Tips for Getting Into MIT
Written: Dec 29 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Once you get in you're golden.
Cons: Tough admissions process, lots of people don't make it
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| MediaLabGuy's Full Review: Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
At the time of writing this opinion, I have no affiliation with the Admissions department or with the Educational Council. This, I am probably able to offer more of an objective view of admissions into MIT.
I often get asked by many people what it takes to get into MIT. "I have a 4.0 high school grade point average and 1500 SAT scores. Is that enough?" The answer is, simply, no. Case in point: a good friend of mine graduated validictorian of his class, had a 1550 on his SATs, and would up getting a rejection letter from MIT.
So what exactly, then, is the key to getting into MIT? That entirely depends: the process is akin to you getting drawn out of a big hat (or several big hats...the one labeled (GPA 4.0/SAT 1500+ has many more names drawn out of it then the one labeled (less than GPA 3.5/SAT 1300).
In reality, the process works like this: a bunch of people (read: admissions officers) sit in a room with your application, read it, and then make an evaluation of whether you fit into MIT's culture (read: you're willing to work long hours without sleep, and you're obsessed with science, programming, engineering, and have some other redeeming quality like being Yo-Yo Ma's protege or are a community service nut), and whether you'd add some level of diversity to MIT's community of students (e.g. you're a football player, you like to paint, you spent 5 years in Switzerland, you're from a single-parent family and had to overcome lots of adversity).
So how does one get into MIT beyond just getting stellar grades and an absurdly high SAT score? The answer is...well, there is no right answer. It's just like asking "what's the meaning of life?" There is no right answer other then to get as many life experiences as possible that makes you a compelling, facinating person. If you're a science and technology nut, that's really cool. Why does that make you interesting? If you're a concert pianist, that's also cool. How does this enable you to add to MIT's diverse community (there are LOTS of concert pianists at the Instiute). The key then, is to make yourself as interesting as possible...either by acquiring lots of different life experiences, or becoming extremely focused on one particular one.
Anyhow, if you're reading this, you're probably applying, so good luck, and remember: you've got 15 minutes to convince a panel of admissions officers that you're an interesting and compelling person, so look through your application, give it to someone else, and ask them the question, "does this convince you that I'm a smart, intelligent, interesting person?" If the answer is yes, then you've got a relatively good shot.
One more piece of advice: Don't lie or embellish the truth: admissions officers have a knack for figuring this out.
Recommended:
Yes
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MediaLabGuy
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Member: Wesley Chan
Location: Cambridge, MA
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