shinexalive

@WeIsCool heeyyyy~! <3 LOL I don't know. Might as well park my butt in Cbus this year and just do something at the hospital. (I love how we're FB messaging right now)
My big problem is the "engineering" aspect...how much is engineering? Because I'm more into research (very science oriented) than engineering.

WeIsCool

Exactly. I think I REALLY want a research program, so after all, I'm probably not going to apply to this program. But if somebody posts about the classes, I may change my mind...?

prototyped

Good luck to everyone applying! (: I'll be applying to MITES, RSI, HSSRP, MSU HSSP, NHI and SIMR

pentupenguin

@WeIsCool

The TA's don't teach any of the classes. They do help out during office hours though, and they give lectures once a week that mimic recitations. Also, the TA's are awesome. They make the experience soooo much better.

As far as the difficulty, you should go in there expecting no mercy. Most (all?) people will pull all nighters, and there will be times when you might want to (or will) bang your head against a wall. However, one of the aims of the program is to challenge you like you've never been challenged before. They're definitely manageable with good studying habits and time management though. PSET's are assigned once a week for the most part. You don't pick out your classes. You take a placement test in Calculus, Physics, and Biology/Chemistry. Depending on how you score you'll get placed on the appropriate class level. You get to rank the elective courses on the order that you'd prefer them, but that doesn't always mean you won't get your last choice. If you're placed in a certain elective there will be a reason for it, even if you don't know it.

lee1024

is the biology/chemistry placement exam combined or is there a separate biology and a separate chemistry test?

dokingsler

Guys when you apply to MITes are you automatically applied to MOSTECH, E2, etc...?

liveforscience

@prototyped: MITES > RSI (in my biased opinion) but, we did get to meet the RSI students. Overall, MITES is much more collaborative as compared to RSI, and I feel like we had a really great community (and family!) feel.

@lee: It's one 1 hour placement exam, but there is a chemistry portion followed by the biology portion. You have to split your time between the two portions accordingly.

@dokingsler: Yes.

Oh and just to clarify: I was MITES 2012 too. (2012 PRIDE!)

liveforscience

Furthermore:

It's not heavily engineering based (for the most part), it depends on the elective. The guest speakers ARE mostly engineering professors of some sort.
Some of the instructors for the classes are grad students, others aren't. TAs are college students, generally from past MITES classes or a few hadn't been in the program but were MIT students.

I used to think I was really interested in research and even got my first choice elective, Genomics. I realized through MITES that my true passion does not lay in such a field, which made me very grateful for the experience. Admittedly, RSI is more research-based than MITES.

Feel free to PM me as well if you have any specific questions... about anything from food to bathrooms! All of us love to share our experiences!

IuvenilisAnimus

Do any MITES alumni want to give tips on writing the essays?
Thanks in advance!

WeIsCool

Thanks @pentupenguin and liveforscience for answering some of our questions (:

bublubu

It looks like the MITES 2013 application is up. Good luck everyone.

DreamKid1015

I wish everyone the best!

DreamKid1015

Would mites accept any January SAT test scores considering this from their website?---

13.I will be taking the PSAT, SAT, or ACT in the spring. Can I still apply to the MITES Program?
All application materials must be submitted by January 15, 2013. You should schedule to take your test so as to receive your standardized test scores by the deadline. We do not accept test scores for tests scheduled after the deadline.

liveforscience

As for writing essays: be yourself. I can't really give tips as to "oh this is how you'll get in." I don't think anyone can. I was looking back at my essays in trying to rewrite them for college and I can't believe how much stronger language-wise they could have been. One thing I CAN say is that you don't always need a sob-story for the "something you've overcome" essay. Even if your fear or whatever is something simple and commonplace, it's not the magnitude of the struggle as much as how you changed.

@ DreamKid I'm assuming not based on the text you cited. You can call and ask, if you want official confirmation. I don't remember if I sent both, but I think I just sent PSAT scores and not SATs.

Elrondel

Made an account just for this ;o
I've already begun writing my essays for the 2013 MITES application, and I'm having such a hard time :/ I'm not sure what register to use, but I sort of know what I want to write about. I'm just going along slowly; it sounds repetitive to me...I don't know.
I also just plan on sending PSAT scores in...
Not so sure 'bout my extracurriculars, either :/ I don't feel like I've done anything too special that I can remember right now.