Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a world-class institution founded on April 10, 1861, just two days before the start of the Civil War. The first classes began at the Institute two years after its establishment.
Before moving to its present location in Cambridge, the Institute occupied a rented space in downtown Boston. Today, it is one of the top private institutes in the United States.
According to the QS World University Rankings 2023, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks #1. The 2022 Times Higher Education World University Ranking for MIT is #2.
More than 30,000 applicants applied for the class of 2026, out of which only 1,337 applicants were admitted, which is only 3.96%. 763 applicants were offered a place on the waiting list, but none made the cut.
Being one of the top institutes for science and technology, MIT is highly selective, and the acceptance rate at present is 4%.
Do not be disheartened by the low acceptance rate; we are here to share details on how to get admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Admission Eligibility Criteria
Students who wish to get admission to the Institute must meet the Massachusetts Institute of Technology admission criteria. The admission criteria are different for the various schools and colleges of MIT.
The primary requirements to secure admission to undergraduate and graduate courses include the following.
Undergraduate:
The applicant must score well on the ACT or SAT
The applicant must have studied- two semesters of calculus, two semesters of calculus-based physics, one semester of chemistry, and one semester of biology in high school
Students should also have studied humanities, arts, and social science
Non-native English speakers need to appear for the English Language Proficiency Test
Graduate:
Most graduate degrees require students to specialize in the course they are choosing
Non-native English speakers need to appear for the English Language Proficiency Test
MIT looks for a solid academic foundation in high school and graduate courses. Students must also mention any other courses they took outside high school and college in the application.
Documents Required
Students seeking admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are required to submit some essential documents that contribute to the evaluation of the application.
MIT looks for a solid academic foundation in high school and graduate courses. Students must also mention any other courses they took outside high school and college in the application.
Following are the list of essential documents required by MIT:
Application Form
Two letters of recommendation; one from a math/science teacher, another from a humanities/social science/language teacher
Official transcripts
Statement of Purpose
Test scores including GRE, English Language Proficiency Test (as per course requirement)
Fee waiver form (if any)
Financial documents
Some departments may require applicants to submit additional documents. It’s best to contact the prospective department to understand all the documents needed. Masters and PhD courses require portfolios, essays, research proposals, and other documents.
Most documents are to be submitted with the application form on the admission portal. There’s no need to mail or physically submit any documents.
Tests Required
The Institute has reinstated the standardized testing requirements after suspending them during Covid. SAT and ACT scores are required for all undergraduate courses. The Institute does not require the ACT writing section or the SAT optional essay.
While the Institute has not set any cut-off or recommended scores for the tests, most of the applicants selected for the class of 2026 had ACT (Composite) scores between 34 and 36. The SAT Math score ranged from 790-800.
International students whose native language is not English have to submit any of the following English Language Proficiency Exam Score:
Cambridge English Qualifications
Duolingo English Test
IELTS
Pearson Test of English Academic
TOEFL
The Institute has the following recommended scores for the English tests:
Cambridge English Qualifications
Minimum: 185
Recommended: 190
Duolingo English Test
Minimum: 120
Recommended: 125
IELTS
Minimum: 7
Recommended: 7.5
Pearson Test of English Academic
Minimum: 65
Recommended: 70
TOEFL
Minimum: 90
Recommended: 100
Popular Courses
While the Institute is popular for its STEM courses, it might come as a surprise to many that the Institute offers academic programs in arts and humanities as well. It also provides an unprecedented scope of research in the field of physics and engineering.
MIT’s different schools and colleges offer various undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. There are also a few Interdisciplinary courses to choose from.
Applicants can choose the courses from the School of Architecture and Planning, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Sloan School of Management, and MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.
Here are some of the most well-known academic programs available at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology:
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics
Literature
Biology
Business Analytics
Economics
Finance
Notably, students can explore both major and minor-level courses in these fields of study.
How University Evaluates Applicants
MIT looks for students who are not just intelligent but also creative. The Institute has a holistic admission approach that selects the best mind to study at MIT.
Once the application is submitted, a senior admission officer will go through it, followed by additional admission officers who summarize the application for the Admissions Committee.
This is then forwarded to the selection committee, where other admissions staff and faculty members weigh their opinions before finalizing it. The different factors considered in the entire process include:
MIT focuses on students’ collaborative and cooperative spirit and designs most of their assignments around this quality that requires students to work together.
Students who like to take the initiative and make the most out of their environment are considered at MIT. MIT believes that opportunities must be seized.
MIT looks for students who like to carve out their own path taking risks without fearing failure.
MIT looks for students who believe in MIT’s mission and work in their own capability to make the surroundings better. It does not always have to be a huge feat.
Investment in activities is another factor the Institute looks for in students. This reveals to them curiosity and how passionate the students are about things they care for.
Creative students can always find a place at MIT. The Institute nurtures students who enjoy trying their hands at new things, even if they fail at it.
Tips for Applying to University
Applicants seeking admission to a reputed Institute like MIT should prepare themselves beforehand. Students should aim to create an impressive application besides scoring exceptionally well on standardized tests.
Here are a few tips to help students take a step closer:
Take advantage of the early action. For students who have their hearts set on MIT, then they should go ahead and make an early application.
Students who want to make it to MIT from undergraduate courses need to start working on their dream throughout high school. Work hard to stay on top of the class.
Focus on overall development, participate in community and extracurricular activities, and take up opportunities to hone soft skills.
Students should not use a generic essay. Write, get it reviewed, edit, and keep working on the essay to make it perfect. Make sure to draw an even picture of academics and life outside academics through the essay.
Study for the ACT or SAT and take practice tests regularly to check progress and improve. Students should consider getting help from mentors to work on specific areas where they score low.
Lastly, confidence is the key. This will help them to put their best foot forward.
Students who wish to study at MIT can apply to different courses through two timelines; early action and regular action. The only difference between the two is the deadlines.
Regular action is the most preferred method that follows the standard admission procedure. Whereas the early action is for students who are confident of their application and their first choice is MIT. The timeline for early action is usually a month or two prior to the regular timeline.
All applicants- both international and domestic are allowed the Early Application choice. Unlike other Institutes, MIT does not restrict the applicant regarding where else they might apply.
Since students are allowed to apply once per entry year, they cannot apply in both regular and early action.
Timeline for Early Action:
November 1: Submission of the application form with all supporting documents
November: Date for submission of standardized tests
Mid-February: February Updates and notes form
Timeline for Regular Action:
January 5: Submission of the application form with all supporting documents
December: Date for submission of standardized tests.
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