Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,530 students, and an acceptance rate of 7.3% in 2020.

Location and Campus Size

The MIT campus covers 168 acres along the Charles River, comprising 30 academic and residential buildings. It is located just across the river from Boston, one of the most vibrant and dynamic cities in the US.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fees for MIT in 2021-22 academic year are $56,450. However, almost all students receive financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award was $52,960 in the same year.

Undergraduate Programs and Application Requirements

MIT offers undergraduate programs in five schools:

School of Architecture and Planning

The School of Architecture and Planning offers undergraduate programs in Architecture, Art and Design, and Planning. In addition to the Common Application essay, applicants must submit an essay specific to the department they are applying for:

• Architecture - Describe a time when you pushed yourself beyond your comfort zone. (250-500 words)
• Art and Design - We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. (100 words or fewer)
• Planning - Please write a short essay about why you are applying to the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Your essay should be no more than 500 words.

Applicants must also submit an online portfolio if they are applying for the Art and Design program.

School of Engineering

The School of Engineering offers undergraduate programs in Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. In addition to the Common Application essay, applicants must submit an essay specific to the department they are applying for:

• Biological Engineering - Describe how you would contribute to the diversity of the MIT community (250-500 words)
• Chemical Engineering - Describe an example of a chemical engineering topic that interests you and how you would go about pursuing it at MIT. (250-500 words)
• Civil and Environmental Engineering - Discuss a particularly challenging project, problem, or experience that has shaped your perspective and skills as a young engineer. (250-500 words)
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - Describe a situation where you solved a complex problem. (250-500 words)
• Mechanical Engineering - Tell us about an engineering idea you have, or about your interest in engineering. (250-500 words)

School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences offers undergraduate programs in Anthropology, Comparative Media Studies, Economics, Global Studies and Languages, History, Literature, Music and Theater Arts, Philosophy, Political Science, Science, Technology, and Society, and Writing. In addition to the Common Application essay, applicants must submit an essay specific to the department they are applying for:

• Anthropology - How do you see yourself engaging with anthropological theory and practice in your future studies and career? (500 words or less)
• Comparative Media Studies - Tell us about a time in the past five years when you had a meaningful conversation about a book, article or film, (50 words or less)
• Economics - Please describe a time when you had to respond to significant change in your personal or professional life. What did you do? How did you feel? What did you learn? (250-500 words)
• Global Studies and Languages - Please describe your cultural background and how it has influenced your experiences and perspective. (250-500 words)
• History - The historian and the playwright Robert Sherwood once wrote that “probably no other nation has had a more continuous and vital preoccupation with the past than the Americans. This preoccupation has expressed itself in countless ways and has helped to determine the character of the American people.” Please respond to this statement, drawing on your specific interests in history. (250-500 words)
• Literature - Discuss how your personal experiences, values, and/or intellectual interests inform your academic interests and goals. Please write about your academic interests, achievements, and goals, and how these relate to your intended major. (250-500 words)
• Music and Theater Arts - Write about your musical interests and experiences, including any formal training and any non-academic activities that have developed your skills and interests. (250-500 words)
• Philosophy - Choose one of the following questions and answer it in 250-500 words: (a) What is the meaning of life? (b) Does free will really exist? (c) Would it be ethical to clone a human being?
• Political Science - What are the most pressing problems facing political leaders and policymakers today, and how can you contribute to solving them? (250-500 words)
• Science, Technology, and Society - Describe your intellectual interests, what you are excited to learn about, and how you hope to use knowledge to make a difference. (250-500 words)
• Writing - In place of a traditional application essay, you may choose to submit a creative portfolio of work in fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, or hybrid genres. Submit a 5-10 page writing sample, one or more short stories, poems, or short screenplay.

School of Science

The School of Science offers undergraduate programs in Biology, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Chemistry, Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics. In addition to the Common Application essay, applicants must submit an essay specific to the department they are applying for:

• Biology - Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (250-500 words).
• Brain and Cognitive Sciences - Describe your primary area of interest in cognitive science and tell us why you find it fascinating. (250-500 words)
• Chemistry - Tell us about a time when you solved a complex problem. (250-500 words)
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences - Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth or understanding of yourself or others, in your own life, in the life of someone you know, or beyond. (250-500 words)
• Mathematics - Write a short discussion of a problem in any branch of mathematics that has particularly interested you, or a solution to such a problem that you have discovered, either on your own or with the help of others. (250-500 words)
• Physics - Describe a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (250-500 words)

Academic Requirements and Teacher Recommendations

MIT requires applicants to have completed a rigorous high school curriculum consisting of at least 4 years of English, math (including calculus), science, and social studies. Applicants must also submit transcripts from all high schools attended, as well as test scores from either the SAT or ACT.

In addition, applicants must submit two teacher recommendations from teachers in core academic subjects like math, science, English, history, or a language. MIT also strongly recommends that one of these recommendations be from a math or science teacher. Students should select teachers who know them well and can provide specific examples of their academic strengths.

Most Popular Subjects and Admissions Rates by Department

The most popular majors at MIT include Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics. The highest admissions rates are typically in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the School of Architecture and Planning, while admissions rates in the School of Engineering and the School of Science tend to be more competitive.

Popular Employers from MIT

Graduates from MIT are highly sought after by employers in a wide range of industries, including technology, finance, consulting, and government. Popular employers include Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and McKinsey & Company.

Most Popular Student Traditions

MIT is home to a number of unique and quirky traditions, including:

• Hack culture - students engage in clever and often hilarious pranks, such as turning the Great Dome into R2D2 for the premiere of Star Wars
• The Brass Rat - an elaborate and highly coveted custom class ring
• The LSC Premiere - a screening of a popular movie on the Friday night of freshman orientation week
• Penny Pong - a game played on tables in the student center with ping pong balls and pennies
• Maseeh Hall Piano Drop - an annual event where a piano is thrown off the roof of a dormitory onto a mattress on the ground (safely, with many precautions)

School Strengths and Weaknesses

MIT’s strengths include its strong emphasis on scientific and technological research, its exceptional faculty, and its highly motivated student body. Students at MIT enjoy access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, as well as opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and innovation projects.

One of MIT’s weaknesses is that its highly competitive and rigorous academic environment can be stressful and overwhelming for some students. Additionally, some students may find the heavy emphasis on STEM subjects to be limiting or less appealing compared to more diverse liberal arts schools.

Application Rounds and Deadlines

MIT has two application rounds for undergraduate admissions. The Early Action deadline is November 1, and students who apply under this program will receive their admissions decision on December 15. The Regular Action deadline is January 3, and students will receive their admissions decision by March 14.

Conclusion

MIT is a highly selective and prestigious university that offers exceptional programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the humanities. While the admissions process is competitive, students who are passionate about research, innovation, and academic excellence will find a wealth of opportunities at MIT to help them achieve their goals.