<p>I think I've heard of kids using the additional information section to write a "Why MIT?" essay. Does anyone have any input on how necessary this is? I definitely think it would add to my application but is it something that admissions would be happy to read and consider?</p>
<p>It’s absolutely not necessary.</p>
<p>You’re allowed to put any information in that space that you feel would be helpful to the admissions office when they’re considering your application. If you feel you have a “why MIT” essay that would help make the case for you to be admitted, you can put it there.</p>
<p>As a completely personal opinion, I feel like a “Why MIT?” essay has the strong likelihood of devolving into a why-I-think-MIT-is-awesome essay rather than a why-I-am-awesome essay. I would stay away.</p>
<p>But this isn’t from the blogs - again, just my personal opinion.</p>
<p>The more chances you have to express yourself in an application, the better, so IMO it’s better to submit an optional essay. The best topic may not be “Why MIT” but rather about something you want MIT to know about you not otherwise evident in the application.</p>
1 Like
<p>I could barely stop myself from writing a “why MIT” in the additional essay section. If you do love MIT (which you probably do since otherwise there’s little point in applying) I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to tell them that.</p>
<p>I was told that my “Why MIT” essay was the most memorable part of my application, because it allowed me to get really passionate about something that I was very interested in. I really, really, REALLY wanted to go to MIT, and I made sure to detail exactly why I wanted to go here, and exactly what I thought would make me a good fit.</p>
<p>I wrote my essay ~an hour before I sent in my application and attached it on a whim. It was totally unedited and pretty impassioned. It was an important part of who I was as an applicant, but your mileage may vary.</p>
<p>Anyway. If you are the sort of person who can easily write thousands of words about why MIT is not only perfect, but perfect for you, and you can do so in a compelling and engaging fashion, I’d say that you should go for it. But don’t write it because you think it’s what the adcoms want to hear.</p>