Preparing for the onslaught of hundreds of comments...=p

Posted by: Oasis '11 on December 8, 2008

Holy... wow o__O.
If that's the rate it's going at, I can't even imagine the competition for 2011 (my YOG) @___@

Posted by: wendi on December 8, 2008

thanks for the update matt. and now i have a week of nerve-wracking tension to look foward to. fun.

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

By the way, good work Matt and the Admission Team!

辛苦你了。(thanks for the hard work!)

Posted by: Oasis '11 on December 8, 2008

=Z

Posted by: jerm on December 8, 2008

Good luck to everyone who applied early! I've been so worried this whole week, expecting an email or something! At least I have a date and time all mapped out.

And I won't even be within internet range on the 15th, so I'm going to be an even bigger mess. Great.

Posted by: AllisonAWE on December 8, 2008

Hey Matt, what do I need to get on the SATs in order to get in?


Just kidding!

Posted by: Yan on December 8, 2008

Dear Matt and admissions,
thank you so much for announcing this. Now I can be mildly sane for the next week. Nice job reading all those applications-it must been very difficult reading 10,000+ essays. assuming people did the optional essay

Posted by: newYorkKid on December 8, 2008

Ahhhhh!

Thanks for the update, Matt.

Posted by: Kelly ('13 Hopeful) on December 8, 2008

Thank you Matt for the update, and the Admissions Staff for working tirelessly!

We'll see what happens on Monday, I may run down the halls at my school screaming at 9:02 if I am accepted. :D

Posted by: Sam (Also '13 Hopeful) on December 8, 2008

GAH! Thanks for the update!
Now, for the stressful wait. How am I suppose to get through this week?

Posted by: ticktock on December 8, 2008

Thank you very much, Matt! And good luck to all applicants. :+)

Posted by: ρ on December 8, 2008

I must take part in the onslaught of comments. Never will a week go by so slowly.

Posted by: Errina on December 8, 2008

Well I guess we'll find out about EA along with everyone else who applied EA or ED to some college.

Posted by: Kyle H on December 8, 2008

oh man only one week left...
ahhhh
this is so nerveracking!!!

Posted by: MITES '08 on December 8, 2008

Thanks for letting us know. I was starting to get worried!

Also, thanks for reading 1,000 extra EA applications in the same amount of time.

Posted by: Isabel ('13 hopeful) on December 8, 2008

Thank you, Jesus! And MIT!

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

Aha, perfect! I'm amazed that you guys will be able to have gotten through 5k apps so quickly. 15th sounds great; I'll be out and won't have access to the internet to check, but as soon as I get home I'll be struck by DDay =)

Thanks so much Matt for keeping us updated, and best of luck sifting through RD apps.

If I get in EA I'll be ecstatic--I look forward to shaving my head with Beaver pride!

Posted by: Alec Poitzsch on December 8, 2008

Actually, the MIT team name is the Engineers, but the mascot is the Beaver, because he is nature's engineer! :D

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

Thank you for the update and to the admissions committee, for reading our applications. Now I gotta find something to do up until then.

Posted by: Stacy on December 8, 2008

Matt - Thank you and the rest of the admissions team so much. You guys are /amazing/ to get through 5000 applications in 6 weeks. Thanks, guys. Whatever happens, I am so happy that you are the ones who read my application.
I hope you get a few weeks of pleasant relaxation before RD starts

Posted by: Lexy on December 8, 2008

Wow! A Monday! Didn't see that one coming. Nice job though guys, enjoy Christmas!

Posted by: Snively on December 8, 2008

YAAY!! Thanks much for the update!! Now I can actually give people a date when they pester me as to whether or not I got in. And good luck with the reading.

Posted by: Matt A. on December 8, 2008

1k increase? Right before the exams start.

Thanks for reading the app though

Aren't the admission notices usually posted on Saturday at 11?

Posted by: David on December 8, 2008

Snively- I didn't see it coming either. Now I'm nervous!

PS- If I send you guys a Christmas present, does that mean I get accepted? Just kidding

Posted by: Molly H. on December 8, 2008

9pm not am

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

oh holy god...pray for us 0=]

Posted by: Joe Mangiafico on December 8, 2008

@Sam

Monday night is going to be a sleepless night for all applicants (21:00)... =D

Why does the "Remember Me?" function on the blogs not work? I haven't tried other browsers, but it's a no-go on Opera 9.

Posted by: Timur on December 8, 2008

Matt, you are amazing!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for the update.
I can't wait until 5:47pm PST when I'll begin refreshing the page.

Posted by: Brandon on December 8, 2008

OMG LOL BBQ WUT?????????????

Posted by: :O on December 8, 2008

when do you think the actual letters will be mailed out? and when they'll get to most applicants?

