How to Get Into MIT 5 Expert Admissions Tips

How to Get Into MIT 5 Expert Admissions Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the best schools in the world. If you want to be one of the few students accepted into MIT every year, you’ll need to make sure your application is up to snuff. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how to get into MIT, from the test scores you need to the tips and tricks that’ll help your application stand out. How Hard Is It to Get Into MIT? MIT is one of the most selective schools in the world. Currently, MIT’s acceptance rate is 6.7%, which means it only accepts around 7 applicants for every 100 people that apply. A 6.7% acceptance rate means that MIT is extremely competitive to get into. You’ll need excellent grades, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation to even be considered. What Is MIT Looking for in Its Students? You can learn a lot about what MIT is looking for in its students from the university’s website: "The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation. We are fun and quirky, elite but not elitist, inventive and artistic, obsessed with numbers, and welcoming to talented people regardless of where they come from." This statement, while not MIT’s formal mission statement (which is worth reading, too), tells a lot about what MIT is looking for in its applicants. MIT want students who break molds- they’re incredibly intelligent, but they also think outside of the box. Don’t follow everyone else’s path- create your own. MIT students are genuinely excited to learn and innovate. They’re not interested in accolades (though they certainly earn them)- they’re motivated by discovery and intellectual stimulation more than recognition. MIT students don’t fit into any particular profile, except that they’re all highly, highly talented. Can You Apply to MIT Early? MIT allows students to apply early action. That means that you can apply to MIT and receive notification of your acceptance months before other students, but you don’t have to commit to MIT if you’re accepted. MIT’s early application deadline is November 1 and students are notified on December 20. According to the MIT admissions statistics for the Class of 2022, applicants who applied early didn’t have any significant advantage over students who applied at the regular deadline. For both admissions deadlines, students were accepted at a rate of a little less than 7%. That being said, there are other ways to get a leg up on your fellow applicants. MIT admitted around % of applicants who participated in an interview (or had their interview waived) vs 1% of applicants who did not participate in an interview. MIT Application Deadlines and Requirements MIT has its own application. It doesn’t accept the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal Application. Here are the complete MIT application requirements: MIT requires that all students submit SAT, ACT, or TOEFL scores Freshman applicants must also submit two SAT II Subject Tests: math and science. MIT requires all students submit five short essays as part of their application. MIT requires that all students submit two letters of recommendation. There are no specific coursework requirements for MIT applicants. The MIT Early Action deadline is November 1. Applicants are notified of their status on December 20. The MIT regular admission deadline is January 1. Applicants are notified of their status on March 20. What GPA Do I Need to Get Into MIT? MIT has a 6.7% acceptance rate, so it’s important that your application is as strong as possible to be considered. One of the most important parts of your MIT application is your high school coursework. MIT doesn’t specify a minimum GPA requirement and doesn’t release the average GPA of admitted applicants. That being said, due to the caliber of students accepted at MIT, we can assume that the average GPA is quite high. You should look to get mainly A’s, with a few A-’s or B+’s on your transcript. MIT will also be paying attention to your course load- are you challenging yourself, or are you coasting on easy classes? You should take the most rigorous classes your school offers- whether that’s honors, AP, or IB courses- or even look into taking courses at the local community college to show that you’re not afraid of an academic challenge†¦ and that you can succeed at one, too! What Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into MIT? You don’t just need great grades to get into MIT- you need great test scores, too. What SAT Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into MIT? The average admitted applicant at MIT has a 1520 composite score on the 1600 SAT scale. The average math score is 780. The average reading/writing score is 740. You’ll need to have extremely high SAT scores to be able to get into MIT. Fortunately, MIT uses â€Å"Highest Section† scoring (also known as â€Å"superscoring†). Basically, superscoring means that MIT will consider your highest section scores across all the SAT test dates you submit. MIT’s superscoring policy is good news for applicants- it means that you can prep and retake the score without worrying about hurting your previous scores. What ACT Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into MIT? The average admitted applicant at MIT scores a 34 on the ACT. With so many applicants