Info For Schools & Counselors:
What We Look For In Applicants
We are looking for students who fall in line with MIT's educational philosophy - students who want to invent, enact change, and better society. We want students who have demonstrated initiative and dedication, risk-taking and resiliency as well as strong interpersonal skills. Due to the self-selective nature of our applicant pool, MIT tends to see a large number of applicants with very strong academic qualifications. Our task is to find those whose accomplishments are truly outstanding; students who are the best match for us based on our culture.
The Freshman Selection Process
First, we determine whether they are academically qualified, then we look for compelling reasons to admit. We go through each application evaluating not only the academic, but also the personal and extra-curricular excellence. Underlying these three areas is always a search for the context of the application and genuine engagement in the activities and interests. Particular "hooks" that might inform an admissions decision might be...
- Applicants who have clearly demonstrated that they want to make a difference and help others
- Hands-on, technical types, people who like to invent and create
- Those who demonstrate unusual curiosity or expertise in a certain area
MIT is also one of the most diverse universities in the country. To maintain and enhance this diversity, MIT makes a special effort to recruit and admit highly qualified candidates from all socio-economic levels, as well as traditionally underrepresented minority groups: African American, Native American, Mexican American, and Puerto Rican. MIT is committed to admitting all minorities who we feel are academically qualified to attend the Institute.
We base our evaluations on a complete application: a transcript, the guidance counselor evaluation and two teacher evaluations, standardized test scores, the applicant's essays and activities, and the interview report. The interview - conducted by MIT alumni called Educational Counselors - is not required, but strongly recommended as it gives us a valuable look into the student's personality and environment.
A Note on "Context"
The MIT admissions process is holistic and context-driven. By that we mean that our admissions committee is trying to get the best overall picture of a candidate, keeping his/her unique circumstances in mind.
As we evaluate each candidate, we consider his/her environment as a backdrop for his/her accomplishments. We try to understand where the student is from, the socioeconomic level, the size of the family, and the high school preparation. We ask ourselves if there are any social, physical, cultural, socio-economic or gender issues at play in the case. We want to see that the student is making the most of available opportunities and creating new opportunities for personal and intellectual growth.
We do not read or select by geographic region, but certainly pay close attention to a student's surrounding environment and how it has informed him/her. Specific stories and examples from the student, teachers, guidance counselor and interviewer can give us better "context" and are extremely valuable in evaluating a candidate's competitiveness. This is where you come in!