Posted by: Anon on December 8, 2008

Thank you Matt and the admissions team!
Mondays are always awkward, but hopefully the 15th wont be... goodluck to all

Posted by: Randy on December 8, 2008

Thanks so much for the update.
Looking forward to Monday!

Posted by: Kathy on December 8, 2008

Woops, I misread it. haha. I'll just have to wait an extra revolution of the hour hand.

Posted by: Samuel Jones on December 8, 2008

Matt,

I'd like to publicly announce that I love you. Finally having a return date has just made my day. The weekend will be arduous, but thank you and the admissions staff for working so hard and being so prompt, especially with a 1000 app increase this year. My dean and I were definitely expecting the 20th, so this is a pleasant surprise. An acceptance will be a more pleasant surprise, but that's a completely different story. [Fingers crossed, toes crossed, chopsticks downstairs in the drawers crossed.]

Class of '13 Applicant

Posted by: Andrew on December 8, 2008

^That's me.

@Timur

I think you're right, the Remember Me button doesn't work for me either on Safari.

Posted by: Sam (Also '13 Hopeful) on December 8, 2008

Gah. I'm taking up so many comments, but the point I'm trying to make is that Samuel Jones = Sam (Also '13 Hopeful).

Posted by: Sam (Also '13 Hopeful) on December 8, 2008

Yay! one week before I get deferred, then in a few months and I'll be rejected!

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

Monday at 9pm, wow can't wait. Is the number of admits this year going to be similar to the number of admits last year? If so, with 5k apps, admit rate falls even more...

Posted by: Justin ('13 hopeful) on December 8, 2008

Finally, I can actually use a famous line from The Ring!

"Seven days..."

Posted by: Colton on December 8, 2008

Due primarily to limited housing, I'd say that you can expect a similar number of admits this year as last year. I'm not on the admissions staff though, so don't take that for the absolute truth.

Posted by: Snively on December 8, 2008

I can't believe that in exactly 1 week, I will have an answer. This week is going to be the most agonizing week of my life.

Posted by: Isadora on December 8, 2008

thanks for the much anticipated and welcomed update! looking forward to hopefully good news on monday. and thank you to the admission office for their hard work

Posted by: shawn on December 8, 2008

1.Thanks Matt for the update, it's nice to finally be able to tell people "Next Monday" when they ask when we'll know.

2.Good Luck to ALL of the other EA applicants

3.NO!!!!! I will be starting a final at the EXACT moment, that is 6 PM, decisions are out on Monday.....

Posted by: Another MITES '08 on December 8, 2008

omg!!! i've been checking the MIT blogs three times a day for a while now. at last the mystery of the decision date has been solved =] Thanks for this post, and thanks to the entire admissions committee for working so hard...Best of luck to all! I think I'll take a break from school, hw, etc Monday night and watch a movie or something, just to take my mind off things =P

Posted by: hamsi on December 8, 2008

OMIGOSHHHH!!! That's amazing. Now I at least know what to count down to. Thank you Matt and the rest of the MIT admissions office. GL fellow applicants.

Posted by: Tiffany on December 8, 2008

Good luck everyone! I can't wait to have pre-frosh come to CPW.

Posted by: Tong '12 on December 8, 2008

YES!!!!! This is going to be the longest week ever!

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

finally a definitive EA decision date. I've been checking the site so frequently lately in anticipation that I've had MIT induced OCD. Finally I can tell everyone that they will know whether or not I got in by Tuesday morning.

Good luck to all you other EA applicants!

Posted by: Taylor on December 8, 2008

I feel so relieved to finally have an update on this even though its later than I hoped. I was hoping it would be Saturday!

Well, either way, for a few of us monday could well be the best day ever!

Posted by: dori on December 8, 2008

OMG! I CAN"T WAIT!! GAHHHH!!!

Posted by: Raymond Charles Tilden III on December 8, 2008

I cannot wait for Monday, really looking forward to some closure. At least The Dark Knight comes out tomorrow so my mind won't be completely focused on worrying :D
Thanks Matt and the admissions team for all the hard work. I appreciate it no matter which way the decision goes.

Posted by: Anonymous on December 8, 2008

I can't help but to repeat..

THANKS MATT SO MUCH! :DDDDDDD

I'll be frantically eroding the refresh button, like many others...I look forward to monday!

Posted by: June on December 8, 2008

Good luck everyone!

Posted by: '13 Hopeful on December 8, 2008

Thanks for the update! It's so much of a relief to at least know when we are going to hear the decisions!

Posted by: Alex '13? on December 8, 2008

OMG guys, we're almost there!! Thank you so much to Matt + the rest of the admission staff for getting through the apps so quickly. Good luck to everyone...

Posted by: Rebeca on December 8, 2008

Ahhh. Monday night before finals week starts hah.

Can't wait!

Posted by: Paulpaul on December 8, 2008

Nooo, I wanted people to become class of 13 on december 13, a Saturday. Oh well, I can make up words to describe how much I want to get in.

