As someone rejected, it does make me a little ticked off that people actually accepted have any shred of doubt as to attending M.I.T.

If you really are the fit for MIT, IMO, you should recognize how the technological and innovation captial of the world is really the only place to go.
It seems far more people are interested in earning a good paycheck after college then actually revolutionizing science and knowledge.
It's incredible to me that some people really "dont know" what it is they want to major in, as if M.I.T is simply a place to earn a degree and get a job- you really should be the next inventor, nobel prize winner or some other form of world changing revolutionary to come here.
Many of you probably are. But then again, I'm sorry to say many maybe not.

Posted by: rejected on April 21, 2010

@Matt

Well I am aware this is not the perfect entry for such a question if I dont cause you any trouble.
To how many political science concenrators do you offer admission statistically, and how many accept the offer in recent years?
Thanks very much

Posted by: waitlisted'14 on April 21, 2010

@rejected: I am of two minds on this. On the one hand (am I mixing my metaphors??), I get a little bit miffed, too, when I find out about kids who got admitted to institutions like MIT but then don't attend. On the other hand, though, their doing so simply gives someone from the waitlist a chance, which I'm sure they'd love. And think of it this way: MIT is a fantastic school that a lot of us would give our eyeteeth (or several limbs) for, but making that final commitment to a college is really daunting. You get all these weird doubts and confusions--how can you be sure that this college is really the one which will be right for you? A lot of people apply to colleges with certain goals in mind, but then change in their tastes and expectations over the time between that and receiving an offer.
I applied to MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Oberlin. Princeton rejected me straight up, MIT deferred and then rejected me, Vandy accepted me, Oberlin and Harvard waitlisted me. Oberlin was my first choice two years ago, and Vanderbilt had been my last choice. Yet, I turned down Oberlin without a pang, and after some consideration, decided to take Vanderbilt and remove myself from the Harvard waitlist, even though I liked the idea of a Harvard education and may study there sometime in the future. We change. Eventually, I think we'll find that it's what we do with our time now that will determine how much we accomplish--everyone does it differently.

Posted by: Amethyst on April 21, 2010

@rejected and Amethyst:

You have to realize that many of these people have offers from a) schools that are equally good, if not better (because yes, that exists) than MIT in their area of choice or b) schools that will give them full tuition or more. And the decision is most definitely not clear-cut when you have those choices. Maybe it sounds selfish or ungrateful to consider turning down a school like MIT, but these students are being practical and realistic in that they're considering exactly what they need from a college and not simply deciding on MIT because it sounds like the "best" school.

Posted by: Undecided '14 on April 21, 2010

Most of the admitted prefrosh I met during CPW and on facebook are choosing MIT over most elite schools. I even know a couple people who are not taking the offer from that school across town and it's equivalent on the West Coast (cough, Stanford).

The only reason I know so far why prefrosh decline to accept MIT offer is the financial aid issue. I know somebody who's choosing Princeton because they offered him around 40K grant compared to almost none at MIT. (he got into MIT EA and MIT was his first choice until he knew he'll get that much on April 1st). I also know a girl who is going to BU over MIT because she got a full-ride at BU.

so yeah, like Undecided '14 said, " Maybe it sounds selfish or ungrateful to consider turning down a school like MIT, but these students are being practical and realistic in that they're considering exactly what they need from a college and not simply deciding on MIT because it sounds like the "best" school."

Posted by: STuang '14 on April 22, 2010

@Matt

Can we get an update for waitlisted students? How many people chose to remain on the waitlist? I called in but the admissions receptionists did not know.

When will be the earliest we will be notified of an admission? When is the latest we will be notified of a final denial? Will there be any financial aid left over for us Waitlistees?

Thanks!
-Daniel

Posted by: Daniel MIT14 Waitlisted on April 22, 2010

I know a girl who accpeted Stanford's offer becuase she thought is was a better fit. I happens

Posted by: martin '14 on April 22, 2010

I want to watch this but I received no web link or password! D: Will it be recorded if I can't watch it?

Posted by: Anon '14 on April 22, 2010

@Anon '14: If you're still there, leave another comment, with your email address.

@Daniel: I won't have any waitlist updates until May.

@waitlisted: I don't have that data (and, if you're curious, it won't impact your waitlist status one way or the other).

Posted by: Matt '00 on April 22, 2010

Okay, thanks Matt

Posted by: Daniel MIT14 Waitlisted on April 22, 2010

What happened to the Friday questionnaire?

For the question I suggested you to ask from Prof. Nancy Kanwisher:
I've just watched "The Visions of the Future - Intelligence Revolution". As usual, I got the most interesting answers. btw, lots of MIT guys were in the documentary like Prof. Rodney Brooks and Prof. Marvin Minsky. For the first time, I watched a video from that crazy CSAIL building.

So What did you ask, and what did you get?

Posted by: Armin on April 22, 2010

@Armin:
Hi, it may not be a suitable page to say this, but I need to talk to you. Please contact me:
koocheki@gmail.com

thanks

Posted by: Hopeful '15 on April 25, 2010

Thank you very much Matt

Posted by: waitlisted'14 on April 27, 2010

@Matt megann

Hello, i know this is unrelated to the topic but im doing a projec featuring your school and was wonderin if i can interview you or any othrs about MIT.

Thank you,
Ed M.

Posted by: Ed m. on April 27, 2010

howcome MIT rejects still read and comment on the blogs?

Posted by: curious on April 27, 2010

Hi, Matt i don't know whether u can help me or not .But i'm doing B-TECH in MECHANICAL n i want 2 take admission in masters program but my financial condn is not so sound .So plz tell what is total expendituren the procedure 2 get admission.

AZHAN AHMAD
INDIA

Posted by: AZHAN AHMAD on April 28, 2010

Hi Matt, is it possible to take SAT in 11th grade?? And if possible, can I apply to MIT in 11th grade?

Thank You

Posted by: Tanvir on April 30, 2010

As director of admissionns at MIT you seem to be the most qualified person to answer my question. Its a question I can ask because you were once a student at MIT and therfore can relate to my situation. I am writting to Matt McGann, a question he has no doubt answered a hundred + times.what are MY chances of getting in to MIT? I had a below average high school freshman year, I started in all regulars classes with A's and B's. My sophmore year was a little better with all A's/A-'s (except for latin :( ) in mostly honours classes. Junior year was much better, I was in five APs got 5's on the AP tests except for amer. History. I was a national merit scholarship semi finalist and got a 2350 on my SATs. A 34 ACT and 750 SATII math 730 science. I took an ind. Res. Class 8th hour and science research h. Twelth grade I took all APs I finished in physics C, calc BC, macro and micro eco., Gov AP, english lit AP, science res. H, latin 3 h, and bio AP. I got straight A's/A+'s and was in the MIT research summer program between 11th &12th;. I continued my classes in the summer for advancement. I had over 350 community service hours, I was a lab assistant at my high school, co cofounder of the robotics club and participated in fbla club. Anyways I was worried that my freshman year and sophmore year would ruin any of my chances. I have showed extrodinary achievement and dedication to my subjects and wrote multiple science papers that were published and presented, plus I can get a recomendation from an MIT alumni. My cumulative gpa is low because of my first two years but increased to over 5.0 in junior and senior year. My high school gpa is therefore only a cumulative 4.5 :( ....
Anyways just email me if you can its been bugging me for awhile. Thank you very much.
Ps. I'm typing on my phone so ignore spelling and gramatical errors.

Posted by: Brandon Louis Campanile on April 30, 2010