Beginning Wednesday until the end of October, my Admissions colleagues and I will go forth across this continent to tell you tales of MIT.
This year, the first meetings are in Maine, Connecticut, Ohio, and Rhode Island, followed quickly behind by Virginia and Pennsylvania. For a complete list of sessions, click here.
You might be wondering, what happens at these meetings? What should you expect?
First, the admissions officer and the local Educational Counselors (MIT alumni interviewers, also known as ECs) will greet attendees at the door. Please note that no RSVP is required.
The meeting itself will last no longer than 90 minutes. Each admissions officer's presentation varies somewhat, but will cover the same information.
We'll talk about MIT: academics, research, student life, Boston/Cambridge, MIT culture. What makes MIT different from other universities? How might you know whether or not MIT is a good match for you?
We will of course talk about admissions, including the different application components, the deadlines, what makes an applicant "competitive," how we make decisions on which students to admit. We'll provide advice and tips wherever we can.
Money and financial aid will be discussed. How do you apply for financial aid? Should you apply for it? What should I expect?
Also, the local ECs will introduce themselves. They'll talk about what MIT looks for in an interview and give you some advice. This is also a good chance for students to meet their interviewer face-to-face and to set up a time for their interview.
We will always finish with an open Q&A. We'll take as many questions as we can and do our best to answer every question fully. I've found that even students and families who don't have any questions find it interesting and helpful to hear other people's questions and the corresponding answer.
This year, my travels will take me to Northern California, Downstate New York, and Toronto, though, for reasons I'll talk about in a future entry, my first meeting isn't until the very end of the month.
For those of you who have attended other college "road shows": what has been most helpful? What hasn't been helpful at all? And for those of you planning to attend an MIT Central Meeting this year, what are you looking forward to hearing about?
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
For people who will not have the opputunity to be part of these meetings please tell us what makes an applicant "competitive" ?
Ankit Chandra
Gaborone, Botswana
Posted by: Ankit Chandra on September 3, 2007
I am an international student living in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and was wondering whether it is a disadvantage in the admissions process if you are unable to attend one of these events? Will a video/transcript of one of these events be made available online for all to see? Thanks!
Also wanted to mention that these blogs are extremely useful/informative, and I really enjoy reading them.
Mark Stothers,
Vancouver, BC
Posted by: Mark Stothers on September 3, 2007
Posted by: Longhorn on September 3, 2007
Posted by: Hawkins '12 on September 3, 2007
Can't wait!
Posted by: Yuzhi '12 on September 3, 2007
Posted by: 0 on September 4, 2007
Anyway, I got my postcard with the "Dates MIT will be in your area" on it and I am so excited! Yay for information sessions!
I'm really hoping that,as another Anonymous mentioned, the "NOTs" will be mentioned.
Posted by: Kate on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Kate on September 4, 2007
I am, once again, terribly saddened that the 'show' will not be stopping in Wyoming. We have a tech community on the range, we do, I promise, and teenagers, too! However, I can see the planning behind it. Anyway, I feel a little whiny, complaining about a day trip, when someone from Botswana was disappointed about no shows in Africa.
If luck and gas prices hold out, I'll be seeing the Sandy or Greenwood Village presentations. I wish your visit to the Rockies isn't as mournful as it was last year. Here's hoping. In the mean time, any chance of a stop in the Equality State next year?
B. Ellwood,
Casper, WY
Posted by: HodieCras on September 4, 2007
Posted by: milena '11 on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Hudson A on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Aakriti on September 4, 2007
I did not attend any of the information sessions (I found out about them the day before they occurred and I was already busy then) and I seem to have fared fairly well in the admissions process, seeing as I got in. From what I hear, they are very informative, but do not vary very much from what you will find on the website and what you may hear at other colleges' information sessions, if you go to any of those. In short, go if you can, but if you can't it's not the end of the world.
Posted by: ShawnOfAwesome '11 on September 4, 2007
1.Are we supposed to contact our EC for matters other than the interview? I mean can we talk to him/her bout the admission process and take suggestions through e-mail? Can we talk to them about other colleges?
2.Can we send in the recommendations before submitting any part of the online application?Will they be able to file all my stuff without starting a folder for me?Or have they already opened a folder for me coz i'd sent my SAT scores last december?
thanx!
PS-did i say 2 questions??
Posted by: ronald on September 4, 2007
so for students who can't attend a meeting...can you tell us what u are going to say bout the match through your blogs?
Posted by: romulus on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Hawkins on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Alexander Georgie on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Constantin on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Aakriti on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Vytautas on September 4, 2007
But this doesnt hide my disappointment. I live in Jakarta, Indonesia and our school does have presentations from some of the colleges from the US....but never from the college Im dying to know more about!...sniff...sniff..:(....please help Matt.
Nihar Sharma
Jakarta, Indonesia
Posted by: Nihar on September 4, 2007
@Romulus/others - Just read the website! This website has pretty much everything they say at the meetings. There's no magic word to get in, and not every applicant is obsessed with this website (like I was/am), so they have the meetings.
