HOW TO APPLY TO MIT

THIS BOOK BELONGS TO:

 How to Apply to MIT Table of Contents
Step-by-Step Book

Set Up Your MyMIT Account Page 4

Application Part 1 Page 6

Biographical Form

Application Part 2 Page 8

Essays, Activities

Self-Reported Coursework Form

Letters of Recommendation Page 10

Table of Evaluations A and B

Secondary School Report

Contents
Supplemental Recommendations

Tests and Scores Page 12

SAT, ACT, TOEFL

Interview Page 14

Additional Material Page 16

Portfolios, Coaches, ROTC

February Updates and Notes Form

Financial Aid Page 18

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1
How to Apply to MIT Set Up Your MyMIT Account
Step-by-Step Book

MIT does not use the Common

Application. Instead, we use
our own system called MyMIT.
We encourage you to register for a MyMIT account as soon
as possible at my.mit.edu. It only takes a few minutes to
sign up. You’ll need this account to apply, track the various
components of your application, and keep tabs on your
financial aid forms.

Applying to MIT is easy and convenient using MyMIT. You

can work on your application in multiple sessions, editing it
as many times as you wish. 

Set Up
It is your responsibility to ensure we receive all of the required
pieces of your application. Your account will be updated
frequently so you’ll know after we have received materials from
your teachers and counselor.

Your MyMIT

Check your email.
We occasionally email all applicants to gently remind

Account
them of upcoming dates, deadlines, and tips.

Get started on this in September!

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 2
How to Apply to MIT Application Part 1
Step-by-Step Book

Submitting Part 1 of your

application through MyMIT
initiates your application process. 
Early Action or Regular Action
Your application must be submitted no later than November 1 if
you’re applying Early Action, or no later than January 1 if you’re
applying Regular Action. There is no advantage or disadvantage
to applying through Early Action. Our Early Action program is both
nonbinding and nonrestrictive.

Application Fee or Waiver

We ask students to pay a $75 application fee. If the application

Application
fee presents a hardship for you and your family, you may qualify
for a fee waiver. We will accept fee waivers from most sources,
such as the College Board, ACT, and NACAC, among others.
Alternatively, a school counselor, principal, or other school official
Send it in!

Part 1
can submit a letter on your behalf by the application deadline to
request a fee waiver. Send waiver materials to [email protected]
or MIT Undergraduate Admissions Processing Center, P.O. Box
404, Randolph, MA 02368.

Parent Information
If you’re a member of a non-traditional family, please provide
information about the persons whom you consider to be your
parents, whether they are your biological parents, adoptive
parents, or stepparents.

Field of Study
Don’t procrastinate!
We ask about a prospective major because we’re curious about
Submit before November 1 for Early Action
what interests you right now. Your answer will not affect your
or January 1 if you’re applying Regular Action.
admission—we do not admit by major. Instead, you’ll apply to MIT
as a whole. You won’t declare your major until the end of your first
year, which leaves a lot of time between now and then to explore
and change your mind.

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 3
How to Apply to MIT Application Part 2
Step-by-Step Book

Now we learn about you, in

your words. In Part 2, we begin
to understand you as a person,
not just as a student.
Essays Just
Rather than asking you to write one long essay, the MIT yourseblfe
!
application consists of several short-response questions
designed to help us get to know you. These are the places in
the application where we look for your voice — what drives you,
what’s important to you. Be honest, be open, and be authentic.
This is your opportunity to connect with us.

Application
Activities
There is only enough space to list four things — choose the four
that mean the most to you and tell us a bit about them. This will
give us more information about you than any “laundry list” of

Part 2
everything you’ve ever done in high school. It isn’t the quantity
of activities or number of leadership positions that matters, but
rather the energy and attitude that you bring to your pursuits.

Self-Reported Coursework Form

Here, we’re trying to get a clear picture of your academic
preparation by subject area. We see thousands of different
transcripts, so it really helps us to view your coursework and
grades in a consistent format. Please note that the information
you provide does not replace your official high school transcript.
You should include all classes you have taken and are currently
Be honest! taking, avoid abbreviations, and if there aren’t enough spaces
Remember, we are looking for your voice.
for all the courses you have taken, start with your current
classes and work backwards.

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 4
How to Apply to MIT Letters of Recommendation
Step-by-Step Book

We will need two teachers and a

school counselor to submit letters of
recommendation. These forms can be
accessed from your MyMIT account.
Recommendations: Whom to Ask
Evaluation A should be from a math or science teacher.
Evaluation B should be from a humanities, social science,
or language teacher. You should ask teachers who know you
well and have taught you in an academic class in high school.

Secondary School Report (SSR) Access

Your school counselor should complete the SSR form and submit these forms

Letters of
it to us, along with your transcript. Most counselors also attach a from My MIT
School Profile, describing your school’s curriculum and community. in September
Some school counselors do not or cannot write letters on your

Recommendation
behalf. We don’t hold this against you at all! We understand that
there are different types of schools out there, and you will not be
penalized in this case.

Provide your school counselor with access to this form early so that
they have time to write thoughtfully about your match with MIT.

Supplemental Recommendations
Supplemental recommendations are also welcome , but in no way
are expected or required. We simply ask that they provide different
or additional context beyond the two we’ve already requested.
Most applicants, and most admitted students, do not submit any
Talk to your teachers ASAP! supplemental recommendations. If you have a supplemental letter of
They are busy, so give them plenty of time. recommendation, it can be submitted using the same system as the
teacher recommendations.

