First? And congrats guys!

Wow, an acceptance rate of almost 14%. Wasn't it 390 last year?
Again, congrats everyone!

I AM SOOO EXCITED!!! Yay tubes are finally coming!!! =]

Congrats to every single one of you 521 other students!

I can't wait for the tube to come, lol I forbid my parents to open it without me.

WOW. 522 students is a lot. I thought I heard you guys were admitting even less students early this year because of the whole Harvard and Princeton business.

Not that I'm complaining at all. Just curious.

Also, EA guys, chatting on Facebook is much easier than on here. FYI.

HOLY CARP!

522 is huge! Are you still using your same benchmark for letting EAs in? I know you used to cap it at a certain percentage of total acceptances, and if so, how many people are going to get in RA?!

Congrats everybody, you'll have a ton of people to meet n' greet with on Facebook now!

oh..that's why my tube is not here yet..thanks for the update!!! =)

552 is nothing... Yale accepted 885!!!!!

wow, is the tube going to fit in my tiny mailbox?!?!?

How many people applied early??

I think more than 3900 people applied early for MIT...maybe?

Congrats to the 522, that is an amazing accomplishment! Have fun with your tubes...and confetti...and posters...and fin aid papers :-p

Wowza, 522? That's colossal. Plus, we just found out another kid from my school had been accepted. That makes three - a school record!

:) OH EIGHT.

Oh, excuse me.. OH TWELVE hahehahahah

Out of curiosity, what does everyone want to study?

I'm looking into Bio and Neurosci...

Hi Matt or MIT admission officers,

I was just wondering if there is any particular reason for such a huge jump from last year's 390 to this year's 525 admitted EA. Hope MIT is not degading her EA acceptance criteria.

^^^ biomedical engineering

Omg Minipocketsized!!! (that sounds like a nano btw)
I'm thinking of Biomed. engineering too! Well, that and pre-med.... =)

I wrote the 3(b) essay on chem engineering but biomed sounds thrilling. Oh and someone else said on another blog that the acceptance rate was 2/15. So close to 3900 applied?

Wow, that is a big number! Congrats again, guys! I look forward to meeting all of you!

Does 522 people being admitted early mean over 1700 people will be admitted total this year since only

less than 30% are accepted early?

IS ANYONE ELSE AS ANXIOUS AS I AM TO GET THE TUBE?!?!?
I want my TUBE!!!

I still don't quite believe I got in! I got in! That is not possible!!

And HELLA CONGRATS to everyone!! All 522!! (wow!)
Can't wait to meet all of you!!

Ahhhhhh!! US MAIL!! MUST HURRY!! *twitch*twitch* Must *twitch* have... Tube...

@ Mr. Matt McGann and/or any Admissions Officers: There hasn't been any mistake or anything in the online acceptance, has there? (Did I really... Did I really get in??)

?!?!?! That's half the class! Wow. I remember thinking when I was applying that MIT should admit half-and-half, but... is that what you guys are doing now? Or as the pool uber strong this year?

The matriculation rate isn't 100%, so that's not quite half of the class ;)

Ha, Matt used "fresh" in the final sentence.

Now. I hope it wasn't used in the same manner as in "This tomato is fresh.", but more like the way in "Dig those fresh beats, yo. Word to your mother."

Sweet. Congrats guys, can't wait for those letters. I'm looking into the Nuclear sciences.

on the early action vs. regular action part of this website (http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/early_action_versus_regular_action/index.shtml)
It states "We are committed to taking no more than 30% of our total admitted freshman class under Early Action."

if 30/100=522/x then x equals 1740. Is there really going to be this many freshmen next year at MIT?

I think one thing to take into account is the number of people switching from RA to EA, especially with the hype about EA that's been circulating in recent years. So, I think when MIT admitted 522 students early, they're banking on the RA pool being smaller than usual. So if they admit the same percentage of students from a small RA pool (~12% or something?), then technically less will be admitted RA in terms of raw numbers. I'm just saying that doesn't take into account the number of people who might have applied RA normally but decided to do EA.

Still...I'm also hoping that MIT has decided to have a larger class size than before, which would be great for us RA applicants. ^_^

The last few year's yield rate at MIT has been around 67% so the EA 522 will not be the enroll number. I would imagine, however, that EA admits would trend toward a higher yield rate.

