<p>I mean, if people are generally smart, they would be accepted right? Then why can't MIT do that based on test scores, and activities? GPA is different in many schools, so it won't be accurate. Well why can't MIT just pick the good talented people instead of doing the crapshot?</p>
<p>More extremely talented people apply than MIT has spots for on campus. So MIT does pick the "good talented people", just not all of them.</p>
<p>define talented please.</p>
<p>The people who can spell "crapshoot"? </p>
<p><a href="http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=crapshoot%5B/url%5D">http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=crapshoot</a> </p>
<p>(All right, that was a cheap shot, but, really, where is the evidence there is any problem in how MIT does admissions now?)</p>
<p>my bad then. I always thought it could be called "crapshot" ). i guess its crapshoot then.</p>
<p>
[quote]
define talented please.
[/quote]
Well, in terms of raw test scores, 50% of applicants have SAT reading scores above 700, and 75% of applicants have SAT math scores above 700. 70% of applicants are in the top 5% of their high school classes (that is, those applicants who come from schools that rank). Those numbers are available [url=<a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml%5Dhere%5B/url">http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml]here[/url</a>].</p>
<p>The admissions officers estimate that about 70% of applicants are qualified by their criteria to attend MIT. The admissions process isn't literally a crapshoot -- students are certainly not picked at random -- but it appears to be a crapshoot from our perspective because so many qualified students are competing for a very small number of spots.</p>
<p>oh, ok. So then what drives MIT in picking the students they pick? If 70% are qualified, then what other criteria do they use to pick students?</p>
<p>go to their website? <a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.mitadmissions.org/</a></p>
<p>70% are qualified, and though it's just a hunch, I don't think they use those silly SAT scores to choose amongst them. There are so many much cooler and important things that people do. That means roughly 5 out of every 6 very intelligent, qualified people will get rejected. (MIT's acceptance rate was 13% iirc? Doesn't change the point though). </p>
<p>MIT uses "awesomeness" criteria to choose those 1 in 6 students. I don't know what that means, as I was rejected from MIT. According to their blogs, they look for passion in their applicants. Your best bet....is to just be yourself, and do things you like to do and are passionate about.</p>
<p>
[quote]
oh, ok. So then what drives MIT in picking the students they pick? If 70% are qualified, then what other criteria do they use to pick students?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Aha, I finally found it. My first-ever post on CC, which also happens to be on this topic.</p>
<p>numbers do not mean everything. I guarantee you the OP is asian (probably international) who believes that superior scores/grades will get them far in life. That is that the case. MIT wants interesting applicants who will do much more than just go to their room and study. MIT wants excellence in all areas.</p>
<p>To jessiehl: Thanks for the thread! It has greatly transformed the way i percieve MIT admissions. Thanks a lot. </p>
<p>Yeah, close. I am a subcontinental asian (Indian for you), but I live in the bay area. My parents actually believe numbers are everything. I do believe numbers are important, but I also believe in pursuing my interests.</p>
<p>Yes, you have to have a certain number to show that you are capable of the work at (insert college name), but it is the other parts that show how you'll fit and contribute to the college community in a positive way. </p>
<p>You might value numbers a lot, but do you really believe that the numbers can accurately measure who you are? Are you a number/numbers? If not, how can you expect colleges to know/evaluate who you are with your numbers?
(coming from a bay area asian XP)</p>
<p>to the OP: why even worry about this matter of how MIT does admissions? Just focus on being an ultimate total badass and beat out all of the other MIT applicants in most every way possible! </p>
<p>But seriously, if you spend less time worrying about stuff you can't change, and more time making yourself way better, than you won't have so much to worry about (not saying you necessarily have much to worry about now).</p>
<p>mmm. That makes sense differential. I just asked out of curiosity. haha</p>
<p>to rainy: I agree with you. I have also clearly stated that I think numbers are important, but there are other things that are important too. I believe, for one, character is MOST important. I recommend you see jessiehl's post. </p>
<p>so yeah . . . everyone thanks for your answers.</p>
<p>Actually, everything, including the numbers are a bit of a crapshoot. Let's say you know absolutely everything on the SAT but make one error filling in your paper and get one question wrong. What score does that get you?</p>
<p>It depends on the exam. Based on the difficulty of your SAT test (over which you had no actual control) one wrong could be a 790 or a 760, whatever is needed to ensure that the score distribution works out correctly. I am vaguely amused when I see people stressing over a 720 vs a 740 vs a 760. All of them say that you can do the subject fairly well. At least well enough to do fine at MIT. That is not how a student can separate themselves.</p>
<p>As an EC (interviewer), I regularly see bright students who just don't match well with MIT. The best guide is probably <a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/pulse/the_match_between_you_and_mit/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/pulse/the_match_between_you_and_mit/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>Match really is the crux of what MIT looks for. I was talking to a student this weekend about the fraternity system and he asked about the presence of "jock" houses where everyone played intercollegiate sports for MIT. I said that some houses were inclined that way, but that even the jocks at MIT were very, very bright. He looked sad and said, "but I wouldn't get in at those houses." He was probably right, but I followed it up and said, "OK, suppose you did get in. How much would you enjoy the dinner table conversation? How much would you enjoy socialising with these people every day?" </p>
<p>That is really the crux of match. MIT will admit those who best match, who will feel most comfortable on campus and who will add to the life there. I see many applicants each year. It is always surprising to me how distinguishable those who match are from the very bright students who don't.</p>
<p>When I was an MIT undergrad, a close HS friend went to Harvard about a mile up the road. I visited a fair bit, and they came to visit me. I always found Harvard to be a little odd. It was pretentious in a way that wasn't completely comfortable to me. Curiously, my friend felt exactly the same way about MIT. That is match.</p>
<p>
[quote]
When I was an MIT undergrad, a close HS friend went to Harvard about a mile up the road. I visited a fair bit, and they came to visit me. I always found Harvard to be a little odd. It was pretentious in a way that wasn't completely comfortable to me. Curiously, my friend felt exactly the same way about MIT. That is match.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yet interestingly enough, there are plenty of people, including the esteemed molliebatmit, who go to one for undergrad and the other for grad, and seem to enjoy both. Hence, the matching process doesn't have to be SO extreme.</p>
<p>Oh, as an institution, I'm not a huge fan of Harvard -- my automatic MIT student prejudice against Harvard undergrads is still fully intact. But I don't have to like the undergrad student culture to go to grad school there, since I have very little interaction with Harvard itself, just my lab. (And as for my lab, my PI and five other lab members went to MIT as undergrads. ;))</p>
<p>er . . . right. How would MIT know for sure who fits and who doesn't? What if the person is "faking" in his essays and ECs that he fits when he actually doesn't? Would the interviewer find out, or would the student actually escape faking? There should be some people who aren't exactly fits "/</p>
<p>Kinda seems like an immature question, but yeah ^^"</p>
<p>on MIT's site it says that competitive applicants can have up to 12 people read their file. I'd say that takes any 'crapshoot' out of the process.</p>