Posted by: joaquim Ardisson on December 8, 2008

yeah at least Dark Knight comes out tomorrow so i'll be obsessing over that for the next few days watching it over and over. best movie ever made. heath deserves an oscar for sure.

Posted by: why so serious? on December 8, 2008

Wow, can't wait until next Monday. Thanks admissions team for everything you've done. The 1000 consistent increase in apps might start becoming a real problem for you :/

Posted by: Matthew on December 8, 2008

My birthday is the 14th, so wouldn't it be the best belated-birthday gift ever if I got excepted?

Posted by: Brad on December 8, 2008

if you got *accepted

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

Thank You So Much!

Posted by: XYZ on December 8, 2008

Wow... I don't know whether this makes me feel less nervous because I finally know the date, or more nervous because the date is sooo close... ouch.

Posted by: Stephanie on December 8, 2008

That day will be the most nerve racking day yet for those 5,000 people.

wow. that's scary.

Posted by: Anonymous on December 8, 2008

So good to have a date to actually obsess over now rather than worrying that it'll end up being the 20th.
even being told 9:00pm I'm still going to be checking every 15 minutes.

@those questioning remember me:
Do you have cookies turned on? I know it may seem like a duh question but without cookies you cannot be remembered and if you do have them one check and make sure the browser isn't deleting them after each session.

Posted by: 0 on December 8, 2008

AAAH! This is really exciting. . .Thanks so much for all your hard work; going over 5,000 applications in 6 weeks is simply amazing.

Also, good luck to all the '13 hopefuls!

Posted by: Meeker '13 Hopeful on December 9, 2008

Thanks very much for the update. I'm sure we're all eager to hear our decisions....

Posted by: Narce on December 9, 2008

ZOMG I CANT BELIEVE IT!

Posted by: Amy Kates on December 9, 2008

I have emailed my EC 3 times till now but he hasn't replied yet.What should I do?Deadline's on 10th Dec.
Also,I completed my 12th grade in 2008(June) and have joined a college but I really wish to restart at MIT as a freshman in 2009(fall).Is it alright if I apply as a freshman?

Posted by: AK on December 9, 2008

Dude! No Way! My internet goes down at my school at 9 pm EST for 2 hours!

I have to wait two more hours than everyone else! LOL x infinity!

Thanks again MIT Admissions Staff for everything. Whatever the outcome, you guys kick some serious face.

Posted by: Alim on December 9, 2008

Finally! I remember reading somewhere that people are much more patient when they know how long they have to wait. That's why Disney's theme parks have approximate ride times and such, but I digress. The countdown has begun! Good luck all, and a special thanks to the MIT admissions staff for finally giving us a little bit of sanity back.

Posted by: Jacob on December 9, 2008

yay. this was the second best day ever-the first being the day my application to MIT was complete. after I saw the blog, i decided not to do any homework, and just stress about the decisions while watching gossip girl and 24 reruns. Seriously, thanks for the info. I was starting to go crazy.

hopefully this best day ever will be "out-bested" by next monday!!!!

good luck to the 70+ posts above me!!!

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

Thank you so much! I have been waiting for this moment for what seems like forever!

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

Wow, I remember when I got in EA last December. Gosh, has it been that long?

Anyway, best of luck to everyone! MIT is an amazing place!

Posted by: Seamus '12 on December 9, 2008

Thanks for the update. At least I'll stop checking my email feverishly for the next few days.
Good Luck to everyone!

Posted by: Nikita on December 9, 2008

Hey Matt,

Does taking a higher number of EA applicants mean you're taking a lower number of regular decision applicants?

Posted by: faizaafatima on December 9, 2008

Heeeeeey, Matt!

Posted by: Ngozi Ukazu on December 9, 2008

Good luck, everyone!

Posted by: Anon on December 9, 2008

We RAs have 3+ months to go! Phew..

Posted by: Suril on December 9, 2008

Good luck guys. I still clearly remember how nervous I was around this time last year.

Posted by: Serca '12 on December 9, 2008

So the mystery has been solved. One more week of anxiety to go .

Good luck to everyone and thanks to the admissions staff for working so hard!

Seven days. Oh. Dear. God.

Posted by: Kristina on December 9, 2008

... the time has come!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: eddie on December 9, 2008

Look what I made
http://www.DidIGetIntoMIT.com/

Posted by: Brandon on December 9, 2008

I drift like a wave on the ocean. I blow as aimless as the wind.

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

@ Brandon:

One word:

Nice.

Thanks Admisssions! YaY!

Posted by: Coleen on December 9, 2008

Will tubes be sent out on that Monday or earlier?

Posted by: Carlos on December 9, 2008

@Brandon: this was sooooo cool, it made me burst in laughter. it is the exact thing we made at home

Posted by: sepideh on December 9, 2008

@Meeker '13 Hopeful
is this Laura Meeker from WTP??
if its not, then sorry.

