<p>Hi, I always read what to do in high school to better your chances or getting into MIT, but I'm homeschooled so i don't have all of the same choices as public school students do. Does MIT look for homeschooled students who play multiple sports, play multiple instruments, etc.? I read that MIT looks for "super students" but how can a homeschooler be a "super student"? Would getting double/triple promoted look impressive? What would look impressive on a college application to MIT from a homeschooled student? Thank you :)</p>
<p>There’s still plenty you can do as a homeschooled student. Attend classes at a nearby college, do some extracurriculars that aren’t tied to a school, self-study and ace some AP classes, etc. </p>
<p>We often see questions along the lines of what does MIT look for in a [insert criteria] student. And the answers are usually the same. MIT looks for the same thing almost regardless of background. </p>
<p>Some students from certain countries/schools or home-schooled students have no opportunities for organised extracurricular activities. But organised extracurricular activities are not a requirement. MIT is interested in what you choose to do with your time when you are not in classes. That does not need a organised extracurricular program. </p>
<p>MIT is interested in how you reflect the characteristics that are described in the match pages on the website. So intellectual curiosity is a good thing for MIT students. Hopefully there are ways to demonstrate/evidence that regardless of your schooling. One of the harder things for a home-schooled student to obviously demonstrate is the whole “plays well with others”. Education at MIT is highly collaborative. Team-working is important and it is a good thing that any applicant can demonstrate these skills. But the thing that many applicants miss is that while it is important to demonstrate that you are good at this, HOW you do so is largely irrelevant. At a more traditional school, there will be lots of opportunities to do so. Maybe you are part of the school football team, or marching band, or you joined young entrepreneurs and formed a proto-company. HOW you demonstrate that you have the traits that MIT is looking for is much less important than you might think, and that is really, really important for a home-schooled student. Maybe you can show this through some involvement in a church group or social organisation, maybe it is in a group of other home-schooled students. The HOW doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>And I would assume MIT looks at each student in context of where they live and what opportunities were available to them.</p>
<p>My son, a junior at MIT, was homeschooled. We are of moderate means, but we live in a large city, so my son was able to have an incredibly rich community-based “home” school experience using the community as his education. He took community college classes, did university audits, was involved in numerous music experiences (and most very inexpensive or free except for lessons), math circle, research, sports (though he was limited due to rules here in California, but I explained that in my counselor letter), church worship and service, etc. We funded everything as private homeschoolers, but my son worked part time since age 13, so he helped with costs all along the way.</p>
<p>But, if you don’t live in a large city, these might not be available to you. I think what Mikalye said is terrific. Take it to heart, OP, and do what you love. </p>
<p>
Absolutely.</p>