If there is 1157 enrolled, the chance of anyone getting off of the waitlist is practically nil. Can be proud and happy to say” I was in the MIT waitlist”! @agapetos What can be the outcome in late summer?
If they announce that fall will be online they “might” have a bigger summer melt and thus go to the wait list. I highly doubt that will happen. I personally do not see any huge summer melt for top universities. I am sure students will accept any plan MIT will come up for fall. The only wild card might be international students but even that I doubt will free enough students to open up the wait list. I see some top colleges (for example Cornell) took a few more students this year from the wait list just for “security” but MIT already has 50 more students than last year. Of course I wish you guys good luck and I ll be happy to be proven wrong…
There are more than 450 international students @ MIT. China alone is 50+ students. Considering the current situation on travel restrictions, online classes are the choice. There is no reason for an admitted student to give up the spot @ MIT with the pandemic when everyone is technologically advanced and learn from home! 50 more this year covers any deferred or gap year number. So waitlisted students… this was you consolation price. You ran the race well…!!
The 1159 number doesn’t cover any deferred entry/gap year people at this point (although they could elect to defer after this point, I guess). This includes many internationals (131 at this point).
I only know because I know one accepted interviewee who decided to delay entry and the person is not in the alumni directory for the Class of 2024.
I think things are a lot in the air in terms of logistics and travel and such.
Is the wait list still active? Any more news on MIT’s numbers after June 1st? Some colleges had June 1st deposit this year and it was anticipated that some shift will happen after that but not idea if that affected MIT.
Is there any chance MIT takes extra students to recuperate financially like other schools are doing? Also, will all the waitlisted students be notified immediately after they make a decision on closing the list or do you think they will keep us on it until mid-July regardless?
For international freshman I’d expect them to first need a visa and then they need to enter the US or they can’t take classes. MIT might not have their incoming international students if the US doesn’t change the requirements. Plus as an international your limited to how many online credits you can take.
@airway1 I would assume the rules to change regarding online credits. Also one of the ideas that MIT is floating for the fall is first semester online for first year students and sophomores with only seniors/juniors on campus. Then the reversal for the spring semester. If that happens then International students will have the chance to get their papers in order and come in the spring.
@shadow2002 In the past MIT notified everyone the same day about waitlist acceptances/rejections and closing. Obviously this year is different so nobody knows. As we are in mid June though I would love to hear an update.
@am9799 no International can not take online classes without prior approval of the US government.Plus you must enter the US to get your I-20 and visa cleared. As my son is an international student I know that spring they got a special approval. Summer is not counted but from his university they’ve recommended that he does not leave the US.
This is an article from Boston University
Why wouldn’t internationals be able to take all their classes online, from home? Maybe not all would choose that, but some will.
I believe MIT plans on offering the option to take all classes online…it’s not only some internationals, but also students who are immunecompromised, who can’t take classes in-person.
@mwfan1921 read the article… MIT can offer online to domestic students but cant offer full online for international students without government approval.
https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/faq/can-international-students-enroll-in-online-courses
The policy if for Fall and Spring… International students can take full online for the summer.
DHS has put in temporary rules allowing international students to take online classes. Although this only covers spring and summer so far, most believe these temporary rules will be extended. Google ‘Frequently Asked Questions for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19’ for the latest updates from DHS/ICE.
@mwfan1921 well we wait but that’s the problem universities have right now. If the DHS does not put guidance toward freshman who haven’t arrived then they might be forced to be deferred. This is what’s holding out a lot of schools from closing their waitlist. The major issue for continuing students is if their school has in-class then they need DHS to waive the online minimum for fall.
Then there is the US embassy that needs to open to process the visa as I would think without that you cant even do online. In some countries exams and finals have been pushed to August/Sept. Lots of unknown so lets see how it goes.
I hope that MIT will give a waitlist update soon.
same @am9799 :’(
It’s been over a month since we’ve gotten an update
MIT should make a waitlist decision sometime in July 2020. Tuition is due by August 1, 2020 for incoming students.
Forbes posted this article detailing matters for international students if anyone is interested:
Any news on waitlist? Are they going to release it anytime?
Incoming first-years have until 7/27 to submit a request for deferral. That was just announced today - https://covid19.mit.edu/fall-2020-faq