Need advice on essay and application

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I'm almost finished on other parts of the application but I have some doubts as to what would be appropriate on the essay "describe the world you come from". My teacher suggested that I should focus on how my intellectual experience developed and how my family impacted this process. But I've already mentioned my intellectual interests in the essay about major. So would I sound too scholarly or nerdy as to negatively influence my chance of getting in if I devoted another essay to scholarly topics? Or should I write something less academic?</p>

<p>Besides, I noticed someone said that MIT has concern about the authenticity of applications of international students. I am Chinese attending high school in China (I know the meagre chance of getting in...). Is there anything I can do to authenticate my application? What especially makes me concerned is that I got 800 on SAT reading, and rumors say top colleges automatically reject Chinese students who have suspicious scores given the fact that there were people selling answers just outside the test center in Hong Kong where I took the test.</p>

<p>I know I'm over-worried but just need some advice or reassurance.</p>

2

<p>I think they would be suspicious of the authenticity of the application if the applicant has high CR and W scores on the SAT but makes a lot of grammatical mistakes in their essays.</p>

3

<p>Some schools will run both your SAT Writing section and your application essay though an application that compares content gives some indication if they were both written by the same person.</p>

<p>I do not know if MIT does this.</p>

<p>As you get input on your essay, you may find you get so many recommendations for “changing this and that”, that the essay is no longer you. Make sure it still retains “your voice”.</p>