MIT is a very selective school. It is perhaps best known for its engineering and physical sciences programs. Nevertheless, areas such as economics, political science, urban studies, linguistics, and philosophy are also strong. You might even be able to pursue your own research as an undergraduate. MIT uses its own system called MyMIT, so you should apply through it.
Acceptance rate (early decision): 4.7%
Acceptance rate(regular decision): 3.94%
1st part of an application: having an outstanding GPA + very good SAT/ACT scores
2nd part: providing 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 might be helpful for your application as well.
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 since providing test scores is required. 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 also 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 also 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.
Essays
MIT doesn’t ask applicants for a single long essay. Instead, students who apply should submit several essays and their answers to short response questions. It is important to be honest and open when writing these!
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.