Posted by: wtp 08' on December 9, 2008

It sure is Meeker from WTP Who's this?!

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

thanks so much for that update! i've been waiting to know when the decisions were going up

Posted by: Ruchi on December 9, 2008

boring -==== i dont care if i get into MIT i'm into Duke already lol

Posted by: meh on December 9, 2008

dude MIT is so overrated it's not the pantheon of greatness as many of the people here are. And don't stress out, because what if you don't get accepted ? (88% chance). Keep your cool peeps! let the time go by slowly and revel the pleasure of existentialism and lack of clairvoyance.

Posted by: louis jackson on December 9, 2008

i believe chance should be removed from the 88 % since the admissions officers work hard in reading applications rather than flip coins. I believe in the pleasure of existentialism but I still think MIT is the pantheon of greatness. It is pandora's box of thoughts.

Posted by: joaquim ardisson on December 9, 2008

@ the previous comments
im looking forward to the college experience not based on princeton review rankings or "overrated"-ness, but based on the people that are at the school. I wanna be surrounded by people who wanna learn, and I wanna learn outside of class in cafeterias and study rooms, not just i n class. MIT isnt the only place for it, but thats why I wanna go here. and yes, it is amazing (unlike my typing abilities).

Posted by: Justin on December 9, 2008

I'm scared. :(

Posted by: David on December 9, 2008

@ David.
i'm with you.

Posted by: one of the other hopeful '13s on December 9, 2008

Don't be scared! What's done is done, all things will come to pass, whatever will be will be, que sera sera, etc etc. Enjoy the Sly Stone, it's soothing and hopefully you can get your minds off the waiting.

Posted by: Ahmed on December 9, 2008

Ahmed, what is the sly stone?

Posted by: blablabla on December 9, 2008

Ha!, the day is fast approaching, buckle yourself, for a defining moment in your life. The rest of your life is at hand.
I already know what to expect.

Posted by: Oblivionist T on December 9, 2008

@David

Ditto.

Six more days.

Posted by: JieMin on December 9, 2008

Nice work, Matt. All I can do is pray you and your team have done justice to each and every soul which applied. Pity I couldn't apply early. Anyways, best of luck for the hard work ahead (Regular'll be like a monster this time)

Posted by: Pranav Dave on December 9, 2008

I would like to apply for MIT， I am a Chinese student ，If the applicants are living in China ，How he should interview 。How interview 。

thank you .

Posted by: jian yong guo on December 9, 2008

@ faatima
I think they have a policy to limit EA admits to 30% of the class, so no.

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

Hi Matt,
I am having problems with contacting my EC. I sent a mail at interview@mit.edu stating my problem but so far haven't got a reply.
I tried to call him through the phone no. given at mymit account but the line says the service is no longer available. The deadline for scheduling an interview is tomorrow. What should I do now?

Posted by: Baiaboo on December 9, 2008

Hi Matt!
Can you give us ANY stats yet?
Like, how many got in?
That would make my day.

Posted by: Paige on December 9, 2008

This is the other Laura from WTP-- thats wacker, not Royden... wow thats so cool- how r u?? applying ea to MIT???
yay me too

miss ya here in freezing cold new york!!!

Posted by: Meeker Friend on December 9, 2008

In response to Anonymous' "I drift like a wave on the ocean. I blow as aimless as the wind."
I am a leaf in the wind. Watch me soar.
Or crash and burn, whichever.

Posted by: Errina on December 9, 2008

ZOMGGGG!!!! I think im gonna get a heart attack. Six more days. The wait is almost over. Lets just hope it doesnt continue into a deferral.

Posted by: Samuel M. on December 9, 2008

I LOVE MIT!

Posted by: Anonymous on December 9, 2008

blablabla -

sly and the family stone? sound familiar? no? seriously?

ahmed -

that song closes out heathers. it makes the movie even more awesome.

Posted by: Keri on December 9, 2008

Oh my goodness. Research paper due, Calculus final exam, and MIT decisions released on the same day?! x.x

I think I'm going to die... hopefully from excitement XD

Posted by: Anon, a Mouse ('13?) on December 9, 2008

to those having trouble with interviews, email the admissions office and they will reassign you an interviewer within a day or two (admissions@mit.edu). it worked for me! good luck guys.

Posted by: Alex on December 9, 2008

I know this doesn't really have anything to do with this post but I am an international applicant. My SAT1 was scheduled for 6th December but I received a letter from the college board saying it had been shifted to the next date which is in January. Unfortunately this was the date for my SAT2 and so that has been shifted as well. I am not sure if this will affect my application as I applied for fall 2009. If it will I would like to know if it is possible to defer my application to January 2010 or if it is necessary for me to reapply. Also I would like to know who I can contact about this.

