<p>On the MIT's transfer admission FAQs webpage, there is the following excerpt: </p>
<p>"We do not, however, admit students who will be within three semesters of acquiring a bachelor's degree at the time of transfer."</p>
<p>How does the admission office determine if the student has three semesters left or not? A lot of this has to do with how much credit MIT grant the student. </p>
<p>For example, a senior from another college may graduate soon in his previous college, but MIT may not grant him that much credit so he would still have to attend MIT for at least three semesters before getting a degree. </p>
<p>I think it means that you should not be within three semesters of graduating at your current univ, instead of after being admitted to MIT (is that what you thought?).</p>
<p>But that doesnt' make any sense since colleges are so different from each other. Others give you tons of credit for nothing. Others are much more strict and have lofty standards.</p>
<p>For example, I had TONS of AP credits that my school gave me, but MIT would probably not give me as much.</p>
<p>MIT accepts a limited set of APs for first-year placement. It's worth investigating MIT's policies on transfer credits to understand how they would deal with incoming credits from other institutions (and AP credits for transfer students). Note that they recommend that transfers have taken courses at the college level in the GIRs (General Institute Requirements: calculus, physics, chemistry, bio), even if their original institutions did not require them to do so as a result of AP credits, for instance. From the "About the Transfer Process" page in the Transfer Students section of the MIT Undergraduate Admissions website:
[quote]
I have placed out of several of the recommended courses due to Advanced Placement credit. Do I still need to take these courses even though my current college did not require me to do so?</p>
<p>Yes. MIT prefers that students take these subjects (calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology) at the college level. Remember that you can always place higher within each discipline depending on your abilities. If you are admitted, you will be granted credit for high scores on AP tests.
[/quote]
I am sure mercurysquad is right, if your current institution deems you to be within three semesters of graduating, MIT will not admit you as a transfer student.</p>
<p>Another thing worthy to note from that page: "Transfer students typically lose at least one semester of course work."
[quote]
I have completed two years of college. Will I graduate in two years if I'm admitted to MIT?</p>
<p>Probably not. Since students lose credit in the transfer, most students enter MIT as a sophomore, regardless of the amount of course work they completed at their previous college(s). Further, transfer students are required to attend MIT for at least three semesters to be eligible for graduation.