Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the top-ranked engineering universities worldwide. However, it is very hard to get selected for admission due to the high level of competition.
MIT has a very low acceptance rate of 6.7%, which means that if 100 applicants apply to this institute, then only 7 of them will get accepted. This article will primarily focus on how you can build up an outstanding admission application to ensure your place at MIT.
MIT Acceptance Rate
The admissions process has become even more competitive in recent years. MIT reported a 66 percent increase in applications for the class of 2025, with only a 4% acceptance rate. As a result, only roughly 1,340 of the 33,240 candidates received offers.
With such a low acceptance percentage, getting into MIT seems almost impossible. However, pupils continue to be admitted! What are they doing to set themselves apart from the other applicants? What are the requirements for admission to MIT?
Let's take a quick look at MIT's history and some of its most remarkable statistics before we get into the specifics of MIT admissions, the application process, and how to make your application stand out from the crowd.
Steps that you should follow for a successful MIT admission
To assure yourself with the best possible chance to get selected, you should practice a few simple steps while sending out your application. We have compiled a list of steps that all the applicants should follow for a successful application:
- Step 1: Begin your application by making a My MIT account- The first step is quite simple. All you need to do is make a My MIT account. Making an account only takes very little time, and it will keep you posted about the various tasks you need to submit and your application status. It will also provide you with the contact information of your interviewer and the date of your interview.
- Step 2: Completing the two-part application- This part contains the most crucial details for your application and is divided into two parts. The first part contains your biographical information, while the second part focuses on your academic results, essays, and activity section. The first part should only take you about an hour to complete, and after you are done, you have to pay a standard charge of 75$. Part two is what MIT admission officers are interested in, as it contains your essays that represent or showcase your personality and nature. It also contains your academic scores and activity section, giving them all the information to judge your character, interests, and passion.
- Step 3: Submit your school report and test scores- In this step, you need to send MIT your official school report transcripts and your SAT or ACT exam results. This is the most basic factor that you should focus on while applying for MIT.
- Step 4: Submit a great letter of recommendation- In this step, you need to get a teacher from the science or math department and another teacher from the language or art department to write you a letter of recommendation. Many students consider this part of the application just a casual formality. However, MIT admission officers like to dig into these forms to know more about your personality and ethics.
- Step 5: Set up an interview with alumni- After completing both parts of your application, you must set up and complete an interview with the MIT education council alumni. This could be done online or offline, depending upon if any local alumni are available in your locality. If no local alumni are present in your area, then a Skype interview is more than good enough.
- Step 6: Send in supplementary materials- This is an optional step that not all the applicants submit as it is not mandatory. However, you should remember that this might increase your chances of getting selected and make your application look unique and interesting. To know more about what you can submit, just hop on to your My MIT dashboard.
- Step 7: Submitting your February update form- If you are an early applicant, you need to submit a February update and notes form by 15th February. An email will be sent consisting of all the details about what needs to be included in this form. It usually includes your mid-semester grades and the classes you took. You can also include any notable accomplishments or awards you achieved since the last time you submitted your application.
Crucial factors for MIT admission
Here are some of the most important factors that you should be aware of while applying for MIT:
- When to use: Most domestic applicants begin to apply for MIT in their last year of high school, and international students should do the same. You should also be aware that only the selected candidates will be required to submit their final grades. The most important thing that you should note is that MIT allows you to apply to many institutes, so you have a bunch of options in case you do not get selected. Although, this will not be the case if you are applying for a single application university.
- Submitting your academic grades: No matter if you are an early or regular applicant, you are required to submit your SAT or ACT score and your official transcript for your mid-semester exams, as this is the baseline for your selection procedure.
- Deadlines for your application: If you are an early applicant, the deadline for applying is 1st November. And if you are a regular applicant, then the deadline for your application is 1st January. Whether you are an early or regular applicant, the February update and notes form deadline, along with the financial aid form, is on the 15th of February.
Difference between early and regular applicants
There are two types of applications that domestic or international students can submit. It is very important to know the difference between the two to make the best possible decision for yourself. First of all, you should know that there are no advantages given to any of the applications.
MIT states that early applications are presented to the students so the admission officers can distribute their work over time and can also pay more attention to every application.
Although, the only slight benefit that the early applicants get is that they get to choose if they want to go to MIT. If they do get selected and in case they don't, then they can also keep many options available and make a wise decision.
If regular applicants put their last and only hope in MIT, they do not pick and choose amongst various options. Additionally, you should keep in mind that you will later be pushed onto the regular applicant section if you are an early applicant, thus providing you with no additional unfair advantage.
How to perform well while applying to MIT
Here are some of the key factors that you should have a look at to perform well while applying to MIT:
- Academic grades- If you are applying to MIT, you should be aware of how important it is for you to focus on your grades and studies. You should get a good score on your SAT or ACT exam and maintain a GPA of 4.17 or above. This is the most basic guideline you can follow if you want to stand a chance amongst other applicants.
- Essays- You should focus on your essay and take it very seriously. The MIT admissions office thoroughly reviews essays to get a hold of your personality and ethics. In these essays, you should try to express your uniqueness, strengths, and passion for your work. This will tremendously increase your chances of getting selected. Here are some of the essay prompts for the application- Describe your environments, such as your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. What impact has that world had on your hopes and dreams? (maximum of 250 words) Choose the MIT subject of study that most interests you right now and explain why. (maximum of 100 words) We understand that you have a hectic schedule full of activities, many of which are required. Tell us about anything you enjoy doing just for the sake of doing it. (between 200 and 250 words) We bring people together at MIT to improve the lives of others. MIT students contribute to their communities in various ways, from tackling the world's most pressing issues to simply being good friends. Describe one way you've made a difference in your community, whether it's through your family, school, or neighborhood. (between 200 and 250 words) Tell us about the most difficult struggle you've faced or a key event that didn't go as planned. What steps did you take to deal with the situation? (between 200 and 250 words).
- Letter of recommendation and extracurriculars- Try to maintain a good relationship with your teachers or professors to earn a great recommendation letter. Apart from this, try and attend social work events and extracurricular activities to make your profile interesting and unique.
FAQs
1- What are the MIT admission requirements?
The basic requirements for admission are to first fill out the two-part application by registering on the My MIT dashboard. You should also try to maintain a good academic score and perform well in your SAT or ACT exam. And then the last requirement is to submit your February update and notes form by 15th February after applying.
2- What is the SAT score required for MIT?
The minimum SAT score that you require to get selected for MIT is between 1510 to 1600+. Good academic scores are the bare minimum requirement that gets tested by an admission officer at MIT.
3- What is the average GPA required to get into MIT?
You should at least have a GPA of 4.17 or above. To maintain such a GPA, you need to stay ahead of the class and stay fully focused on your studies. As good academic performance is the bare minimum expected by a student who applies to MIT.