Some supplemental evaluations, such as those from research mentors

and music teachers, can be submitted via our portfolio system, which
is described further in section 7 of this booklet.

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 5
How to Apply to MIT Tests and Scores
Step-by-Step Book

Standardized tests are required for

any first-year application to MIT.
However, they are not the only factor,
or even the most important factor.
You shouldn’t stress out too much about your scores, because
we admit people, not numbers. Seriously. That said, tests are
important, and you should prepare for them as best you can. If
you take the same test (SAT, ACT, or an SAT Subject Test) multiple
times, we will consider the highest score achieved in each section.

Your scores must be reported to us officially from the testing

Tests and
agency. We do not have cutoff or recommended scores for any
of the tests (with the exception of the TOEFL), as scores are
evaluated within an applicant’s context.

For native English speakers:

Scores
We require the SAT or the ACT. We do not prefer one over the
other, and we do not require the optional writing test. We also
require two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and
one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology). We do not have
a preference as to which science you take or which level math
you take.

For non-native English speakers:

You can take the tests required for native English speakers, or
you may take the TOEFL and two SAT Subject Tests, one in math
(level 1 or 2) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology).
Plan ahead!
The last standardized tests that will be considered by
the selection committee are the test dates in November
for Early Action or December for Regular Action.

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 6
How to Apply to MIT Interview
Step-by-Step Book

We don’t just want to see

how you look on paper: we’re
interested in the whole person.
Whenever possible, we offer students an interview with a
member of the Educational Council, a network of over 5,000
MIT graduates around the world who volunteer to meet with
applicants in their home area.

After you submit your application, you may be contacted by

one of our Educational Counselors (ECs) if there’s one available.
ECs will typically use the email address you provided on your
application to contact you, so please monitor your inbox and

Interview
respond promptly.

Interviews are conducted in your local area in a public setting

like a coffeehouse or library, or if your EC is not located in your
region, your interview may take place via Skype. Most interviews
last about an hour, although they can range from 30 minutes
to 90 minutes. The interview is not a quiz! Think of it as a nice
conversation, and a chance to chat with someone who has
attended MIT. All you need to do to prepare is to come ready
to talk about yourself.

Due to limited capacity, we cannot offer every applicant an

interview. If we are unable to offer you one, your interview will
be waived, and this will not adversely affect your application.

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7
How to Apply to MIT Additional Material
Step-by-Step Book

If you have a special talent, skill, or

something else you’d like to show us,
you may send in a portfolio or other
supplemental information.
While we neither expect nor require additional material beyond the
application, we know that many students are involved in many cool
activities outside of class, and we love to hear about them!

Visual artists, makers, performing artists, and researchers may send

in portfolios for review by MIT staff or faculty. You might wonder what
a “maker” portfolio is. Many different projects would fit the bill, for
example: new origami designs, a chainmail suit, bookbinding, a

Additional
knitted fractal, or a computer program/app. We love creative people
who enjoy making things!

MIT will also consider research that you have conducted outside of class.
A letter of evaluation from your research mentor can be especially helpful.

Material Details on how to have your art, architecture, maker, music, theater
arts, and/or research talents considered can be found on our website,
mitadmissions.org/apply.

If you are an accomplished athlete and you plan to participate at the varsity
level in college, we encourage you to contact the MIT coach for your sport;
find out more at mitathletics.com. If you are interested in participating in one
of MIT’s ROTC programs, visit catalog.mit.edu and search for ROTC.

February Updates and Notes Form

All applicants are required to submit a February Updates and Notes Form,
Find out online!
available on your MyMIT account in January. Update the form with your
See mitadmissions.org/apply
for details on how to submit materials. grades as soon as possible after completion of the fall semester (or after
completion of the second quarter, if your school uses a quarter-based system).
If your school uses a trimester schedule, please use your first trimester grades.

The February Updates and Notes Form also includes an opportunity for you to
update us on anything important that has occurred since you submitted your
application. Using the online form is preferred over mailed or emailed updates.

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 8
How to Apply to MIT Financial Aid
Step-by-Step Book

If you are admitted to MIT,

we will meet your family’s full
demonstrated need.
MIT is committed to being financially accessible to admitted
students. If you belong here, we will work with you and
your family to help you finance your education.

Applying for financial aid will not negatively impact your chance
of being admitted. We consider your application regardless of
your family’s financial need. We won’t admit you because you
can pay full-freight, and we won’t deny you because you can’t
pay a nickel. It’s your mettle, not your money, that gets you in

Financial
to MIT.

MIT does not award money based on any measure of merit — 

academic, athletic, artistic, or anything else. You may qualify
for private outside scholarships based on your merits; if you

Aid
do, then they become part of your financial aid package. Many
students use bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
to find outside scholarships.

MIT will meet every single cent of your family’s demonstrated

financial need. Believe it or not, the sticker price to attend MIT
is actually thousands of dollars less than what it costs to be a
student at MIT —e  ven students who don’t receive financial aid
are already receiving a considerable subsidy to study here!

Use our financial aid calculator at mitadmissions.org to get a

MIT is need blind! sense of what it may cost you to come to MIT.
This means needing financial aid will not count against
you in the admissions process.

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 Now you are ready to get started. Go to it!

Notes
mitadmissions.org