scoring 34 and above, a lower score won’t be very impressive. Fortunately, MIT also superscores ACT scores for applicants. That means that, if you take the ACT multiple times, MIT will consider the highest score achieved in each section. MIT Application Essays MIT requires that you answer five short essay questions. You’ll need to answer 5 short prompts (none more than 250 words) on various aspects of your life: what you do for fun, what department you’re interested in at MIT, a way that you contribute to your community, a description of your background, and a challenge that you have faced in your life. The MIT essay prompts are designed specifically to get to the heart of what makes you you. Remember, MIT wants applicants that are interesting as people. MIT places a high value on having students with quirks and unique passions, not just high test scores. You’ll submit your five MIT application essays along with an activities list and a self-reported coursework form as Part 2 of your MIT application, regardless of whether you’re applying for the early action deadline or the regular admission deadline. Here are the 2018-19 MIT essay prompts: We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. (100 words or fewer) Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (100 words or fewer) At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words) Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (200-250 words) Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (200-250 words) You can learn more about how to ace your MIT essays in our in-depth article on the topic. 5 Tips for Getting Into MIT It’s very difficult to get into MIT, but it’s not impossible. Follow these tips for how to get into MIT by making sure your application stands out from the crowd. #1: Highlight the Unique Aspects of Your Identity We’ve said it already and we’ll say it again: MIT likes unique applicants. They say so on their website! Your essays are an opportunity to highlight the special facets of your personality. If you built a video game about pickles for fun, this is the time to share it! The more unique you are, the better! Your application will stand out even more if you take those interests and apply them to academic pursuits. Show that your academic curiosity intersects with your passions. #2: Put a Lot of Effort Into Your Academics MIT students are high-achievers. To be accepted, you need to be one, too. You should have a strong plan for studying for the SAT or ACT so that you achieve the best score possible. If you’re still in your freshman, sophomore, or junior year of high school, plan to take some advanced classes to up your GPA. You’ll need to be disciplined and work hard to compete with the other applicants. MIT wants students who will succeed on their campus- you need to demonstrate that you’re up to MIT’s academic challenge. #3: Ace Your Essays Your essays are the best opportunity to show off your skills and your unique interests. You should put a lot of effort into every one of the five MIT essays. Don’t wait until the last minute to write your MIT essays- start them with plenty of time so that you can revise and receive feedback. #4: Convince MIT That You’ll Do Something Great With Your Education MIT doesn’t want to admit students who will be content to take their expensive diploma and sit at home doing nothing with it. MIT wants to accept students who are going to accomplish world-changing things, who contribute positively to their communities while in college and help other students accomplish great things as well. The best way to convince MIT that you’ll do this while there? Contribute positively to your community while you’re in high school. Past behavior is a predictor of future behavior. If you show that positive contributions are a part of your modus operandi as a student, MIT will feel confident that you’ll bring that attitude to its campus, too. #5: Hyper-Focus You don’t need to be captain of the football team, the co-chair of the debate team, and the first chair violinist in the school orchestra to get into MIT. Don’t try to be great at every- pick one (or two) activities and pursue it relentlessly. This is called having a spike and helps you stand out more. Don’t aim to be generically good at a lot of things- be hugely, amazingly good at one thing. Instead of trying to lead twenty different committees, pick the one that’s the most special to you and give it everything you have. Put down the football and the debate notecards and focus on violin if that’s what you love. Audition for world-class ensembles, enter competitions, basically just stand out. Don't strive for above average at a lot of things- be excellent at one. Recap: How to Get Into MIT It’s difficult to get into MIT- but not impossible! With hard work and planning, you can hone your application so it stands out from the other thousands of MIT applicants. What’s Next? Starting your MIT application? Check out our in-depth guide on how to apply to MIT. Your MIT essays will help your application stand out. Read our in-depth guide on these five short answer questions to know exactly what to do. (Link coming soon!) Wondering what your chances of getting into an Ivy Leave or Ivy League caliber school is? Check out our complete guide to Ivy League acceptance rates. 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