How will the pandemic affect MIT admission this year?

blossom
Thu, 27 Aug 2020 17:42:58 +0000

Even during the halcyon days (pre-covid) high scores were NOT enough to get you in to MIT. Hence, the absence of the scores doesn’t put your application in the “shred” pile.

This means two things- As Ski Europe points out, take the test if you can. And as Linda points out- you STILL need a well thought out list, whether or not Covid has an impact, whether or not test optional has an impact, etc. Thousands of fantastic kids get rejected by MIT every year no matter what else is going on, and that is not going to change this year.

I think MIT has a very solid sense of what it is looking for when building the class. I have had friends tell me that their kid is a “shoe in” at MIT because “she loves computers but hates to read, just like everyone else at MIT.” No. My kid (and his friends) were really well rounded, read books in their spare time, performed just as well in their history classes in HS as they did in math and physics. Or the old “how could they not accept little Charlie? He’s a legacy (MIT doesn’t care) AND a real computer game nerd”. You don’t major in playing computer games at MIT- you need to show some affinity for a few other elements of intellectual engagement, whether they are math/science or other.

Make that list- reach, match, safety, and try not to outgame Covid. The virus always wins anyway.