MIT FAQ for application year 2009-2010 - Page 2

soadquake981 · 06-04-2009, 11:47 PM

I have a follow-up question to the original "high school context" question, then.

My school is new, meaning that I will be part of the first graduating class. How will MIT get information about my school, such as what courses are available?

molliebatmit · 06-05-2009, 07:54 AM

Your guidance counselor will usually send this information in his/her report.

sujinpark8 · 06-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Hi,
I'm new to college confidential.
I saw that you majored in brain and cognitive sciences at MIT.
I love neuroscience and hope to major in the brain and cognitive science program at MIT.
I've read about the major and the various courses on the MIT website but was wondering if you could give me a student's perspective.
hope to hear from you soon.
Su

molliebatmit · 06-07-2009, 06:57 PM

I really enjoyed the BCS department. The department is pretty small -- only about 30-40 majors per year -- so classes are mostly small, and students have a lot of access to faculty members. The curriculum is very flexible, so students are free to take classes in areas of the department they find interesting. Personally, I'm the cellular/molecular neuro type, so I chose to take classes on topics like neural plasticity and neurochemistry. I started doing research the summer after my freshman year. I thought the department gave me a lot of access to top-notch professors and freedom to choose the types of classes that interested me.

soadquake981 · 06-07-2009, 07:00 PM

I was wondering if you could describe the music opportunities at MIT. I play guitar (jazz band at school and metal elsewhere), so I would like to know what sorts of groups I could participate in. Thank you!

molliebatmit · 06-07-2009, 07:34 PM

You can find lots of information about arts groups at MIT here (at the arts@MIT page) or here (at the admissions site).

AbhishekShetye · 06-08-2009, 10:18 AM

Hey, I'm an Indian student from Dubai and I'm actually planning on applying to MIT this year. I plan on taking the biomedical stream. One of my English language teachers who has taught me for three years is leaving the country this year and has written a letter of recommendation for me. I want to know if I can send this letter to the admissions office as an additional supplement or one of the two letters that MIT requires as recommendation ? (since she wrote it recently, I think she may hve not included ALL the criteria asked in the MIT applications form regarding this issue).

Secondly, I studied GCE O levels from one school, and the A levels from another. I wanted to know if MIT would accept the school transcripts from grade 9 to 11 (and now grade 12 and 13 when I'm done) given that both these schools did not have the GPA system since they are from the British curriculum.

Thanks =)

molliebatmit · 06-08-2009, 07:46 PM

You can send additional letters as supplemental information if you would like -- there's no limit on the number or type of supplemental information you can send, and many people send an extra letter as a supplement.

You could absolutely send the letter as one of your two recommendation letters, but it may be better to send two letters that address all the points MIT requests, and send your pre-written letter as a supplement. It's up to you.

As for your grades, MIT is familiar with a wide range of international school systems. Your transcripts won't pose a problem.

AbhishekShetye · 06-09-2009, 09:04 AM

Ahh thanks alot

adamonkey2 · 06-13-2009, 12:59 PM

if a made a bad first impression on Matt a year ago, will he still remember...?
btw miss your blogs

molliebatmit · 06-13-2009, 10:20 PM

Matt does have a pretty good memory (although he meets or emails with a huge number of students each year!). But he's also a professional admissions officer, and he knows not to let a first impression irrevocably color his views about an applicant.

HiPeople · 06-15-2009, 09:01 PM

When you apply to MIT, do you need a

1. myMIT account (I saw on the website that its for online applicants--most people apply online right?)
2. if you do, when are you suppose to register for it (applying for fall of 2010 EA)

Can I register right now, in June, and still expect the account to work when I apply EA in October? Or do I have to wait until the new application comes out?

Thanks

molliebatmit · 06-15-2009, 09:20 PM

You will need a MyMIT account if you want to submit your application online, get your decision online, get your interviewer's contact info online, and/or track your application components online.

You can register for it whenever you want -- you could register now and apply in the fall with no problems.

HiPeople · 06-16-2009, 09:31 PM

Ok thanks.
Ive got one more question:

It will probably be self-explanatory once the app comes out, but for the AMC scores, do you know if they ask for 2 AMC 10, 2 AMC 12, and 2 AIME? Or do they ask for more? Can you include more, like additional tests?

Thanks.

jamesford · 06-18-2009, 04:41 PM

How formal do the essays have to be?

I'm not even sure if this is a prompt, but I'm writing an essay response to "Why MIT?" It's pretty light-hearted and makes a lot of references to esoteric bits of MIT culture. It's not informal to the extent of using emoticons or slang (or the like), but it's probably not something I'd turn in for English class.