@MITChris
Hi, I’m an international student who will be applying to MIT next year. I have heard often that the international students’ competition is exponentially more as compared to domestic applicants. But I have one, or rather a few questions:
•Are the guidelines of admitting an international students the same as for a domestic student?
Because from what I’ve read and heard, domestic admits express themselves very well along with good test scores while international applicants by default have International Olympiad medals and stuff.
•What does ‘extracurricular activity’ actually mean?
Because, in my opinion, most international applicants have medals, certificates of international competitions to show for it. But suppose, suppose I have only city level certificates; but I do some kind of community work. According to mitadmissions it is an ECA since it’s an ‘out of school’ activity, then why is it that only people who achieve international awards are admitted?
•MIT doesn’t base admissions on numbers, but rather on who I am.
But why is it that every single intl. admit has some very good ECA medal/certificates? Are other people not considered?
•Internship opportunities: Isn’t really available at my place; am I at a disadvantage then?
•Lastly, are there any international undergrad admits to MIT who don’t have an Olympiad medal, don’t have an international certificate, but got admitted because they were best at being who they were, pursuing their own interests in accordance with the resources were available? Does being me count as much in the intl. applicant pool as much as it does for domestic applicants?
Thanks in advance. I inquire because I really want to get into MIT; it’s my dream school.
Yes. The criteria for admission for internationals is exactly the same as that for domestic students, except that the competition is tougher. Every year, a great many internationals get in without international awards (of course they do not hurt). MIT is interested in the decisions that you make about your education and about how you spend your time. So a key focus of the ECA question is finding out what you choose to do with your time with other students when you are not in class and not studying. Some schools and countries offer many after school clubs and activities, from inter mural sports teams, drama and music performance groups, and special interest societies. Other schools offer hardly any, but there things are available outside of school, for example non school based youth orchestras or dramatic societies, sports teams representing the town or neighbourhood, special interest clubs that exist outside of school (perhaps though meet ups). Every application is evaluated in context. So if your school offered forty clubs and you chose not to participate in any of them, then that raises questions. If your school offered none, then that does not raise questions. But if your school offered none, then what else did you do outside of school.
@Mikalye Thanks for the response.
Yes I do understand all of that, the MIT website also says that. But then everywhere it’s almost like a fact that all intl. admits are Intl. Olympiad Medalists and stuff. So that kinda bothers me. Around 150 people get into MIT each year, and only around 4/5 from my country, so are they all medalists?
@derpro Why do you keep asking the same question over and over again. You can continue to believe that every international admit is a prestigious medal winner or you can listen to every person that has anything to do with MIT that that is just not the case. Many international students have won awards but just about as many have not. Stop stressing about it. if MIT is your dream school then apply because that is the only way for your dream to possibly come true. If MIT is just a name you know because it keeps coming up at the top of the lists of best schools in the world then maybe don’t bother applying. The MIT application specifically is a lot of work because it’s not part of the Common App.
@rothstem
MIT is the perfect school for me and I know it. I am applying. I believe that I can get in. But everywhere I look, there’s only this one ‘allegedly true’ fact: All those who get in are international Olympiad medalists.
But I feel otherwise. It would give me a great boost of confidence if there’s evidence to prove that as well. Therefore my question.
By the way, please do check my profile too! http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1799831-chance-me-for-mit-ucb-caltech-cornell-and-a-few-others.html#latest
I don’t know where you’ve been looking because I have never seen somebody claim that all international students that get into MIT are olympiad medalists. My evidence? I was accepted to MIT as part of the Class of 2019, and I have gotten to know many students (including internationals). While all of them are extraordinary people, there are many ways to display extra-ordinance beyond winning an olympiad medal.
I don’t think it is. Your position seems to be that when MIT is saying you don’t have to be an Olympiad medalist, that they are lying to you. Why on earth would you want to attend a place that lies to you?
Additionally, you are holding on to a particular belief in the face of contrary evidence.People who do that tend not to do so well in the sciences or engineering.
@derpro I know at least one international student at MIT who, to my knowledge, didn’t participate in international Olympiads, so there’s your counterexample.
You specifically asked MITChris and he and he answered you. Others that are affiliated with MIT gave you the same answer as MITChris. But that’s not enough proof? What are you looking for? Birth certificates, passports, resumes, and acceptance letters? I don’t think even that will satisfy you.