Posted by: Alayibo on December 9, 2008

Thanks to the admissions team for all the hard work - and it's great to finally know the date after checking the website every day!

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

Alayibo - that's rough. I'm sorry collegeboard has been messing with you. You can reapply in 2010, but you might also want to look at taking the ACT. I know very little about the ACT in foreign countries, but I do know that MIT requires either SAT reasoning OR ACT with writing. If you just take the ACT and take the SAT subject tests in January, you may be able to complete your testing requirements in time. Good luck!

Posted by: Lexy on December 9, 2008

Remember----the vast majority of the 5000 early applicants will be deferred, so on Monday night you get essentially "no decision." And make sure you give your interviewer time to respond before you insist on being reassigned. Interviewers are VOLUNTEERS. Most of us have demanding careers and many family or volunteer commitments. 3 emails to your EC on the same day does not mean they aren't responding appropriately! If the EC hasn't responded in a week, THEN email admissions@mit.edu. Also, many many EC's travel over the holidays, so don't be surprised if they simply can't fit you in between tomorrow and 12/31. If there are multiple interviewers in your area, they will try to find someone, but MIT interviews often cannot be our highest priority (keeping my job is!)

Posted by: Long time EC on December 9, 2008

This is going to be either a really good or really bad Monday.

Posted by: Derek M. on December 9, 2008

I'd like to add one more voice to the sea thanking the admissions officers for all the work they're putting into this for us. Whether I get in or not, thank you for all you've done.

Posted by: 0 on December 9, 2008

lol I agree with Derek wow I cant believe the jump in EA applicants to MIT

Posted by: Chris O on December 9, 2008

Admission chances.
Assuming similar percentages to last year.

Female EA applicants 1319
Male EA applicants 3681

Assuming 500 EA admits evenly split M/F

Female prob 250/1319 = 18.9%
Male prob 250/3681 = 06.8%

Posted by: agatha christie on December 9, 2008

I'm so excited and nervous at the same time....but hey so is everyone else!!!

Good Luck to EveryONE and thanks so much for your hard work Admissions Team!!!

Posted by: Chelsi on December 9, 2008

@Justin
I could not agree more.

Posted by: Cory on December 9, 2008

I wonder how many comments this blog entry will have by Monday. I think that 500 is not out of range.

Posted by: ρ on December 9, 2008

Last year's early applicant admits were 47 percent women (245) and 31 percent underrepresented minorities(160). See the article in The Tech for all the details:

http://tech.mit.edu/V127/N62/admissions.html

Also, there was a 12% increase in female applicants last year. As the admissions office repeatedly states - female applicants are much more self-selecting (meaning that only the best and brightest females even apply). Female admits are equally qualified as male admits.

Posted by: anonymous on December 9, 2008

Wow...just...wow...
I wasn't expecting anything until after x-mas...

Posted by: !!! on December 9, 2008

I'm going to cry. But probably from stress. My Eval B never got processed somehow and my teacher knows he sent it in. I've been desperately trying to get it faxed. It was on like the 2nd of Nov that he sent it in. Which makes me think that at best I'm deferred because my Eval B was pretty strong too. Stupid snail mail.

I'm wondering if I should even have my hopes up.

:(

Posted by: Shreya on December 9, 2008

What about the "recovery time?" :| I thought the decisions came out on a Saturdays?

Anyhow... good luck to everyone!!

Posted by: Zorayr on December 9, 2008

my stomach just did a major flip...and reading every single one of the previous comments did not help! ahh! december 15!!! ahhh!!!

Posted by: Alex on December 9, 2008

WOOT!! Wow, the MIT admissions team is fast. With an increase of about 1,000 applicants, I would have thought that it would be released on the 20th

Posted by: Eileen on December 9, 2008

It may just be me, but it seems like most of the people here who are freaking out fail to realize that they will most likely receive "no decision" on Monday. A bunch are talking as if they're only going to get a yes or a no.

This also means that statistically, there is no reason in particular to stress about Monday. Why stress now when you will most likely just stress again in February?

Logic defeats stress once again.

Posted by: ngolshan on December 9, 2008

6 more days everyone... yay

can people get recruited for sports at MIT? I know that MIT doesn't "officially" recruit, but is there any way of knowing EXACTLY how sports affects one's application?

I've talked to the MIT coach of my sport, and he said to contact him when I was sending in my application. Is there some way of knowing whether he supported my application?

just trying to know what I'm in for on this accepted/ differed/ rejected scale..

good luck to everyone!!!

Posted by: John F. Kennedy on December 9, 2008

I wonder what the curve fitted to these EA numbers would look like. I'm thinking exponential, in which case, I'm glad I'm '09 (or '13, if you like). Good luck to everybody!

