Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is currently ranked as the #2 university in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and is best known for its scientific and technical research. The MIT community ethos is clearly stated on the Admissions + Aid website: “Intensely curious and driven to explore, the people of MIT value rigorous analytical thinking, ingenuity, hands-on problem solving, and big new ideas.”
MIT is one of the most selective universities in the country and was one of the first colleges in the U.S. to end its pandemic-era test-optional policy. Last year, there were 26,914 first-year applications and 1,291 first-year admits for an acceptance rate of 4.8%. This data makes the MIT supplemental essays all the more important.
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MIT’S SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPTS
Note: MIT does NOT use the Common Application and instead asks prospective students to apply via MyMIT
For the 2023-2024 application cycle, MIT requires students to respond to the following 5 short-answer questions in approximately 100-200 words.
- What field of study appeals to you the most right now? (Note: Applicants select from a drop-down list.) Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.
- 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.
- How has the world you come from—including your opportunities, experiences, and challenges—shaped your dreams and aspirations?
- MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds together to collaborate, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to lending a helping hand. Describe one way you have collaborated with others to learn from them, with them, or contribute to your community together.
- How did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn’t expect? What did you learn from it?
MIT also offers a final additional information text box where applicants can tell the admissions team “anything else you think we really ought to know.”
TTA Top Tip: Don’t immediately disregard the additional information box. While most applicants should be able to include all relevant information in their essays and other sections of the application, it can be prudent to utilize this space in certain cases. For example, have you conducted high-level academic research? Do you want to share the abstract of your published research paper? Did you have a low grade in a certain semester because of an unavoidable circumstance? The additional information box shouldn’t be for superfluous writing, but it can be an excellent place to give any important context to your application that you couldn’t fit elsewhere.
As MIT says on its website, “Remember that this is not a writing test. Be honest, be open, be authentic — this is your opportunity to connect with us.”
EXPERT GUIDANCE FOR AN ACADEMIC EDGE
Is MIT your dream school? Are you seeking personalized feedback from experts in the elite college admissions field? Well, Top Tier Admissions offers just that — so don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and find out more about our Essay Guidance Program.
As a reminder, the deadline for Regular Decision applications to MIT is January 4. Don’t wait until winter break to work on your essays! Interested in similar universities and curious what their applications might require? Top Tier Admissions is tracking supplemental essay prompts for all top schools here.
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