@Hawkins - I'd keep the 12 because then people know your age. Since '12 is in the future, most people probably understand its implication of hopefulness. And you'll probably be a 12 somewhere else if not MIT =P
@Vytautus - I don't think it's necessarily the pool they're worried about. It would just be very difficult to visit every country in the world. As 90% of the class will be from the US, it's understandable that they would concentrate there.
Don't fret about missing the meetings, guys. You are far from alone, and there's no secret to MIT (well, admissions anyway).
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Hawkins on September 4, 2007
About the EC's, they're very helpful people, and you'll find that usually you can email them with any questions and/or concerns about the admissions process. Remember, they're EC's because they want to, MIT doesn't force them to do this job, so (in theory) they should be more than happy to help you out. However, keep in mind that they probably only know about the MIT admissions process/life/academics/etc, so don't go asking about other schools because odds are they'll be clueless.
Posted by: milena '11 on September 4, 2007
Posted by: milena '11 on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Grace '11 on September 4, 2007
@Vytautas - Very sneaky... Good plan. lol
Posted by: Hawkins on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Matt, PSU '11 on September 4, 2007
Hopeful '12 = BAD
Don't do it, nobody likes arrogance
Posted by: Snively on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 4, 2007
So it was one of the nicest moments I've had these past few months!
Does anoyone know if there are any Fields medallists teaching at MIT?
Posted by: Farhad on September 4, 2007
Posted by: Farhad on September 4, 2007
Posted by: milena '11 on September 4, 2007
I thought it was assumed that it's like "hopeful" and kind of a sign that we are applying this year (there are people applying for future classes that check out blogs)and '12 doesn't always mean MIT class of '12 xP
Posted by: 0 on September 4, 2007
@Everyone - Sorry for hijacking the comments with this '12 issue... However, I don't believe the comments have ever been kept strictly to the topic of the entry. So flame on! =P
Posted by: Hawkins on September 4, 2007
I hate modifiers.
...And just so my question doesn't get buried: Are transfer admissions a topic of discussion at these meetings?
Posted by: Matt, PSU '11 on September 4, 2007
http://www.xkcd.com/309/
Ankit Chandra
Gaborone, Botswana
Posted by: Ankit Chandra on September 5, 2007
@everyone, I think we should just let the people (Hawking) who are certain put the '12 and everyone else just their name/anonymous. Anyone else agree? Is the '12 even that essential?
Posted by: Edgar on September 5, 2007
Ankit Chandra
Gaborone, Botswana
Posted by: Ankit Chandra on September 5, 2007
While '12 isn't essential, putting your year is useful - in my opinion, anyway.
I think you guys are making this too big a deal =P
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 5, 2007
anyway..i havent got complete answers..that's y i'm proding a bit more...
1. is it unpardonable if we talk to our EC about other colleges?
2.what happens if we send in an application fee waiver request?how/when will the my mit account be updated so that i can send in our part 1 without the application fee?
Posted by: ronald on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Naresh on September 5, 2007
@Everyone - Here's the deal. No one is going to tell you what you can and cannot put beside your name. It doesn't matter what you call yourself. I'd just like to offer two facts that will hopefully provide some perspective:
1. In this community, a number after a name represents the year that person will graduate from MIT (not another school, unless that school's name is also included).
2. You can't be sure you'll graduate from MIT unless you've actually been accepted there. To be arrogant (or "confident") about this is absurd.
So, in light of these facts, use whatever name you like. But know that you're representing yourself to the MIT community and that some of us don't think too highly of superfluous class numbers.
ZOMG, did someone just call me Hawking? Honored, but uh... No.
Posted by: Hawkins on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Yuzhi on September 5, 2007
Are the people really as cool as they sound like?...The whole face-to-face thing would have been a better chance to get to know the details first hand. Oh well, I guess there's always my interviewer. (**ahem....No use pretending Im not a bit apprehensive to meet him**)
Posted by: Nihar on September 5, 2007
Until recently, I've never seen anyone commenting these blogs with a number by their name who had not yet been accepted. Of course that doesn't mean you "MUST" have been accepted to have a number, but that is how things have operated in this community since before I was a part of it. Not a rule, but a tradition exists.
I don't want to make a huge deal of such a small issue. I do want all the hopefuls to feel the same excitement the rest of us felt when adding our class number to our names.
Posted by: Hawkins on September 5, 2007
1. Are transfer admissions discussed at these admissions meetings?
2. Can transfer applicants be interviewed by an EC?--Note that I didn't do an interview when I applied for freshman admission.
Posted by: Matt, PSU '11 on September 5, 2007
Anyway ! So everything you will say at the meetings are on the website ? International students don't have to worry, right ?
Posted by: Isshak on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Vytautas '20 on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Vytautas '20 on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Henry Viet Vo on September 5, 2007
@Henry: You can view the catalog yourself at http://student.mit.edu/catalog/index.cgi
I hope this helps!