Posted by: Connie on December 9, 2008

Ahhhh! Can't sleep.. too excited

Posted by: Alejandro on December 10, 2008

@ngolshan

i agree totally with ya. I will admit i have felt anxiety a bit just out of curiosity, but logic defeats all.

Posted by: Justin on December 10, 2008

MIT,

I am prepared to bribe you. This is what I have to offer.

The Beatles Anthology.
A gift card to Anderson's Bakery.
4 Expandos filled with nonsense and the poetic ramblings of a 17 year old.
A series of vignettes detailing my struggles with airport security.
The 5 golden rings everyone sings about each christmas.
I can help you all beat some L4D campaigns on expert.
Hyper-exuberant nuclearism manifest.
Two chocolate cupcakes.
Kirby smoking a joint: (>'.')>-~
My purple see-though gameboy.
A DVD copy of Green Street Hooligans.


I am prepared to begin negotiations. All your base are belong to me. You have no chance to survive make your time.

Posted by: Giroux on December 10, 2008

Hey Matt,

My EC hasn't yet sent me replies. How will I be able to schedule my interview?

Posted by: faizaafatima on December 10, 2008

I am excited to see what happens with the EA applications. Good Luck everyone!

Posted by: Tae-Tae on December 10, 2008

@ agatha christie

The admits wouldn't be split 50/50; to be more accurate you should factor in the boy to girl ratio at MIT and use that as your split ratio.

Posted by: Rebeca on December 10, 2008

@ JFK

At CPW (Campus Preview Weekend) this spring, Director of Admissions Stu Schmill specifically stated that the following factors would not influence admissions decisions at all -
1) Legacy - it doesn't matter if a parent/grandparent attended
MIT.
2) Varsity Athlete - MIT does not recruit athletes.
3) Grandma has millions of dollars she would like to donate to build a new building.
That being said, maybe some of your experiences as a varsity athlete may have shaped you into exactly the type of person that MIT is looking to admit. Or maybe not. Only time will tell.

Posted by: anonymous on December 10, 2008

Hey Matt! I need your help. I'm applying for regular action and though I have not conducted the interview it says "Interview conducted/processed". Please help. I'm damn scared.

Posted by: Akshay on December 10, 2008

My EC did a great job, responded immediately to my email, invited me to his house for the interview. I think MIT does generally a good job with recruiting MIT alumni for interviewing hopefuls for the school.
@akshay they might have processed another interview on your page. It happens.
@ everyone who might know: the tubes go out before Dec.15? or afterwards?

Posted by: Alex on December 10, 2008

大家好！（hello everybody!)There is no alumni available in Nanjing,China for interview...

Posted by: Yang Chang on December 10, 2008

@anon-
Thanks for your response. I've heard different things about MIT recruiting--your comment being one of them. I know a student who received a letter of support from an MIT coach a few years ago. Plus, there is a "recruitment" section of the MIT website, with a form for prospective MIT athletes to fill out. However, all I've heard is that MIT does not consider athletics in admissions decisions. I guess its kind of too late to worry about it, so whatever the coach did or didn't do, Its kind of out of my hands now.

Thanks again!!

Posted by: JFK on December 10, 2008

5000 applicants
and the acceptance rate is 12% so basically
5000*.12= 600
I hope I'm in the lucky 600!

Posted by: Crazy?! on December 10, 2008

@Long time EC,

Hmmm....

This is just conjecture, but I'm not sure that it makes sense to defer the "vast majority" of applicants for early action, as in the past, due to the increase in the number of such applicants this year. I don't see much point in keeping over four thousand applicants on hold to compete against applicants for regular action for perhaps about fifteen hundred slots that will remain after the early action admissions. Although deferral does afford applicants some opportunity to submit additional information that might strengthen their applications, I suspect that any additional recognition or achievement in November and December probably would not be enough to matter for those who are not in the top couple thousand or so early action applicants. Although the Admissions Office has not said that they will reject a larger percentage of applicants for early action than in past years, it seems very likely that they will do so just because the increase in numbers will raise the threshold below which applicants clearly will not be competitive.

@anonymous,

What you are saying about factors that don't matter is true to a point. Nonetheless, participation and achievement in extracurricular activities absolutely do matter for three reasons.

>> 1. Extracurricular activities require an investment of time that you are not spending on your academic subjects. In general, students who attain high grades while dedicating several hours per day to extracurricular activities are more intelligent than students who attain high grades by spending every spare minute working on their academic subjects.

>> 2. Extracurricular activities typically require learning about subjects and development of skills that are outside of the normal academic curriculum. This formation helps to develop a more balanced person educationally, psychologically, and emotionally.

>> 3. Success in extracurricular activities, however measured (black belt in a martial art, Eagle Scout or equivalent, "first string" in a varsity sport, All-State musician, etc.) requires commitment, dedication, and perseverence that ultimately are the elements of success in life. As such, these traits are very desirable in the student body and thus weigh heavily in the admissions decision.

