<p>I will be applying to MIT and would be pleased to receive your comments about this issue:
First of all, I love research. I have participated the national science fair and now, I have a chance to make a research project with an MIT professor! This summer, I will be working with an MIT professor to research and definitely sure that I will enjoy every single moment... After all, my question is, after the completion of this research, would a recommendation letter from this MIT professor boost my application? Again, I will be pleased to receive your comments...</p>
<p>Only if it’s a strong letter. And probably not any more than if he were a professor at another serious research university, nor any than his letter will bolster your application at any of the other universities you apply to.</p>
<p>The letters from your secondary school teachers will probably still be more important. But if he actually knows you and can say something concrete and positive about your mind, your work ethic and so on, it’s a good supplemental letter to have, wherever you send it.</p>
<p>Sure, as long as you know him well. Keep in mind it’s not going to guarantee admission. I had a recommendation letter from a former Caltech professor and got waitlisted, eventually rejected.</p>
<p>Also, MIT looks more for high school teacher/counselor recommendations. You’ll have to indicate somewhere on that rec. form that the person writing the letter is a professor.</p>
<p>I agree that a letter from an MIT professor doesn’t guarantee admission, certainly, but I do think that it’s a very helpful thing to have in your application.</p>
<p>A friend of mine had a very strong recommendation letter from an MIT professor, but a weak application overall - she was rejected. Definitely don’t count on it, but yes, I suspect a good letter from an MIT professor is helpful :)</p>
<p>It won’t help much, if at all. I did research at MIT for three years and had a glowing rec letter from a MIT professor. It wasn’t like I was doing grunt work either, I was doing the same stuff as the grad students in the lab. My application was pretty strong overall (more details if you PM me). I was rejected.</p>
<p>I am not the only one I know in this situation. MIT seems to care infinitely more about competitions. Don’t expect research at MIT to even partially compensate for any weakness at all. Don’t even expect it to push you when they decide between two otherwise equal applicants.</p>
<p>If you love research, do it because you love it even though it won’t help you get into MIT. I don’t regret focusing on research despite not getting in.</p>
<p>If you care more about getting into MIT than research, prepare for some competitions, including research competitions. You might be able to combine research and this route. </p>
<p>Research will, however, help with graduate school. Especially if you do something significant like present at a conference or publish a paper. It might also help with other universities in undergrad or some scholarships.</p>
<p>But if you do research, do it because you love it. Worst case you end up with some awesome experiences, a potential rec for grad school, and at a decent university that isn’t MIT.</p>
<p>Good luck. And a lot of this is luck.
expect research at MIT</p>
@wzy12, do you mind if I ask you some questions? I’ve been doing research at MIT for 2 years and have had some good results. I wonder how much this is god to help the college admission process. Also, which college did you end up in?