Wow. That's a lot.

Anon9-
I know what you mean. I've been wondering what apps to do for RA but I don't want to give up on a college and THEN get this letter from MIT saying that my admittance was an error or something equally heartbreaking.

Well also a few big name schools canceled their EAs this year. Just a guess... the yield of MIT EA admits could be lower than previous years, because these students would have been EA cross-admitted to those other schools. So chances are that they will apply RA to the schools and choose to enroll there?

I can't wait to get my tube! But will it fit in my dinky mailbox...?

What exactly is in the tube besides forms and papers and stuff?

@Judy
I'm pretty sure there's fun stuff in the tubes as well, like an MIT poster.

Is anyone else interested in Course 7? : )

@ Judy and Anonymous

There's also confetti!! yay!

I really want my tube!

oooooh...confettiiiiiiiiiiii

@Anonymous

I'm ALL about Course 7. I'm fairly positive that I'll start out in biology. Half the reason I read these blogs is for Mollie's archives about school and labs and UROPs and everything :)

@Judy

From what my '11 friends told me, there's a formal copy of the acceptance letter, a specialized MIT '12 poster, a coupon for stuff at The Coop, confetti, and more. :D

:) wow, all this in a tube? We should call it the fun tube!

I call it amazing :D But I still haven't gotten mine yet! Hmph

So, Judy, where're you from? I'm around Disney :)

tubes...yay!

Got my tube yesterday!! *Yay for living near Boston/MIT*

Really exciting!!! yup, there's fun stuff in it :-)

I am pretty sure I want to do course 18 *eee math yay* :-D

hehhee I wonder if it's too early to go UROP hunting :-D *Hello, Can I have a UROP... next year?? Pleaseee??*

@ Lauren
Ha, I think you should definitely call up to find a UROP. I want to know what the reaction will be when you mention you're a pre-frosh. : )

I still haven't gotten my tube yet...

I read somewhere that a dorm formerly used for graduate students will now be an undergrad dorm, allowing the Class of '12 to be bigger than prior classes.

Wow I didn't know that they would be accepting more people early this year.. I am excited nonetheless, I think I want to do something with Biology or Biomed.

I WANT MY TUBE!!!

Lets see.. driven to Boston post office Mon.. sorted Mon afternoon.. flown Tues morn.. sorted Tues afternoon.. driven to my middle of nowhere town's post office Wed morning.. sorted Wed afternoon.. DRIVEN TO ME THURSDAY?!?!

I hope so. :)

Hey everyone, I thought MIT didn't have a formal Biomedical Engineering program o_0

oooohhhh, who's going to be on East Campus????

@Natalie-

Haha Call?!? Pff, I live near the subway in Boston - obviously I'm going to walk right into the fluid dynamics lab! *hehehehehehehe

Hey Shamarah, I think MIT does have a bioengineering program though!!!

Here's the link:

http://web.mit.edu/be/index.htm

ya!!! got my tube today!!! you know a college truly cares about you as an individual when they:
1) put confetti in your admitted packet
2) made an awesome poster just to welcome you
3) hand stuffed each and every one
4) paid $4.60 just so you get a tube rather than a common envelope.
5) you actually get a short hand-written note at the bottom.

thanks all the admissions officer at mit for doing all the special stuff to make us feel loved and special! =)

ME WANT TUBE.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN "TUBED," PLEASE DON'T REVEAL THE POSTER'S DESIGN!!!! Just FYI...

i got my mit mail today, and it wasnt a tube! i was so dissapointed when i realized people living overseas dont get a tube. i mean, seriously, we had to pay extra just to get you our recs and supp materials, can't you pleeease just make the investment????

I want my tube!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

leah do you happen to live in korea?

You can't get accepted EA if you live in Korea

yes you can if you are a us citizen

Leah, what is your last name?

Good point. Hmmm.... yes good point

2 QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED:

1. Can I still get an interview past the Dec. 15th deadline if the EC is still available?

2. How strict is MIT on its word limit--One of my smaller essays is about 125 words (over the 100 word limit), but cutting out would really be determinental to my essay. Does anyone know?

Thanks

Wow.. 522 accepted EA.. my jaw just dropped. That sounds like a lot of good applicants. I certainly hope MIT is admitting more international students this year. It's scary to be up against the best applicants in the USA, even scarier that I'm up against the best applicants in the world :P

@JP: I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the word limit is a guideline. Just don't go too far above it. 25% sounds like quite a bit.