As an extracurricular activity, participation in interscholastic sports at the varsity level certainly meets all of these criteria -- and it also teaches a spirit of teamwork, which is another valuable trait both in college and in life.

So does participation in a sport matter? No, but yes. As a matter of policy, the Institute will not admit a student athelete who falls short of its academic requirements. OTOH, achivements in varsity sports probably will tilt close calls in favor of some highly qualified applicants over others in what's always a very competitive field for far too few slots.

Of course, this is just as true of a similar level of immersion and success, by whatever tangible measure, in other extracurricular activities.

@Justin,

I don't agree with your comments about MIT being overrated. The Institute is, in many ways, a unique place with a student body and a faculty that are truly the tail of the curve of the tail of the curve of intellectual giftedness, especially in the various disciplines of technology. The institute's alumni have a very definite "leg up" when competing against graduates of other institutions for employment in these fields.

BTW, I witnessed this first-hand when I went to Arlington, Virginia, during my senior semester to interview for the Navy's nuclear propulsion program. After the preliminary interviews with various members of Admiral Rickover's staff, nearly all of the applicants from other colleges and universities had to take an exam in mathematics and physics. Applicants from the Institute were invariably among a few very highly qualified applicants whose technical abilities were not in doubt. Thus, we skipped the exam and went directly to the Admiral's office for the final interview, which the Admiral conducted personally before making his selection. A civilian employer might not ask applicants for certain positions to take exams when they interview (though some do), but the absence of doubt of ability may well translate to a higher starting salary.

That said, you are very correct in pointing out that the dreaded but very accurate letter (... we regret that, due to an overwhelming number of extremely highly qualified applicants, we do not have enough space to admit you...") is NOT the end of the world. Applicants whom the Institute cannot admit are highly sought and prized as students at many other colleges and universities, and typically go on to very successful careers in their chosen fields.

Norm.

Posted by: EC Norm on December 10, 2008

I definitely see your point EC Norm. I was trying to get across the point that, as you said, its NOT the end of the world if you don't get in, and I guess I can't really speak on any perks that may come from MIT, seeing as how I am not/have not been at student there (although hopefully will be).

Posted by: Justin on December 10, 2008

Hey guys, the decision page is up (decisions.mit.edu), and you can log in to verify that your account works. good luck everyone!

Posted by: 0 on December 10, 2008

Hey,
I've been desperately trying to contact my EC for the last several weeks, but all of my emails, sent from two different accounts, get sent back, and the phone number listed is "vacant," although I've checked all the codes and they're fine. I'm not sure what else I can do, any suggestions?

Posted by: Cam on December 10, 2008

Uwaah, I greatly appreciate the link!

Posted by: Narce on December 10, 2008

@cam

email interview@mit.edu. they will help you

Posted by: hopeful '13 on December 10, 2008

Hahaha, Giroux. I steal your idea :D

I OFFER:
A bowl of pomegranates.
A half-written earth science textbook.
A set of half developed earth science problems to go with said half-written earth science textbook.
My favorite warm yellow jacket from Prague.
These flies that need to get out of my living room (what? They could be useful for biological study).
My cartoon graphs.
My lucky charcoal pencil.
My copies of Watership Down, A Separate Peace, and Harry Potter 7.
Vanilla chai.
A nice sized bismuth hopper crystal.
A slightly less nice sized cube of pink halite.
Cookies. The chewy, warm kind.

AAaAAAH! Please by some miracle say yes!

Posted by: Reena on December 10, 2008

I received the email you mentioned, but I was alarmed when I read "This year, we will only be announcing decisions online, so if you haven't created a MyMIT account, make sure to create one so you can find out your admissions decision." AHH! Does this mean MIT has stopped sending admission Tubes??!!!

Posted by: Brittany on December 10, 2008

Tubes or no tubes?!

Posted by: 0 on December 10, 2008

What?! I heard they are only reporting it online (means not mailing us our answers)! That means no tube! Come on, that's the kind of uniqueness of MIT that made me apply. The tubes are tradition and a necessity.

Posted by: Peter on December 10, 2008

We'll take tube or no tube. A yes in any form will be more than fantastic!

Posted by: Trying to be mellow mom on December 10, 2008

I am actually feel nothing cause I control emotion very well.

Posted by: Tina on December 10, 2008

I haven't received an email, which concerns me a little bit. Has anyone else (that applied EA) not received an email?

Thank you.

Posted by: J on December 10, 2008

We were supposed to get an email? I didn't. :(

Posted by: Alejandro on December 10, 2008

Yeah, I got an email, but I got it later than the anon up there posted the url for the decision site. And no tubes?! This is madness! ... but it does seem to be true, since my email also says it.

