. (Note: you <em>really</em> don't need to have 800s and a perfect GPA to demonstrate this!) After that, it's the match that matters most. See this page for more info on the match...</p>
<p>I had an interview EA and was deferred-rejected...I'm guessing the match wasn't as strong as I thought it was.</p>
<p>what? Racial/ethnic status is considered?
I wish I'm not Asian.</p>