MIT

MIT is a school centered around innovation and novel discoveries. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, so it is also close to Harvard University. It is especially strong for engineering and science disciplines. All students enroll at MIT "undeclared", meaning in the first year, you'll take MIT's core curriculum. Also, to ease the transition from high school to university, during your first term at MIT, you either pass a class or receive no record of having taken it. Last, MIT has a swim requirement. You need to take 4 physical and wellness courses. After all, it's important for both your mind and body to be in peak condition 🙂

1st part of an application: having an outstanding GPA + very good SAT/ACT scores

2nd part: providing personal information, essays, letters of recommendation and your extracurriculars

The average GPA at MIT is above 4.0. This means that you should aim to have sixes (straight A’s) in your school classes. Besides this, taking AP exams (see section below for additional information) might be helpful for your application as well. Something to keep in mind is that MIT has its own application portal, so you will need to create an account to be able to apply.

AP exams

AP exams, also known as Advanced Placement exams, are offered again by the College board (as is the SAT exam) in May each school year. These exams are difficult since they test university-level knowledge. They are offered in a variety of subjects. However, since not all schools offer AP classes, you may need to prepare extensively on your own. The grades for the exams are on AP’s five-point scale with 5 being the highest grade. 4 is also a great grade and shows that the person taking the exam is well qualified.

SAT/ACT + English proficiency exams

When it comes to standardised testing, having good SAT/ACT scores will boost your application. An average SAT score between 1510-1570 or an average ACT score of 34-36 should be useful. It should also be noted that the ACT writing section and the SAT optional essay are not mandatory. It is also important to mention that if you are an international student, you might be required to submit an English proficiency exam. This may be IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic or Cambridge English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)

Letters of recommendation

The letters of recommendation are an important part of your application. MIT asks applicants to submit two recommendations from your teachers. One should be from your math/science teacher while the other from your humanities/social sciences/language teacher. Apart from that, you will be asked to submit information from a school counselor. You could submit an additional letter of recommendation if you’d like.

Essays

MIT doesn’t ask applicants for a single long essay. Instead, students who apply should submit their responses to several essay prompts. It is important to be honest and open when writing these to showcase your passions and future goals!

Activities + coursework form

Make sure to pursue activities you are truly passionate about, dedicate enough time to them and try to make an impact in your community. MIT gives you the option to put four of your most meaningful activities on the application portal.