On the same topics... I have a few questions of my own. I had my interview on the Dec 6, but the interview part in the online application status still isn't ticked. Should I be worried about it?

And on the "Describe your world. How has it shaped your dreams & aspirations?" essay, which part of the essay is main point, the describing the world or the dreams? I've been working on that essay since mid-Nov and it's almost impossible for me to reach a balance in 500 words. I'd either describe my world with few details of my dreams or vice versa.

Thanks :)

@JP

125 words on a 100 word essay is fine. I can't remember where it is, but there's a blog about this discussing it further. Anonymous is right, they're just guidelines. It's not a huge problem unless you do like twice the word limit.

:D Good luck!

125 is perfectly fine. I wrote 140 for mine ("What do you do for fun") and that didn't keep me out.
I emailed admissions and they told me that I should write however much I feel like necessary for the short response. (I think for the long essay, one page is a tacit limit).

who got into nuclear engineering & science!??, I want to know my classmates!!

@Anonymous

Personally, I think it should really be up to you what part of the question you focus on more. Put the focus on whatever shows your passion the best.

I did that question as well-- I used my mom saying she was the biggest influence in my life, and with each thing I wrote about her I tied it into how it has affected the person I am today.

Speaking of Mom, she's bringing me my tube today at school if it comes!! yay! :)

Ahh, I really hope my tube comes today. I am almost more excited for the tube than I was for the actual decision! (Almost, but not quite.)

The TUBE poster design is a bit cartoonish but really cool.

Do RA admits get the poster eventually too?

I still haven't gotten my tube.

me neither. tomorrow?

@ Bryan & Archimedes

I haven't gotten my tube either yet! I'm beginning to lose faith in the US Postal Service!

Chill people, we will get our tubes. I'm sure that some of the bad weather is holding them up. Besides, the closer to Christmas you get the tube, the more it will feel like an early Christmas present! . . . Well, that may be pushing it, but it was worth a shot.

Here's a question to ponder while we wait: what about admitted students who chose not to check their status online and are waiting to find out through the mail? Wouldn't they find out when they open up their MyMIT? or if their EC emailed to say congrats? Are there people who don't know they're part of the 522 yet? I'm wondering because the page on decisions.mit.edu made a big deal about "there will be no 'are you sure' screen."

@archimedes
i had considered waiting for the results to come in the mail, but when i finally got home at 2:30pm saturday, I just ran to my computer and checked it. I figured that since I can barely wait 2.5 hours, I could not wait several days...

When I walked into my apartment building today, I met my mailman. I noticed that there was a tube-shaped cylinder in his cart, so I decided to wait for him to distribute the mails in case it was my tube. I stood there for like 10 mins, only to discover that the cylinder-shaped packet was not my tube. I was disappointed, but on the bright side, now I know my mailman pretty well (we talked about his holiday plans)! =)

isn't the 30% of the class thing (EA admits)*(EA yield)/(class size) = 30% ? If so, then since a lot of math/science oriented people who would've applied to Harvard or Princeton early applied to MIT, early, the yield will go down and the result will still be 30%.

I got My Tube!!!

Tubed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

does it come through us postal service or something special like fedex or ups? I just saw the mailman across the street and almost screamed- it can't be too much longer...

I still haven't gotten my tube. :(

*Sigh* no sign of any tubes. Now I have to wait until Dec 31, when I come back home.

I got my tube today. It came just like regular mail.

I got my tube!!

My mom asked my mailman if it he could look out for it.. and he went all the way back to the post office, found it, and gave it to her!!!!!! Then she brought it to school so I could see it. :D

yay :)

No Tube...
My resentment toward USPS has grown even stronger.

Word up Tong

Rawr

Meghan, your story inspired me to go to our post office just to check if my tube would be there, but no dice. Apparently it won't come till next week.

ahhh.. ohhh eightttt don't hattteee

congrats to every1 thats been accepted!

BUMMERS!! Tube did not come today! ARRRGGG!!! (Physics Physics Physics *spoken with extreme vehemence*)

Tomorrow, I'll be gone all day for the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge--robotics competition) and NO ONE BETTER TOUCH MY TUBE UNTIL I GET BACK >.

