How to get into MIT

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been ranked as one of the best universities in the world for more than 8 years, with 39 Nobel laureates among its graduates, and less than 10% of the annual stream of applicants accepted. This article explains why the university is considered the most prestigious, what admissions tests students need to take, and how to increase their chances of admission.

About the university

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the best university in the United States and the world (QS World University Ranking, 2012-2020).

MIT alumni, professors and scientists include 96 Nobel laureates, 26 Turing award winners and eight Fields Medal recipients.

The university's motto, Mens et manus, emphasizes the connection between academic knowledge and practical goals. Many of the inventions that have changed the world originated at MIT. For example, 3D printing, bionic prosthetics, radar, the "black box," electronic ink, the genetic basis of human cancer, the concept of an expanding universe, and more. Of the 12 people who have visited the moon, four have graduated from MIT.

MIT graduates have launched 30,000 companies with 4.6 million jobs and annual revenues of about $1.9 trillion, including Dropbox, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Qualcomm. A nation of MIT graduates would be equivalent to the 10th largest economy in the world.

Despite the university's technical focus, members of the creative professions are achieving success here as well. The MIT Museum attracts about 125,000 visitors each year. Students participate in more than 60 musical, theatrical, and dance groups, and faculty members include Pulitzer Prize winners and Guggenheim Fellows.

The university is known for its interdisciplinary approach. For example, MIT Media Lab professor Neri Oxman combines art, design, biology, programming, and engineering in his research.

Undergraduate entrance requirements

• High School Grades.

It is best to apply to MIT at the beginning of your senior year of high school. The committee will make a decision based on your current grades. If they are interested in you, you must send in your final grades when you graduate.

Universities do not set a passing grade, but the better your grades, the better your chances are. The grades in the subjects you plan to study at the mit play an important role. In addition, the admissions committee recommends that you pay attention to the following subjects:

• English;
• Mathematics (at least up to the level of calculus);
• History or social studies (two years or more);
• biology;
• chemistry;
• physics.

These subjects show your general background, but are not a requirement.

• Recommendations

Letters of recommendation from two teachers are required: one in math or science and one in humanities or social studies.

• SAT or ACT

The university will not consider scores for the ACT writing section or the SAT supplemental essay. Also, starting in 2020, applicants do not need to take the SAT Subject - a subject-specific test such as math, physics, or literature.

There is no passing score for the tests, but the university offers statistics from previous years as a guide. Most accepted students score 750-800 on the SAT (in each block: math and writing reading) and 34-36 on the ACT (overall and in math and English blocks).

• Essay

The admissions committee asks you to answer a few questions honestly and briefly to help you learn more about the candidate's personality.

• Extracurricular activities.

You need to write about what you were interested in in school besides studying - no more than four major hobbies with a little explanation.

• Interview

After you complete the application, you will be contacted by a representative from the Academic Council. There are more than 5,000 alumni who conduct interviews all over the world. The representative will arrange a meeting at a convenient location for you or via Skype. The conversation will take about an hour and will focus on your passions and goals.

• Portfolio

Candidates can attach their work if they wish - research and projects, examples of creative work, and so on.