And Tina, I'm known to control my emotion very well, but not even feeling "excitement" for MIT seems a little obscure. I obviously don't know you in person, but one of my friends applying to UPenn feels the same way, thinking she is devoid of emotion over her results, but it is obvious to all of her friends around her, myself included, that she is so nervous over whether she will get in or not that she has been pseudo-shocked into an emotionally catatonic state (if that makes any sense).

If that really isn't anywhere near the case with you, then you might start rethinking your aspirations v.v" For someone appropriate for MIT, MIT is like... "the dream"! Unless you're one of those insane-level geniuses my dad knew at MIT who might have led a NASA program at age 9 and can get all As at MIT while doing horrible debilitating drugs, in which case I guess MIT wouldn't be a big deal to you >.>

But if that were the case, I doubt you'd even come to the blogs~

Posted by: Narce on December 10, 2008

I am an international applicant . My SAT1 was scheduled for 6th December but I received a letter from the college board saying it had been shifted to the next date which is in January. Unfortunately this was the date for my SAT 2, so that has been shifted as well. I am not sure if this will affect my application, as I applied for fall 2009. If it will affect my application, I would like to know if it is possible to defer my application to January 2010, or if it will be necessary for me to reapply? If there is someone else other than yourself I can direct this complaint to, could you please let me know or forward my concerns to the relevant authorities?

Posted by: Alayibo on December 10, 2008

I heard from a friend who is related to an EC at Penn that they're emailing the Penn decisions on Friday... good luck to your friend!

Posted by: Lexy on December 10, 2008

Yep, that's the day she said they'd come!

I also hope she gets in! Her best friend was already accepted to Oxford through the Questbridge program!

Posted by: Narce on December 10, 2008

Now I got the email

Posted by: Alejandro on December 10, 2008

Well, to all you optimists: although a "yes" in any form would be fantastic, isn't the Tube a tradition that draws some EA applicants to MIT? I mean we all had plenty of amazing choices to apply EA/ED, but MIT was so unique and unusual that we decided it topped all the others. I'm just saying, this sounds cheap; memories are being robbed from us!

Posted by: Brittany on December 10, 2008

Wow. Getting all worked up about a cylinder.

Posted by: Brittany on December 10, 2008

matt, could you please post something about what's up with the tube/lack of tube?

Posted by: sarah on December 10, 2008

I know that some people don't care about the tube, but a lot of other people really do care. My first interest in MIT was reading about snively getting his tube, and since then I've been hoping to get mine. I'd rather get in than just get a tube, but what's so difficult about sending a tube? It can be recycled, right?

Posted by: 0 on December 10, 2008

I agree with Brittany-- the tube is a tradition and makes MIT unique. Who hasn't dreamed of seeing a tube waiting outside their door and knowing what's waiting inside?

I'm so sad about this. Obviously, I'd be beyond ecstatic if I got in anyway, but ... the TUBE.

Posted by: hopeful '13 on December 10, 2008

I've been buzzing for the past week and a half - I hit December 1st and suddenly decisions weren't quite so far off. I can't wait! I'm so wound up! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Posted by: Rachael on December 10, 2008

Good luck to all EA applicants! It's going to be three months before we're in your positions, three long and painful months. Bleurgh...

Posted by: Ashwath on December 10, 2008

everyone can take a deep breath they are sending tubes. And yes we would all be happy with just getting accepted but we'd all like the EPICNESS of the tube as well.

Posted by: Taylor on December 10, 2008

Read the new entry, guys. Information will still be sent "cylindrically!!"

Posted by: Rebeca on December 11, 2008

@ EC Norm

You read too much into my statement about MIT not recruiting athletes. And, I did not address extracurricular activities at all. All I was conveying was that just because a student might be desirable to some colleges because of what they have to offer a certain sports team, that does not mean that that particular athletic skill will open the doors to admission to MIT. Many other colleges admission offices are known to work closely with athletic coaches to fill certain positions on teams, etc. MIT simply does not work that way. That does not mean that their experience in athletics has not been very valuable in forming them into the person they have become and possibly a desirable admit for MIT.

Posted by: anonymous on December 11, 2008

Eek! That is a lot of applicants ...........

Posted by: jeff ('13?) on December 11, 2008

By the time my sister applies, the number will be at 7000. Pretty amazing.

Now I wish I was born a few years earlier... XD

Posted by: Cathy on December 12, 2008

When working with ECs please have patience.
Some take trips. Some are overloaded with work.
Some have already done more interviews than they would like. If you don't get a timely response MIT will contact the regional chair(RC). The regional chair will start contacting other ECs to see if they want to do another interview. This takes time. If you don't think your area has responsive ECs, contact your RC to be one when and if you graduate from MIT.
ECs work hard for no pay.

Posted by: EC since '74 on December 12, 2008

Despite what happens. Thank you for taking the time to read my application.

Posted by: reilley on December 14, 2008