Question about essay topic

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>I saw this post in another thread about the past essay topics. The optional essay about "tell us about something that you have created. This can be, for example, a design, a device, and object, an idea or concept, a piece of music or art" seems very vague. </p>

<p>If this indeed is the essay, I did create something for fun, and might be extending it this summer. However, the thing, if one wants to really understand it, needs like a spreadsheet and some formulas (its more of an idea that I created) to really understand. It does say "show us" in the question-how do you exactly do that?</p>

<p>I know that the MIT app has a certain section where to write an essay? Does that section like support Excel or a few math symbols, maybe with LaTeX? Or do I have to attach this as a supplement like a research paper, although this is way more informal.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<ul>
<li>On a separate sheet, show us and/or tell us about something that you have created. This can be, for example, a design, a device, an object, an idea or concept, a piece of music or art.</li>
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<p>This is optional, but I’ve known students who’ve mailed MIT the following:

  1. Cd recording of one or more musical performances
  2. Art portfolio (my daughter mailed a cd containing a digital portfolio)
  3. Computer program developed by the student
  4. Prototype model of an invention (or pictures of this with explanation)
  5. Research report (MIT actually prefers the abstract)
  6. Essay; play, poem, or short story
  7. Business plan for a start-up
  8. A mathematical proof
  9. Etc. </p>

<p>You could mail in a cd with your spreadsheet, formulas and overview.</p>

<p>The list above is pretty traditional, but I don’t really think there are limits to what you could send in. Mind and hand. Have you ever…
-Developed original recipes?
-Designed a new kind of kite?
-Built a boat?
-Modified an existing sprinkler system to water in odd places?</p>

<p>If so, a few photos and description of the project is all that is required for this optional part of the application.</p>

<p>In fact, I’m not sure this even has to be a project you’ve finished. For instance, although my daughter sent in a digital art cd, she could have sent in photos and discussion of her efforts to build an infrared laser in our garage. Unfortunately for her, we stopped her from working on that project, because we thought she’d either kill herself or blow up the house. But I do think that’s the sort of anecdote that reveals a personality that might be a nice match for MIT.</p>

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<p>Ok thanks. I just thought it might have to be something traditional that you have to write down in an essay.</p>

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<p>The MIT application in general is pretty free-form, and overwhelmingly supports you crafting the application you want to craft. There’s no reason you have to write a nice, dry five-paragraph essay for each essay question, and even if you want to do that, you can always send any extra material you think would be useful as supplemental material.</p>

<p>Like an MIT education itself, the MIT application has very few hard-and-fast rules.</p>