-- Matt
Posted by: madmatt on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Edgar on September 5, 2007
I think if you ask any upperclassman at MIT, you'll find that the real statement is "You can't be sure you'll graduate from MIT unless you've got a diploma in your hand!" A quote I once saw was "It's hard to get in, and it's also hard to stay in." Yes, if you're admitted, you're intellectually capable of doing the work. But it's not all about intellect. MIT is simply giving you the tool box (i.e., the opportunity to attend MIT) - it's up to you to use it productively. Hey, at least MIT guarantees you can graduate within four years (if you choose a major by end of first year, stick with that major, complete prerequisites by the end of your first year and complete everything in your major program on time). A lot of public universities will require certain courses for your degree, yet not offer them when you can take them, year after year, causing someone to graduate in 5 or even 6 years, despite their best intentions and performance.
It's hard to get into MIT, but it's not like the mere act of being accepted guarantees your graduation. Some folks transfer out, some folks take time off and come back later, and some folks just leave university life altogether. MIT has an extremely high graduation rate when compared to most American colleges - I think the state universities back home had something like a 40% six-year grad rate, compared with MIT's 90-something% rate - but really, when people say they work harder than they ever have before, and when people say that every MIT degree is well earned, they mean it!
I like to think that while getting into MIT is only the first challenge you will surmount, each subsequent challenge is more rewarding than the last. I am happier than I've ever been as I enter my third year, and I look back on the early challenges I faced in college as things that made me even stronger. That's not to say that I want to go through the college application process ever again... LOL!
Posted by: Anthony on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Hawkins on September 5, 2007
Posted by: Anthony on September 5, 2007
http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/life/workplay_balance_at_mit/youre_18_but_you_arent_invinci.shtml
Posted by: Wings '11 on September 6, 2007
Posted by: 0 on September 6, 2007
Shruthi('12??) :D
Posted by: Shruthi on September 6, 2007
Sorry about getting off the topic....
I would like to know if MIT would come to India anytime in the near future....
btw is there any age limit for the UG course at MIT......
Thanks****
JJS
Posted by: JJS on September 6, 2007
I attended a few other local information sessions, including one at my local library that was for a shall-not-be-named Ivy but was not the one down the street. The presenters, mostly recent alumni, were not well prepared, and the questions that were asked were along the lines of legacy and how to get a lock on admission. I was completely turned off from the school and refused to visit or apply following it.
I think the best thing is to show a bit of culture along with all the standard information - it was what really got me excited about the idea of MIT. Information sessions by some other Ivies that mostly talked about the actual admissions process that is done by the admissions counselors, and how difficult it was to get in, came off as presumptuous and elitist, at least to me.
Posted by: Kristin '09 on September 6, 2007
k. s.
Posted by: k s on September 6, 2007
Yes, it's true, almost everybody I've met here is pretty cool and definitely interesting. Some examples?
While watching "The Terminal" we realized that some random freshman watching it with us knew Russian so he was able to translate all the cool parts.
After hanging out with a girl for a week I discovered that she did USAMO for 4 years, I had no idea.
I met a kid who was friends with the Eepy Birds before their Diet Coke and Mentos breakout.
Everybody here loves math and programming jokes (the old combo to a lock here was 2^12) (people get caught saying "Score ++!") and everybody knows what ThinkGeek.com is.
You can talk about almost anything math/technical and people will understand and laugh with you about it/help you with it.
People are SO friendly, I've been introduced to countless people so far, everybody wants to be your friend (especially upperclassmen).
There's a whole cool culture depending on who you end up spending time with. Maybe it's FAP (freshmen arts program), Jacks, or random people you meet in the green lounge off the infinite in an attempt to get some hw done during the day. Groups and inside jokes and neat traditions spawn constantly.
MIT is extremely cool and very inviting, ignore anything you've heard to the contrary. Honestly, nobody is hostile or angry, everybody wants to help everybody. Definitely apply here, you won't regret it, and definitely come here if you get accepted.
Posted by: Snively on September 7, 2007
@JJS - I dont think there is an age limit.... Did you mean a minimum age or an upper limit?
Posted by: Shruthi on September 7, 2007
The info sessions are definitely not traveling to India this year. Perhaps in future years, who knows?
Posted by: Hawkins on September 7, 2007
Posted by: Shruthi on September 9, 2007
I'll miss this year's, for my younger son's soccer match, but my wife and oldest should be attending the MIT session in my town.
Posted by: tokenadult on September 10, 2007
Disappointing, but hey, what can I do?
Posted by: Amelia on September 11, 2007
Posted by: Aakriti on September 12, 2007
Posted by: JJS on September 12, 2007
Posted by: JJS on September 12, 2007
Posted by: Mahima on September 16, 2007
I am an India Citizen, leaving in India.
Is there any admission office anywhere in India?
Whom should i contact before comming to US?
Posted by: Manzil Zaheer on September 28, 2007
I'm wondering if its possible to have taken IB tests by junior year but not have to report the scores because honestly I didn't do too hot on the chem one (not that many did, judging by the national average) but I am taking IB Computer Science this year to replace the Chemistry one and make that my "extra." So is it ok to not report it and request that my counselors not report it?
Posted by: 0 on October 2, 2007
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