Help for International Student

cellardweller
Sat, 18 Aug 2012 19:04:48 +0000

The reason nobody is answering is that international admissions are unbelievably selective, more so that US admissions and that nobody can give an estimate of your chances beyond the simple fact that they will be very, very low.

It is hard often for internationals to understand, but test scores and transcripts are only one the factors used by MIT to assess applicants, and not always the most important especially for internationals. It is very hard for MIT to compare transcripts across countries, and SAT scores are not determinant. IB, no IB, A levels, baccalaureats, the profiles are as varied as the applicants. Also, MIT applicants are generally highly self-selecting: only the very dedicated apply. The application is also different from other schools, it requires an interview, there is no essay to speak of, no laundry list of ECs, very specific questions.

What is clear is that a high proportion of international applicants are academic superstars: IMO medalists, award winning researchers, and equivalent. You just to look through some of the threads on admitted applicants on this forum to get a feel. So, improving your curriculum or grades will not do much because all the other international applicants will all have outstanding transcripts. You generally have to have achieved something of significance in the area of science or technology that makes you stand out from a sea of highly qualified applicants.