*please, Tube, please come tomorrow!*

@ Tong: ditto

@ fellow EAers: MEGA-CONGRATS!
@ everyone (RA, EA deferred, and all others): BEST of LUCK, all of you!

Aww, sorry archimedes. Perhaps that's the benefit of living in a smaller town.

Anyone else from West Virginia besides me???

got my tube. its not that exciting

@Meghan: Thank you so much for that. I tried to do what you did, and suprisingly, it came out just nice in only 600 words! I'll cut it down later, but I'm so happy to finally get an essay I like after almost a month on it. :)

If I get accepted into MIT as well, I'll be happy to buy you a drink. But no champagne or anything, just like a coffee or cocoa or somehting :P

STILL. NO. TUBE.
I suggest that MIT mails them via UPS next year... USPS is REALLY slow down here in the deep south.

@ Anonymus: That's awesome! I'm proud of you! I really hope you get in (and not just for the free drink offer, either.)

If you have a facebook, free feel to add me; I linked my name.

Hopefully the RAs will still have a 12% rate of admission. As an international student, I have no chance to EA.

no one seems to have answered on what percentage is likely to get in on RA! I'm such an incredible fool, I applied early to stanford, effectively "courted and dumped", and MIT just makes so much more sense! (the confetti would seriously convince just about anyone)

Also, all of you that did get in (I would be more generous with my congratulations if I hadn't been rejected myself, but really, that is awesome!), did you find it necessary to stuff your application with as much extra material as possible?

I can't seem to find any info on sending some kind of creative writing supplement. Would it be a good idea to put that into the "Optional Information" section? thanks!

no one seems to have answered on what percentage is likely to get in on RA! I'm such an incredible fool, I applied early to stanford, was effectively "courted and dumped", and MIT just makes so much more sense!

(the confetti would seriously convince just about anyone)

Also, all of you that did get in (I would be more generous with my congratulations if I hadn't been rejected myself, but really, that is awesome!), did you find it necessary to stuff your application with as much extra material as possible?

I can't seem to find any info on sending some kind of creative writing supplement. Would it be a good idea to put that into the "Optional Information" section? thanks!

522?!Early applicants only...either that means that the freshman admit to MIT for class of 2012 is going to be record ginormous (around 1700 if the 30% EA admit thingy applies)or that RA admits are going to be record miniscule...I sincerely pray for the former seeing as I'm an international applicant and that internationals have to apply RA!!!!

stripedwaldo, ohhhhh aren't the Stanford supps really really long and kind of repetitive? That is the reason why I waited to do Stanford RA. Props to you for at least getting them done!

MIT is probably expecting a lower yield because of the whole Harvard/Princeton thing. I doubt they are increasing the class size; they probably just want to make sure that they will have a full class and are increasing the number of acceptances to compensate for the expected number of people that will probably turn them down to go to Harvard or Princeton.

That, or the EA applicants were just the bomb.

:)

THE TUBE IS AWESOME!!! It is HUGE and cylindrical, and I like it very very very much :) [Almost as much as Physics *gasp!*] Thanks, MIT!! Best X-Mas present EVER!!!

Curious Question (totally just wondering...): Did everyone get the same number of glitter or is it all random?
For example, how many "Congrats" glitters did everyone get, each?? (I got 3 :P Blue, Green, Gold!! YAAAY!!!)

Also, second--a more "normal" question: For the COOP coupon 10% discount, is it ONLY for online purchases? (please say yes, please say yes...)

Yeah did anyone else get keys to a Cadillac Escalade in the tube? And a bottle of Chandon? And, holy cow a diamond ring! Wow, thanks MIT!

I'm on vacation so I have to wait until I get back to see what's really inside the tube.

'Twas the night before Christmas,
All was quiet and free,
When Santa came in
And went to the tree.

He knew she was good,
Perfect as a cube,
So in her stocking (which for some reason was on the tree),
He inserted a tube.

Christmas morning dawned,
So bright, so clear.
When she saw the tube,
She let out a hearty cheer:

MIT IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! Hehe, and ANON9, it's not uniform....I got some silver and some purple......

I still have not got the tube and am anxious. I live in Texas - Houston suburb. Anyone else in the same predicament.

