Most FAQ about admission at MIT

[LauraN]

<p>Wow, randomperson, I disagree completely.</p>

<p>I know plenty of students (myself included) who get fantastic aid packages. I also know of several people who told MIT that they thought they wouldn’t be able to attend because of financial concerns and received substantial increases in their aid packages.</p>

<p>I suppose we have very different experiences.</p>

<p>The point is, as Mollie said, that admissions is need-blind. So by all means, apply and see what kind of aid you can get. Chances are you’ll be able to work it out. Doesn’t hurt to try, right?</p>

[system]

<p>Okay, I’ve run up against the inevitable positive experiences of others. I’m sure that lots of families get financial packages that are very good for them. This wasn’t my personal experience, and it wasn’t the experience of many other people I know who were MIT admits. Since our evidence is all anecdotal, I suppose that it’s pretty difficult to say which is really more common.</p>

<p>But I think that, in some sense, this establishes a point similar to my original one: when a significant portion of families are able to afford the school, and an also very significant portion isn’t, the evidence suggests that financial aid is indeed in “marginal” territory. As long as admitted students’ “ability to pay relative to financial aid” falls into a statistical distribution that isn’t positively pathological, this indicates that small improvements in financial aid would make big differences, swinging many from one category (immense hardship) to another (doable expense). My intuitive image is of some sort of bell curve - I’m sure ability to pay relative to financial aid doesn’t follow such a nice distribution, but if it’s remotely similar the effect would be the same.</p>

[akdaddy]

<p>The EFC is not linear wrt income. The EFC is flat at lower income/asset levels until a sharp rise at the 60-80 k level. The comfort level index might look like an inverted bell curve with the minimum affordability near the EFC=total expense level. Anyone near this point would logicly view the FA system as inadequate. Those near the peaks of the curve would have no reason to view the system as anything but satisfactory.</p>

[thunderbird1990]

<p>does the highest combined subscore composite apply to ACT scores as well? Thanks.</p>

[benjones]

<p>Yes - ACT and SAT are treated the same.</p>

[Qwertz82]

<p>how much weight is placed on AP scores?</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>[Matt</a> says](<a href=“http://matt.mitblogs.com/archives/2005/10/october_questio_1.html]Matt”>http://matt.mitblogs.com/archives/2005/10/october_questio_1.html),

We will consider many things in the application process, including SATs and APs. Remember that one bad score will not by itself disqualify you, but nor will one good score “save” you. Your application is evaluated holistically and in context.

So they are considered, but it is impossible to say how much “weight” is placed on them.</p>

[sleepybunny]

<p>This is kind of unrelated to the topic, but is it possible that we can a thread related to getting into MIT for grad school? Kinda like the ones started by the moderator for the undergrad admission officers except this time hopefully a grad admission officer can get on it?</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>There’s really not such a thing as a grad admissions officer – each department at MIT (and at most schools) chooses candidates independently, based on their own criteria.</p>

[CountingDown]

<p>A couple of questions:</p>

<p>1) Our school’s calculation of GPA includes HS classes taken in middle school as part of U/W GPA. Will MIT recalculate using only 9-12? 9-11? 10-11? And how do weighted classes fit into the scheme of things?</p>

<p>2) Does MIT pay attention to when a student took an AP exam? For example, does a 5 on AP BC Calc as a sophomore “count” more than if it’s taken junior year?</p>

<p>3) Re: Recommendations – will MIT accept only three (two required, one supplemental)? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>MIT will accept as many recommendations as you choose to send, but it’s wise to choose judiciously – multiple recommendations that say the same thing won’t help your case. Get supplemental recommendations only if you feel that the extra recommendation says something unique about you.</p>

<p>MIT admissions officer [Bryan</a> Nance](<a href=“http://nance.mitblogs.com/]Bryan”>http://nance.mitblogs.com/) says

Don’t send a bajillion letters of recommendation. We know that most of you have only lived for 17 or 18 years. We don’t expect you to have a ton of experiences. I’d say more than 5-6 letters is really pushing it. Remember, we’ll read everything that you send us. Don’t abuse this. If I read a letter from your milkman saying that you like strawberry yogurt, I’m gonna be ****ed.

</p>

<p>EDIT: And regarding grades, MIT looks at grade reports in a pretty holistic manner. [url=<a href=“http://matt.mitblogs.com%5DMatt%5B/url”>http://matt.mitblogs.com]Matt[/url</a>] says

Then, it’s time for your grades. I look at the self-reported coursework form to see what courses you’ve taken, and what grades you’ve received. And since I’ve already been thinking about your high school, I have a sense of what opportunities for coursework you’ve had, and the choices you’ve made. This part is not a contest to see who has the most APs; I do want to see, though, that you’ve done well in a challenging curriculum.

</p>

[sleepybunny]

<p>exactly who reads the app for the grad school admissions? Do the deans read them and decide or do the profs read them? thanks</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>Professors read them.</p>

[AmyWilde]

<p>Hello, guys. I have a question
I moved to US from China last December and I am a US permanent residents (Green Card holders).
I’m thinking of MIT for college and I just want to know am I considered a non-native English speakers?
On the MIT website it says for non-native English speakers you may take the TOEFL and two SAT Subject Tests. So it means I don’t have to take the SAT Reasoning Test right?
Thanks!!!</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>If English isn’t your first language, you’re considered a non-native English speaker, whether you’re from another country or not.</p>

<p>The webpage says

Non-native English speakers have two options, which we consider equivalent. We have no preference between these options. It is your choice, and you should take the set of tests with which you feel the most comfortable:</p>

<pre><code>* Option 1: SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing; and two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).

• Option 2: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language); and two SAT Subject Tests, one in math (level 1 or 2) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). This option is especially recommended for students who do not speak English at home or in school, or who have been speaking English for fewer than five years.
  </code></pre>

<p>

If you choose to take the TOEFL and two SAT II subject tests, you do not need to take the SAT I for the purposes of MIT admissions. If you choose to take both the TOEFL and the SAT I, MIT will consider the score which makes you look the best.</p>

[AmyWilde]

<p>Thanks!!!
You know SAT verbal part is harrrrrrrd for a foreigner, TOEFL is much easier!</p>

[tachobg]

<p>just a small question about the meaning of the “Scholastic Distinctions” section. I’ve won prizes at a few art contests – would that be the place to list them? basically, would art go under scholastic?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,</p>

<p>Stanislav</p>

[WS17]

<p>Is it required that the MIT-provided Form be used? or can a letter be submitted instead? Our public high school usually files teacher letters on the HS letterhead to reduce the number of forms they have to handle and reduce the workload on teachers writing recommendations.</p>

<p>Will an application be evaluated less favorably if a letter is submitted rather than the MIT Form?</p>

[mootmom]

<p>It is not required that the official form be submitted, presuming the questions asked on the form are answered in the letter. My son’s high school didn’t use the forms either.</p>

[tachobg]

<p>For the self reported course-work, can I report courses that I am reasonably sure I’ll take next term, but might not because of scheduling problems?</p>