I got the long-awaited tube. I liked the poster and the confetti.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

UPDATE: my neighbors got my tube today (on Christmas Eve). How appropriate!
Merry Christmas everyone!
isitchristmas.com

@Meghan: I just added you. Anyone else using Facebook? It's nice to know some other fellow applicants, even if I don't get accepted later :)

@Anonymous (the one that posted on December 23, 2007 01:11 PM)
I heard they're increasing the class size a bit. But your comment does make sense. I'd actually turn down Princeton/Harvard for MIT, but only because it's more suitable for me. But don't get me wrong, those other unis are great too. In fact, my parents are both Harvard grads, but I'd like to learn from a MIT point of view as well ;)

at above...both parents Harvard grads? omg...
anyways, merry a7xmas!

@Anonymous(from way up above)
yes, i live in korea and my last name is hokanson. care to identigy yourself? i didnt think i knew anyone here. awesome if i do though^^

leah are u a bc? if u r u will know and if u r can u give me a way to cantact u? i will identify myself later...if thats okay

@ Anonymus,

I'm on facebook too; I linked my name to my page. And how'd you hear they were increasing the class size? Do you have an idea of why? :D The more, the merrier though!

Thanks to everyone on Admissions for the holiday card. It was a cool gift.

"Regarding increasing the undergrad population: yes, this is definitely in the works (and has been for some time, actually). The conversion of Ashdown House from graduate housing into an undergraduate dormitory will play a big role in this increase. There are actually a lot of interesting things going on with Ashdown that I may have opportunity to blog about later, but I'm sure what you all want to know is: Does this mean the Class of 2012 will be bigger than previous years? My answer is a tentative yes - but it's at this point it's really too early to say for sure."

For those of you who were wondering about the increased class size, Paul posted this on the "Deferred Students Update."

522 - wowzers. That's quite disconcerting for us RA applicants. Congratulations though...haha

@Anonymous
haha i love having so many unknown connections. makes the world so much smaller. yeah i am, you can email me at leahmae dot h at gmail dot com

I added my Facebook profile too, even though it spoils the purpose of staying anonymous :P. I'd love for class size to increase too. It's always nice to meet more people. Back in school, I'd actually try to switch classes every year just to get to know other people.

Anyway, I've been so busy that I forgot to mention. Merry Christmas, Eid, and Happy New Year to everyone :)

Aero... My program...
Best...
Any one with different opinion?

the fact that 522 of you EAs were accepted makes me really nervous since i happen to live in cali and whoo no one i no has ever gone to college so all of this is completely nerve racking. i am second guessing my ability to be accepted to this institute. S.O.S!!! :-]

Wow, 522 is a large number. Is anyone rejected after they are accepted on the basis of grades? On the admissions letter it says one must graduate with "flying colors"? What sort of grades are considered "flying colors"? Congrats and good luck to all.

I doubt any1 would be rejected after being accepted just coz of grades. That's cruel! I think those with poor grades get deferred to see if they'll do better. From statistics, i'm assuming flying colors = top 10% of class

Is the MIT office opening mail these days??

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!~~

Just wanted to thank the admissions committee for the card! It must have taken forever to sign all 522 of them!

And just a question out of curiosity--did anyone else get a small handwritten note in the corner of their acceptance letter?

Happy New Year!

hmmm mit wasnt right for me

yes, Anon, there was a small handwritten note in the corner of the acceptance letters. Just wondering, what are we going to see during campus preview weekend?

i heard that there was nitrogen ice-cream last year. hopefully they continue to do that this year. =p
i think the cpw website is up in mid-january...

Lol--Liquid Nitrogen--good memories...

I did a Physics Internship this past summer, and liquid Nitrogen (about 77K, if I remember correctly...) was considered "quite warm"--relative to He3 and He4, superfluids at about 3K and 4K, respectively!

Yaaay--PHYSICS!! =) =)

And ICE CREAM!! =P

*agrees with Anon9* YAY PHYSICS!!!!!!!!

Also, happy new year to all ^__^. And I linked to my facebook page too ^__^...

Someone did mention it, but the enrollment rate for MIT is normally around 60-70%. Odds are that it might be higher for EA students, though....

I wouldn't question how MIT does it's admissions, personally. I'd say Matt's got it down.

Nitrogen ice cream? Nice, I have got to try that one.

Did anyone find a financial aid link on their myMIT account?